In a way, I think people can make their condition worse by believing it's worse. Also, with anxiety, I think you can convince yourself you're so crazy that you may actually produce symptoms to justify it.

Personally, I'm afraid of hallucinations/schizophrenia (sorry, no offense to anyone.) If I am falling asleep and suddenly hear a sound, whether imagined or real, I start panicking over the idea that I'm losing connection with reality. I guess that's just paranoia.

I supposed people can accidentally identify with a certain disorder through misinterpretation and then begin seeking treatment for such. They could believe they have something they don't, especially if they are told so by relatives or a doctor, and begin drawing out symptoms or marking normal behaviors as 'sick.'

But on the reverse side, aren't a bunch of us treated like it's all in our heads? (as in, it's not real, we're doing it to ourselves.)