I totally understand, relate, and have the symptoms of hypochondria. In fact, of my many experiences with worry, not trusting doctors, and frustration towards others, a recent one that I had is similar to something you mentioned. I was up all night one night and as the hours passed my lack of sleep caused symptoms of paranoia. I was certain that my neighbors upstairs could hear me crying and were going to come knock on my door to tell me to shut up! By the time the sun came out, I was breathing rapidly, along with a racing heartbeat. Scared, (I live alone), I called an ambulance. After some blood tests and a couple of EKGs, the doctor helped me practice taking my pulse. At first I felt he was patronizing me, but when he explain that I needed to watch out for irregular heartbeat, and not rapid heartbeat, I listened to him. Turns out my rapid breathing and heartbeat were the results of a panic attack.
