<p>What you are describing is most likely <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidance_coping" rel="noreferrer">avoidance</a></strong>, which in itself isn't a disorder. </p>

<p>People are most likely afraid of the illness in itself, and so not going to the doctor means that they don't have to confront the possibility of having that illness. This avoidance is a <em>mechanism</em> that maintains hypochondria or health anxiety (however you wish to call it) by <em>negative reinforcement</em>: 'I don't go to the doctor, I'm not told if I'm sick or not, so I'm less anxious'. </p>

<p>The reduction in fear or anxiety is usually short lived and only makes it worst over time. This coping mechanism is not adaptive, and may aggravate health anxiety, but in itself, is not a disorder. </p>

<p><sub><strong>Sources</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="http://www.veale.co.uk/resources-support/public-information/health-anxiety/" rel="noreferrer">David Veale's website</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/CCI/Consumer%20Modules/Helping%20Health%20Anxiety/Helping%20Health%20Anxiety%20-%2007%20-%20Challenging%20Avoidance%20and%20Safety%20Behaviours.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Centre for Clinical Interventions</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/in-practice/201303/why-avoidance-coping-is-the-most-important-factor-in-anxiety" rel="noreferrer">Psychology Today</a></sub></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-18T19:17:45.463Z
2018-10-19T06:43:53.633Z
2018-10-19T06:43:53.633Z
Liz D.
<p>Some people don't like to go to the doctor because they are afraid of being diagnosed sick in medical examinations or being diagnosed exacerbated when they have an illness even they know if they don't treat the illness it will get worse. </p>

<p>A really large population of these kind of people exists, especially in Asia.</p>

<p>Is it a subtype of hypochondria? Or it is another psychological abnormality or even is normal?</p>

<abnormal-psychology><fear>
Is "not going to doctor because of fear of illness" a psychological disorder?
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# Is "not going to doctor because of fear of illness" a psychological disorder?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-18)

Some people don't like to go to the doctor because they are afraid of being diagnosed sick in medical examinations or being diagnosed exacerbated when they have an illness even they know if they don't treat the illness it will get worse.

A really large population of these kind of people exists, especially in Asia.

Is it a subtype of hypochondria? Or it is another psychological abnormality or even is normal?

**Tags:** abnormal-psychology, fear


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-10-18. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

What you are describing is most likely **[avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidance_coping)**, which in itself isn't a disorder.

People are most likely afraid of the illness in itself, and so not going to the doctor means that they don't have to confront the possibility of having that illness. This avoidance is a *mechanism* that maintains hypochondria or health anxiety (however you wish to call it) by *negative reinforcement*: 'I don't go to the doctor, I'm not told if I'm sick or not, so I'm less anxious'.

The reduction in fear or anxiety is usually short lived and only makes it worst over time. This coping mechanism is not adaptive, and may aggravate health anxiety, but in itself, is not a disorder.

**Sources**  
**-** [David Veale's website](http://www.veale.co.uk/resources-support/public-information/health-anxiety/)  
**-** [Centre for Clinical Interventions](https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/CCI/Consumer%20Modules/Helping%20Health%20Anxiety/Helping%20Health%20Anxiety%20-%2007%20-%20Challenging%20Avoidance%20and%20Safety%20Behaviours.pdf)  
**-** [Psychology Today](https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/in-practice/201303/why-avoidance-coping-is-the-most-important-factor-in-anxiety)


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