Can hypochondriasis affect peoples relationships?
One of the most consistent findings from studies is that hypochondriasis puts stress on people’s relationships. It turns out, not surprisingly, that people with hypochondriasis tend to ask other people for a great deal of care. And they do so very persistently over time. After a while, they generally wear out the people they’re asking for care. This behavior is often a reflection of the way in which these patients interacted with their parents when they were growing up. If one’s parents are able to encourage independence, and are supportive as they’re doing that, people generally grow up relatively secure. Those are the kinds of people who are able to enter into very productive and fulfilling relationships, especially intimate relationships. On the other hand, if one has parents who encourage dependence on them, that’s the way an individual will begin to view the world as a whole. People who grow up in that kind of environment generally are of the opinion that they can’t really meet al
