17 Apr I’m not a hypochondriac, I’m generally ill: A hidden health crisis
https://lsbu.shorthandstories.com/i-m-not-a-hypochondriac–i-m-generally-ill/index.html
https://preview.shorthand.com/9xq1EqleeLlFPvok
Aim:
I am creating a shorthand piece based on hypochondria and how it doesn’t only have an affect on the person suffering from it but also on the health services in the UK. The purpose behind my piece is to raise awareness by showing that hypochondria is a real thing. I am going to do that by including two case studies – one from a person who no longer suffers with health anxiety and one from someone who is still going through it. The aim is to show the similarities between the two stories and the differences in treatment.
With the increase of health anxiety sufferers, the NHS is now facing a health crisis.
As the number of health anxiety sufferers increase, so does the pressure on the NHS with the allocation of funding for unnecessary procedures such as endoscopies, MRI’s and CT scans. Tackling such issues could save the NHS millions and reduce the waiting times for more serious issues. I am including an interview with a GP and ER doctor, to talk about his experience with people suffering from hypochondria and the impact it has on the NHS.
I will include an interview with a CBT specialist to talk about the success rate of therapy.
I have decided to audio record the stories of the two cases, to make them more personal and add a voice to the experience.
Due to the pandemic, the GP has agreed to answer my questions on email, so I will quote what he says and showcase the interview in a text format.
Target audience:
My target audience is anyone suffering with hypochondria. My work is also suitable for the viewers of Good Morning Britain, as it’s a topic of conversation they would lead on the show.
My piece is easy to read, I am not using any complex language as I wouldn’t like to confuse my audience.
Style and content:
The title of my work is “I’m not a hypochondriac, I’m generally ill”. My sub-title is “A hidden health crisis”. I have decided this name for it as health anxiety sufferers convince themselves that they are generally ill due to the symptoms that they experience, which are very real. I have decided to add the sub-title to show the reader that it is becoming a health crisis due to the sufferers believing their symptoms are life-threatening and seeking medical advice from doctors. I have used a royalty-free image and edited it on photoshop to show the effects hypochondria can have on an individual. The picture is of a man with a concerned look, gazing into a mirror. I have edited his reflection in the mirror to look as if he has an illness. I have decided to use it as my main picture as it is a good representation of how a hypochondriac would see themselves, when in reality they are healthy.
I have also taken screenshots of people discussing their symptoms from a Facebook group called “Health Anxiety and Hypochondria support”. I included them on one page and blurred their names due to the data protection regulation. I have added this as my second slide as it represents real stories of people suffering from hypochondria.
I have decided to use a picture of pills, a person getting an ECG and an MRI scan for my third slide as I’ll be giving background information of my research and hypochondria. I believe these are good photos to represent the illness.
I have asked my interviewees to send me head shots as I wanted to add a face to their stories.
Sources:
This article talks about how hypochondria can cause real ilnesses as they worry themselves sick.
https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/anxiety-type/health-anxiety/
This article talks about what health anxiety is and how you can self diagnose yourself.
https://www.starlingminds.com/resources/blogs/what-is-online-cognitive-behavioural-therapy/
From reading this, I found out more about CBT and the statistics on the success rate. I found that CBT alone is 50-75% effective for overcoming depression and anxiety after 8-15 sessions. Medication alone is 50-75% effective, however, science still does not understand the long-term effects on the brain and body. Medication and CBT combined is most effective, with 75-90% of people overcoming mental illness.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/articles/201001/hypochondria-the-impossible-illness
This article talks more about the frustration of suffering with hypochondria as most professionals say the symptoms are nothing serious. It talks about how hypochondriacs often get the test they need for reassurance but it ends up being nothing until the next symptom starts, so it’s a constant cycle.
https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=GB&q=health%20anxiety,hypochondria
This is data based on the hypochondria engagement across social media platforms, and the growth of people researching the subject over the years. It also shows which countries in the UK have the most searches of hypochondria and health anxiety.
https://fullfact.org/health/spending-english-nhs/
This article shows data on the budget of the NHS.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45331220
By reading this I found that six-week waiting time applies to tests including endoscopies, colonoscopies, MRI and CT scans. It also gives statistics on the waiting period with the NHS.
https://www.fairfield.org.uk/tests/private-mri-scan/
Here I found the costs of an MRI scan.
This article supports my investigation and it talks about how much the NHS could save by tackling health anxiety.
https://www.nelondontreatmentcentre.nhs.uk/news/why-health-anxiety-is-a-medical-problem/
Why health anxiety is a medical problem.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41176729
Worrying excessively about health, and going for unnecessary appointments and tests, is a growing problem – fuelled by looking up symptoms on the internet, researchers say.
