How do we handle hypochondria as a Christian? (Part 4: The Intellectual Life)
Trying to find rational thoughts again
This is a part of a series on hypochondria. See other posts here.
Today, we’re discussing the intellectual (rational) life. In case it isn’t obvious, I am not a doctor and am just sharing what has personally helped me.
Rationality tends to fly out the window in the middle of health anxiety. We can convince ourselves of things that have very little basis.
We can grab on to one nagging symptom that can happen with a cold but also with a life-threatening disease, and we will think that means it could only be the disease.
We can remember the one story we know of a mom dying in childbirth and forget the millions of births that happen safely.
In such moments, all logic seems to be lost, so today, we’ll discuss how to return to rationality.
If you missed the intro, I shared a quote from Elton Trublood that’s helped me approach health anxiety.
“No vital Christianity is possible unless at least 3 aspects of it are developed...the inner life of devotion, the outer life of service and the intellectual life of rationality.”
When I first read this quote, I immediately thought of my previous approaches to hypochondria and how I discounted the rational as if I had to choose between faith and rationality. But the Bible never asks us to leave our brains at the door. In fact, quite the opposite.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity.” - Proverbs 2:7
“My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.” - Proverbs 3:21-22
As we examine the intellectual life, I want us to ask: what is rational? And how do we get to more rational thoughts when it feels impossible to do so?
I hate that I have health anxiety, but I’m very thankful to write this from a place of fully understanding just how our thoughts can go so sideways. Ironically, in these moments, I can often articulate; I know this isn’t rational, but I cannot help believing such a thing. Is it like that for you, too? You know full well you’re being irrational but aren’t sure how to stop it?
Just a few days ago, I met someone new, and as we talked, she mentioned having health anxiety, and I about fell out my chair. We traded a few stories (and symptoms, of course), and it was just so encouraging to know someone else feels the same. Because, quite frankly, you feel a little bit like a crazy person with crazy thoughts that no one can relate to. To know it’s a struggle for others too, helps remove some of the shame around it.
Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty! At the end, I’ll share the books that have been most helpful for having a rational mind, and you’ll see them referenced throughout. Suffice it to say, I hope today’s post will be a really helpful primer, but I highly encourage going deeper with these books. Let’s dive into Processing, Renewing, and Thinking.
PROCESSING
From now on (at least until it becomes second nature?), every health related anxious thought you have gets processed and goes in a notebook. It is impossible to find rational thoughts if we allow every thought in with no examination process. And trying to ignore them might feel helpful in the moment, but if you are trying to push them out and it’s still there, resist the urge to keep suppressing and process them instead. I know this might feel counter to what I mentioned about good distractions, but it’s not. If you process an anxious thought and have it multiple times a day in the exact same way, a good distraction is helpful. It avoids unnecessary ruminating, but healthy processing is necessary, too.
We’re taking the thought captive and seeing if it’s true. I do this by asking if I’m exercising any distorted thinking. I’ll give 7 types of distorted thinking to hold your thoughts against. When I first read these, I felt so seen! I also pretty much aced the test and did them all. ;)