This forum might be pretty small, but there's a lot of other ones out there on the same topic, so it's probably more widespread than we think.....I just don't know anybody off the net who is going through this in my own life, so I find it a comfort to get on here and not feel so isolated.

I agree, I think there is the market to exploit this too, and unfortunately alot of money is to be made from the sick- but most people I know who have pretty average health just don't show interest in sickness .....until they get sick....I think you get the odd person who might have a tendency to become obsessed, but usually I find people just want to get well and get on with life.

I actually know somebody that suffers hypocondria, it's a very real and serious problem. Anything at all and they think they're going to die <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shiftyeyes.gif" alt="" /> I mean to the point that it takes over their whole life.