People joke about hypochondria.

A recent article in the New York Times (Jan 27th) examined a small study of people with Panic Disorder. About 2.4 million people in the US are reported to suffer from it! Experts compared the feeling to Being stalked by a lion. Plunged into terrifying thoughts of impending death, and outbursts of paralysing worry, victims of it are often brushed off as hypochondriacs by their doctors. Jerilyn Ross, president of the Anxiety Disorders Association in America estimates 75% don't receive treatment for their disabling symptoms.

People stating they have been labeled hypochondriacs either directly by family or friends, or by inference by their doctors crop up regularly at B R E A T H I N G WORKS.

The word itself when dissected means:

• hypo = below or under
• chondria = rib cartilage

Attached to these costal or rib cartilage's of course is the main breathing muscle, the diaphragm. This vital pump is disabled when people over-breathe -- primarily with their upper chests.
(Anyone who has been an upper chest chronic over-breather knows the familiar feelings of anxiety and physical tension).

The word hypochondriac derives from Greek at a time when ancient physicians didn't attempt to separate mind and body as we have in modern times. Their powers of observation would include simultaneous registration of breathing and mental processes. Very few doctors do that today.

The diaphragm is the muscular equivalent of an umbilical cord linking us to the environment: it keeps us alive by pulling fresh air into the lungs and returning used air back out into the world. This process is not a mindless one, but is very responsive to our thinking. The word diaphragm is related to the Greek word for the mind: the diaphragm muscle is controlled by the phrenic nerve, and its Greek root, phren designates the mind as well as the muscle. The Merrian Webster dictionary (1991) definition of the word phrenic is:
1 - Of or relating to the diaphragm
2 - Of and relating to the mind. Christopher Gilbert 2002.

People who consistently over-breathe and lose the power of the diaphragm, almost always end up feeling sick and anxious. Physical symptoms are caused by the physiological derangement's bad breathing produces. And being constantly told - there's nothing wrong after a check at the doctors
understandably makes things worse. Its a terrible spiral be caught up in. Being constantly on red alert is exhausting.

Why does it happen?
In poorer societies where you have to fight for food and survival and basic needs , there's not much time to worry about your health. We all have more time now to focus on ourselves, and our gym/youth & beauty culture reinforces this in bucket loads.

People we treat at B R E A T H I N G WORKS who have been saddled with the hypochondriac label are often victims of work stress. They continue to ignore the initial distress signals their bodies are sending them.

One of the most common symptoms -- chest pain is immediately interpreted as heart attack.

When medical tests come up All clear what does a person think when the pain returns? Unfortunately part of the physical tests for heart problems leaves out chest wall pain checks, and musculoskeletal changes / bad mechanics that hurt!

So if you've been labeled a hypochondriac - the first step you need to take is have your breathing checked by an expert.

We'd love to hear from you if you have comments or experiences to share.

Remember our well known B R E A T H I N G WORKS motto --

'Breathe Well to Be Well'

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