my girlfriend is a hypochondriac. I just found this out about a month ago, after about 6 monts of dating. most of her worries are so silly I can't figure out if she is serious or not. In any case, it is extremely annoying to keep getting calls about how she saw mold in her car, so she looked it up online, and now she has respiratory illness and can't feel her arm. Or if we go to a tea shop and she is certain there was LSD in the tea, and she "might get flashbacks."

I don't know how to approach this. If I say she's being silly I get accused of not taking her seriously. If I don't say anything I get accused of being insensitive. If I just listen to her imagined ailments I get really bored and annoyed.

It seems mean to dump someone because they are a hypochondriac, but really I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

oh for fucks sake. this isn't a bloody agony aunt column.

fuck your girlfriend you pathetic piece of sheeps dag.

I get this every once in a while from my wife. Something along the lines of "I have a headache... what if it's a brain tumor?"

I used to explain to her all the reasons why it very likely wasn't a brain tumor, now I just ignore it. Actually, she doesn't really do it anymore.

I'd suggest explaining why these things aren't worth worrying about. If it's really "ruining your relationship", then confront her with it and explain why.

If she isn't willing to at least try to get better, then she'll only get worse.

I figure - I frequently see visual artifacts, hear noises that aren't there, smell smoke, and have a stabbing pain in the left side of my head.

If *I* don't have a brain tumor, little miss "I have a migraine" certainly doesn't...

Philo

But what if you *do* have a tumour?

Then I think most people here would say "well THAT certainly explains a lot"

Drop the drugs, Philo. Now.

" But what if you *do* have a tumour?"
It's not a too-mah.

And what about women and 'sell-by' dates - good grief...

My ex used to throw out tinned food because it had gone past its date - yet (correct me if I'm wrong) it would probably be good for 1000's of years as long as the tin wasn't compromised by corrosion etc.

"...it would probably be good..."

Depends on your definition of "good". Sure, it'd probably be safe to eat, but I can't imagine it would be very pleasant...

"...would probably be good for 1000's of years as long as the tin wasn't compromised by corrosion etc."

Do you really want to bet the farm for the 48-cent can of peas? Chuck it.