IMAGINARY FEAR

Hypochondriasis is a psychological disorder in which a person, despite being healthy, becomes convinced that they are ill. Those affected by this disorder may believe they are suffering from diseases, even though these diseases do not actually exist.

“The hypochondriac may become convinced that diseases exist, even though they are absent.” (Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 5, p. 257)

On July 28, 1992, in Pune, I had the opportunity to meet a gentleman named Mr. Farhat Haroon Khan, who shared an incident from 1971. He had met a 20-year-old Arab student named Mohammad Abdul Ghafar from Bahrain, who was studying in Pune. The young man had become convinced that eating Indian food had ruined his health and that he was suffering from a fatal disease.

He asked Mr. Khan to take him to a good doctor. Mr. Khan brought him to Dr. S. M. H. Modi. The doctor examined him and carried out various tests. A few days later, he told Mr. Farhat to inform him that he was not ill and that he was as fit as a horse.

As soon as Abdul Ghafar heard the doctor’s words, all his anxiety disappeared. He began living normally again, as though he had never been ill.

This kind of illness is not limited to individuals. Sometimes, an entire nation can also be affected by this psychological condition. Misguided leaders may make them believe they are surrounded by dangers on all sides. The secret of such a nation’s progress is to free it from this imaginary fear. Once that happens, it can move forward toward real progress.