Famous Hypochondriacs

Many famous people have battled hypochondria at one time of their lives or other. Here are a few:

Glenn Gould: The Canadian pianist suffered from severe hypochondria and would avoid obsessively anyone who exhibited signs of a cold or flu.

Sara Teasdale: An American poet and hypochondriac whose preoccupation with death often appeared in her poetry. On January 29, 1933, a blood vessel in her hand ruptured. Sure that she was about to die, she took some sleeping pills, got into the bathtub, and died of an overdose.

Tennessee Williams: His severe hypochondria was one of the contributors to his debilitating alcohol and drug dependence.

James Boswell: Suffered from hypochondria and depression and wrote about his ailments in his famous journals and letters.

Adolf Hitler: The dictator was a hypochondriac who was always obsessing about his health. He had a personal doctor who prescribed him countless pills, including amphetamins.

Howard Hughes: The billionaire eccentric was frightened of germs and illness to such an extent that he became a recluse. He would not shake hands with people and kept several doctors on staff.

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