"I must have cancer"

Hypochondriacs: a pathological fear of being ill

Hypochondriacs suspect a serious illness behind every harmless symptom.

(Bild: Fotomontage/Fotos: stock.adobe.com)

"I've probably got cancer" - if a thought like this occurs frequently and is accompanied by great anxiety, you could be a hypochondriac. A psychologist and psychotherapist explains what lies behind the illness, where it comes from and how those affected manage to escape the vicious circle.

Just a stomach ache? No, probably (stomach) cancer. Muscle twitching, dizziness, headaches - stress and too little fluid as the cause? Certainly not. There is definitely a serious illness behind it, such as a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease. This is how hypochondriacs think, suspecting a serious diagnosis behind every symptom.