The "Worried-Well"

I have been receiving emails, text messages and phone calls from people who already took the HIV test, with negative results and still think that they are infected with HIV. Some took the test, 6 months post exposure but still experience symptoms that they believe to be HIV-related which they have read over the internet or have heard from other PLHIV's.

I got concerned about this before as more and more people are asking for my advice about this matter, that I asked Dr. Ditangco, the head of RITM-ARG about it. She was the first person who told me about  "Worried-Well", a term used to denote people who are convinced they have HIV despite overwhelming evidence that they don't based on standardized testing methods. She told me that this is psychiatric in nature and these people should consult with a psychiatrist.

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Email 408: Another HIV Anxiety Syndrome Case

Hi Pozziepinoy,

Normal ba na maging paranoid pa rin ako about hiv even though i already tested negative. It has been 3 months since i had my last encounter (it was actually protected sex) and i got screened last week, it turned out negative and the nurse told me that it is already conclusive since it is already past three months.

The problem is i still get this irrational fear.

What has been giving me anxiety right now is that i think the nurse who got my blood used the same needle that she's used to get the blood of the person before me. (Maybe because i just didn't see her replace the needles). I still haven't gotten over this anxiety.

Do you think i already need mental help? I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks.

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