Me, my brain and hypochondria: is fear of illness a problem or a curious blessing?

• In the 17th and 18th centuries, hypochondria was considered a form of madness that arose from an internal imbalance. People suffering from mental illnesses were mostly sent to asylums. 
• In the Late 19th century, Sigmund Freud considered it a byproduct of instinctual drives coupled with repressed desires.
• Nowadays, it is considered a condition from a combination of neurochemistry, genetics and external influence.

As the definition of what is a mental illness keeps changing, treatment of conditions like Hypochondria also keeps varying from time to time.

Some psychiatrists provide anti-depressants, while others suggest CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) which is essentially a ‘correction’ of unhealthy behavioral patterns.

The subjective nature of hypochondria and the many variables in today’s complex world makes this problem difficult to fix. 

Maybe mental illnesses are not to be cured in a traditional way, but something to be aware of, while enduring the uncertainty.