1. Rachel Morello P.2

2. A preoccupation that physical symptoms are signs of a serious illness, even when there is no medical evidence to support the presence of an illness

3. Having a long-term intense fear or anxiety about having a serious disease or health condition Worrying that minor symptoms or bodily sensations mean you have a serious illness Seeing doctors repeated times or having involved medical exams such as MRI, echocardiograms, or exploratory surgery Frequently switching doctors — if one doctor tells you that you aren't sick, you may not believe it and seek out other opinions

4. Continuously talking about your symptoms or suspected diseases with family and friends Obsessively doing health research Frequently checking your body and vital signs Thinking you have a disease after reading or hearing about it

5. History of physical or sexual abuse History of having a serious illness as a child Poor ability to express emotions Parent or close relative with the disorder Inherited susceptibility for the disorder

6. Supportive care: In most cases, the best course of action is for the person to stay in regular contact with a trusted health care provider, who focuses on reassuring and supporting the person, and preventing unnecessary tests and treatments Medications: Antidepressant or anti-anxiety drugs are sometimes used if a person with somatic symptom disorder also has a mood disorder or anxiety disorder Psychotherapy: (a type of cognitive counseling) may help the thinking and behavior that contribute to the symptoms and help them learn better ways to deal with stress, and improve his or her social and work functioning Unfortunately, most people with somatic symptom disorder deny there are any mental or emotional problems, making them fairly resistant to psychotherapy.

7. http://mental.healthguru.com/vide o/what-is-hypochondria http://mental.healthguru.com/vide o/what-is-hypochondria What is Hypochondria? (2:37) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =V-Jr7ewKHY4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =V-Jr7ewKHY4 SCRUBS (1:11)

8. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001236.htm http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/hypochondria/basics/symptoms/con-20028314 http://www.webmd.com/mental- health/somatic_symptom_disorder#1