Hi, for a while now since my mother’s death i’ve been suffering with health anxiety and i now began suspecting myself to have a schizophrenia. I have also been called neurotic which made more sense to me when i looked it up even though this term is not used much anymore

So for a while now I’ve been experiencing a lot of hypochondrical fears of all kinds. This started happening after my mom passed away form cancer. I have always been a hypochondriac and OCD, but now it has hit a new high peak.

I’ve come up and went to the doctor over so many things. I get obsessed and scared over a certain disease, not out of nowhere, but also not really based on definitive but mostly on minor symptoms. I.e. i’ve had bad coughs and chest pain and i thought I may have TB, done some research and it turned out that i’m in the risk zone. I developed muscle twitches and thought it may be ALS. and it is hard for me to be convinced that I have nothing but it is not impossible. Meaning that i am aware that i am most likely fine, but some symptoms are there and i just don’t want to risk.

Research doesn’t always help and for example reading that the disease is really rare, would still not convince me because if there is a chance, then it’s there. Going to the doctor may or may not help. If an actual test is run and I’m proven to be good, then I don’t worry no more, but if the doctor says “you’re probably fine” just based on evaluation or observation then I still have some doubt.

I never experienced hallucinations when i;m sober and awake, but i do occasionally see and hear things when i transition in and out of sleep. Like one time when i was half awake i saw room flashing blue (could be dream, phone or real hallucination, not sure) and today i’ve had something like a tv in my head when i was half-awake, but still kinda sleeping, i was aware that its not real and probably a dream.

So i wanted to ask, would hypochondriac fears be considered a delusion if i am aware of the low risk, but still worried and would things i see when transitioning in-out of sleep be considered hallucinations?

Thanks (From the USA)

A:  I appreciate the courage it takes to ask these questions and will strongly recommend you get a thorough medical evaluation — top to bottom. The best person for this is a neurologist. He or she will be able to review everything that is happening, offer some definitive test, and render an opinion of what needs to be done.

Wishing you patience and peace,
Dr. Dan
Proof Positive Blog @ PsychCentral