I have not been diagnosed, but I believe I am suffering with GAD and hypochondria. I CONSTANTLY fear I have a serious illness, like HIV. Why is this? I had a very traumatic past -- both my parents were alcoholics and my father was violent. Does this have any bearing on my health anxiety? My sister has had a nervous breakdown, and I constantly have exaggerated worries that I will too. Is this possible? I am alone and afraid.

Annette

I can't say for sure what's going on with you without talking with you personally. But if you believe you're suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and hypochondrias (as hypochondria is officially called today), you may benefit from consulting a psychologist or other therapist and exploring these issues further.

Could your traumatic past affect your emotional well-being? That's certainly possible. Many people who grew up in chaotic and violent homes, for instance, experience anxiety (and, often, depression) that can be considered a type of post-traumatic response. Some may meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or may be more prone to developing PTSD after experiencing additional trauma in adulthood.

Some of my clients who were preoccupied with fears of illness grew up in environments where only physical pains or illnesses were respected. Emotional pain was discounted or ignored, and its expression discouraged. Having thus never learned to directly identify and address emotional problems or issues, they came to interpret the physical sensations associated with emotions as signs of illness or physical problems. Not having an outlet for painful emotions also increased the likelihood that those emotions would manifest in physical symptoms such as headaches, constricted muscles, gastrointestinal upset, etc.

You mention that your sister has had a "nervous breakdown" and you're afraid you will have one, too. "Nervous breakdown" is a layman's term that could be applied to anything from extreme physical and emotional exhaustion to severe depression to a psychotic episode. If your sister's "breakdown" was in any way related to HER traumatic childhood, I hope that connection was recognized and she's getting good psychotherapy to address that aspect.

I hope you will consider talking with a therapist further about your questions and the related issues. Good luck.