Abnormal Psychology Coursework Example

Name InstructorCourse Date Illness Anxiety Disorder Illness anxiety disorder is a mental disorder where an individual is believed to have a severe disease by the presence of specific physical signs or symptoms. It is mostly characterized by an excessive preoccupation with illness and misinterpretation of standard body functions and cues hence causing health-related anxiety. There are many symptoms associated with this disorder which include; repeatedly checking your body for signs of illness. This is where an individual is not confident about any changes in their bodies. They believe any change in their body might be a sign of disease. There are biological changes which do not necessarily show any sickness. Persons with this condition are always worried about their health such that when they hear about a relative or anyone with the similar situation they get weak and sickly. Most of the time they prefer to stay away from friends and relatives suffering from such diseases. They continuously check their signs with information found on the internet. They highly rely on data to check for causes and symptoms of the disease they dread contracting. Avoiding people, especially friends and relatives who have contracted the disease, avoid engaging in activities that may result in health risks, and visiting places they think are dangerous (Roy 220). Seeking reassurance from persons, they trust to reassure themselves, however, most of the times this works for a short period before the thought preoccupies them again. They also make regular medical appointments for doctor’s reassurance or avoid the checkup at all for fear of being diagnosed with a severe illness. They have so much distress about possible illness, and as a result, they repeatedly check their bodies for signs of disease and are worried continuously by minor sensations, itchiness as they interpret it to mean they have severe disease. Some are easily alarmed by other peoples’ illness, find little or no r...