Weekly Prompt #8: What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with health anxiety?
Hello everyone, I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
Last week we discussed: How do you handle situations where you feel like you're being put on the spot or forced to speak up? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts for discussion. I enjoyed them. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you.
This week's prompt: What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with health anxiety
Health anxiety can be debilitating. It's a common issue that many people face, and it can feel overwhelming and all-consuming at times. But please know you are not alone in this. We are all here with you. Let's get started to share your learning and insights to support each other.
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@ASilentObserver
There should be several answers.
If that person is hypochondriac, there maybe a long conversation to see where it comes from.
If that person is chronically ill, It is another type of support: they need someone around to think aloud and a simple conversation about what-not is often the distraction they want. You are simple just there to keep them company and sympathize
If this person is facing a life-threatening issue, such as cancer, they also need companionship and the confidence that their doctors are going to get them through. They may well worry about their loved ones as well, and your presence is needed
@Fradiga It sounds like being a supportive listener can take many forms depending on the situation. It seems like being there for others during difficult times is important to you. What feelings are most prominent for you in thinking about the different types of support someone may need? Thank you for sharing your perspective Fradiga.
@ASilentObserver
It is very much putting on other people's shoes, isn't it? If one has gone through a comparable situation, it is easier to figure out how the other may feel. An easy way to support these people is to ask pertinent questions (side effects of medications, mood, help they receive, how to feel peaceful) and make them talk about it or anything else that might give them some distraction from their worries.
Hypochondriacs have always been around. In fact, Molière (17th c.) wrote a comedy about it (his last one, because he actually died on the third night of that play) called 'Le malade imaginaire". I do quite a lot of research online to see how these fears are treated nowadays and avoid the "it's just in your head" approach. This said, it is totally normal to worry about your health when you are fragile for good reason.
@Fradiga Great thoughts, Fradiga. You have a caring and compassionate understanding of those who struggle with worries about their health. Focusing questions on how someone feels or finding distractions that bring peace can be supportive. Your validation that it's normal to worry when feeling fragile is empathetic. Thank you for adding these significant reflections.
Well, thanks for validating my thoughts and the compliment. We do not have to play stealth psychologists here. We just walk in other people's shoes to meet their needs and find... ourselves.
Second (or third) thought: what ADVICE ? I thought we listeners were not supposed to give any advice....
