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My parents were both medical doctors. They were extremely concerned about hypochondria, to the point where it was essentially forbidden to think about one’s own

My parents were both medical doctors. They were extremely concerned about hypochondria, to the point where it was essentially forbidden to think about one’s own body or health. To me that’s just as unhealthy as hypochondria, and in a sense its inverse.

zabzonk 2y ago
never diagnose family members, i had a friend who had a mild attack of polio as a kid, and his medic dad just ignored all the first symptoms because he couldn't accept them.
kayo_20211030 2y ago
Is such a prohibition really that unhealthy? If the only result of a consideration of one's own health is anxiety inducing and lacks a path to a diagnosis and treatment, is it worth doing? Of course, _some_ self-awareness is crucial. But, it's a balance between concern and obsession. The former is sensible and the latter borders on the pathological. If something is identifiably wrong, there is something to be done; and that's reassuring, at least. If nothing is identifiably wrong, but only suspected, reasonably or otherwise, there's nothing to be done apart from testing the next hypothesis; that's a very anxious time for the sufferer. At some point, one must decide to stop worrying about what's not known and can't be addressed.
- bjornsing 2y ago
  As I see it now that whole line of reasoning is unhealthy. The normal / healthy state of affairs is that your body’s constantly telling your brain “I feel good!”. If you can’t feel that it’s a sign of dissociation.
  - kayo_20211030 2y ago
    I'm a little ambivalent on this. Sometimes the body says "I don't feel good!". My body says that quite a bit. Mostly (just math) it's something transient. A sore throat is probably not cancer; a bruise is probably not that either. If there's something to be done, then do it. But, don't perseverate about what it could be. You'll drive yourself mad. Telling someone not to worry about something, particularly from a position of authority, when the chances are (again, math) that it's not serious seems a charity. "You're fine, and come back in a week/month if it persists. But, stop worrying." is a fair approach. Nobody wants someone else to worry unnecessarily. It's pointless.
deleted 2y ago
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zabzonk 2y ago

never diagnose family members, i had a friend who had a mild attack of polio as a kid, and his medic dad just ignored all the first symptoms because he couldn't accept them.

kayo_20211030 2y ago

Is such a prohibition really that unhealthy? If the only result of a consideration of one's own health is anxiety inducing and lacks a path to a diagnosis and treatment, is it worth doing? Of course, _some_ self-awareness is crucial. But, it's a balance between concern and obsession. The former is sensible and the latter borders on the pathological. If something is identifiably wrong, there is something to be done; and that's reassuring, at least. If nothing is identifiably wrong, but only suspected, reasonably or otherwise, there's nothing to be done apart from testing the next hypothesis; that's a very anxious time for the sufferer. At some point, one must decide to stop worrying about what's not known and can't be addressed.

bjornsing 2y ago
As I see it now that whole line of reasoning is unhealthy. The normal / healthy state of affairs is that your body’s constantly telling your brain “I feel good!”. If you can’t feel that it’s a sign of dissociation.
- kayo_20211030 2y ago
  I'm a little ambivalent on this. Sometimes the body says "I don't feel good!". My body says that quite a bit. Mostly (just math) it's something transient. A sore throat is probably not cancer; a bruise is probably not that either. If there's something to be done, then do it. But, don't perseverate about what it could be. You'll drive yourself mad. Telling someone not to worry about something, particularly from a position of authority, when the chances are (again, math) that it's not serious seems a charity. "You're fine, and come back in a week/month if it persists. But, stop worrying." is a fair approach. Nobody wants someone else to worry unnecessarily. It's pointless.

deleted 2y ago

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