[Gernald]

Do hypocondriacs feel the pain that they claim they have?
Or is that just psycogenic pain that people feel but don't really have?

Or am I confused?

If pain is psycogenic how can a person get rid of it?

Thanks!

[artlady]

Some do feel pain.The mind and body connection is very powerful.

A woman who has a false pregnancy will stop menstruating and even get belly fat and appear by for all intents and purposes to be pregnant. That is the power of suggestion.

Think of the phantom pain that a person has after the removal of a limb.They feel the fingers in the hand that is no longer there.

Fascinating what the mind can do.

[Gernald]

What about pain that was felt before they thought they might be a hypocondriac? Is that real or is it just an figment of their imagination?

Good example with the false pregnancy by the way, wouldn't have thought of that. (Sorry, I'd like to point out that people with phantom limbs aren't hypocondriacs. I can't explain it too well but people who have amputated limbs often lack use of the part of the brain that controlled it and that part grows on to other parts and by feeling something on another part of their body like their face they feel it on their hand too. It's kind of like the brain re-maps itself to make sure they're used but in doing this one part of the brain feels two things: one that's real and one that's not.)

Thanks!