Worried Sick ?
Are you one of those who fix an appointment with the doctor for every bout of nausea or get a CT scan done at the hint of a headache ? If the answer is yes, then you are actually suffering from something serious. It’s called Orthorexics, or health perfectionism in common parlance. A health perfectionist is a person obsessed with his/her own health. There are various issues pertaining to such an obsession, which might cause numerous side - effects, one such extreme being pathological in nature.
“Sadness which dose’t get a vent in tears makes the organs cry. This sums up the underlying pathology of health perfectionism. It’s seen in people who find it difficult to express emotions or talk things out. They fail to recognise conflicts or interpersonal problems in their lives. As general emotional distress is not dealt with, it expresses itself physically, some times even after many years.” says Dr.Jyoti Sangle, psychiatrist, Dr. L.H.Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai.
According to Dr.Bhavna Burmi, senior clinical psycologist,Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi.”Being a health perfectionist can cost you a great deal and it’s important to be aware of the problems that it can lead to.Perfectionists are likely to experience decreased productivity, impaired health,troubled interpersonal relationships and low self-esteem. They are vulnerable to depression, performance anxiety, compulsiveness, suicidal thoughts, lonliness, impatience, frustration and anger.”
HOW TO CRUSH THE DOUBT :
* Identify the connection between obsessional thoughts and impulses.
* Engage in anxiety managemant
*Engage in relaxation therapy to control stress levels
* Keep a check on suicidal thoughts
* Tackle the tendency to fall into depression
* Get engaged in activities to avoid loneliness
* Stay in regular contact with a healthcare provider
(inputs from Dr.Bhavna Burmi)
