At what point does a person self-diagnose as a Hypochondriac as opposed to having someone else tell them that they are one?
Do doctors tell people that they are a Hypochondriac under certain conditions? Is there a person who’s responsibility it is to inform the sufferer that they might be one, and to seek a definite diagnosis?
Having watched Reginald Barclay on TNG, I wonder if he’s ever looked up the term Hypochondriasis and considered whether or not he has that condition…
Along those lines, at what point does a person say to themselves, “Huh, maybe I have an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,” as opposed to being told that by someone else? And who’s responsibility is it to tell a person they have OCD and ask them to seek treatment for that? From what I’ve read, it’s fairly ego crushing to discuss it with someone else.
It’s generally similar to the point where you admit to yourself that you’re an alcoholic - when the compulsive behavior becomes significant enough to negatively affect your life. You might be partly confused because pop culture often uses the term OCD for any quirky or fussy habit. We’re not just talking about frequent hand washing, but washing until your skin cracks and bleeds. Many OCD sufferers can’t even go outside their homes. There’s often a point at which nobody can have any doubt that there’s a real problem.