Hypochondriasis is excessive worry about "what if" health issues. A hypochondriac is always imagining the worst. For example, a headache automatically means a brain tumor and triggers an "OMG, I'm gonna die" panic. The fact that it could be just from holding the shoulders wrong while sitting at the computer doesn't even come to mind. And if tense shoulders turns out to be exactly what the doctor says caused the headache, the hypochondriac is not satisfied. "No, it's a brain tumor! Do an MRI. You'll see!" Simply wondering about symptoms and what they might be, especially when there is a legitimate medical history, doesn't say "hypochondriac" to me.

I often don't feel good. I'm diabetic, which lowers my resistance to infection and makes me a flu magnet, but if I say I'm not well, I have been accused of being a hypochondriac. In fact, I faced the same accusation when I had an impacted wisdom tooth that had to come out in four pieces. Nothing wrong with me! Always worrying about my health! No, if the health problems are there, then they are there, and it is not hypochondriasis.