Being that I'm pretty sure I'm a hypochondriac, I really should NOT read medical journals.

But when I get bored I do research (at one point I spent an entire week doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and talking on AIM while reading crimelibrary.com) and this time the research was on schizophrenia...
So now I'm convinced I have schizophrenia, I'm paranoid, I hear/see things, I have random emotional fluctuations, I'm scared of things for no logical reason (ie the shower drain) and I have a fear that there are video cameras in my bathroom and that people are broadcasting my thoughts, and any time anyone is in the same room as I me I'm scared they're reading what I'm writing, and will be overly critical of me....which are all symptoms of schizophrenia.

So now I'm researching Hypochondria. I shall share that research with you! At least the things I find relevant or interesting.

Definition: 
Hypochondria is a belief that real or imagined physical symptoms are signs of a serious illness, despite medical reassurance and other evidence to the contrary. 
Alternative Names: 
Hypochondriasis 
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: 
A person suffering from hypochondria is preoccupied with physical health and has an unrealistic fear of serious disease well out of proportion to the actual risk. There is no specific cause of hypochondria, and it occurs in men and women with equal frequency.
 
Symptoms (I have the ones with *s): 
*preoccupation with fear of illness
*persistent fear of having a serious illness despite medical reassurance
*misinterpretation of symptoms
*symptoms that may shift and change
*symptoms that may be vague or specific (see somatoform pain disorder)
*no apparent physical disorder that can account for symptoms
*disturbance lasting for at least 6 months (24 weeks) *Actually it's been going on for three to four years.
****The affected person may recognize that the fear of having a serious disease may be excessive, unreasonable, or unfounded.
 
Signs and tests: 
A physical examination should be performed to rule out an underlying organic disease. A psychological evaluation should be performed to rule out other related disorders.
 
Complications: 
There is a possibility that a real disease may be overlooked in people with hypochondria because their previous complaints were unfounded.
Complications may result from invasive testing and multiple evaluations looking for the cause of symptoms.
Dependence on pain relievers or sedatives may develop.
Frequent appointments with health care providers are typical, and time from work may be lost.