Should I write about my hypochondria in my essay?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi fellow CC’ers.</p>

<p>When I was 8 years old I started being a hypochondriac I only really got over it when I was 14. I was depressed for 6 straight years of my life thinking I would die anyday or that I wouldn’t wake up, that I had a life threatening disease when it was nothing.</p>

<p>Now this didn’t happen without reason. My aunt and grandma which lived with me died slowly of cancer. My aunt passed away 2003 and my grandma 2006. I shared a room with both of them. I saw them slowly get sick and eventually pass away. When I was 8 (2004) I began seeing spots in my evision and “floaters” I thought I was going blind. I always had a congested nose so that bothered me as well. And I began getting ringing in my ears when I was 10, tinnitus. Basically since all these things happened I felt I was constantly getting a new illness.</p>

<p>I never told my parents that I saw “floaters” or had ringing in my ears because I didn’t want to worry them. But the tinnitus got so bad I had to sleep with two fans. This was really hard for me to overcome but I did it and it has really impacted me in my life. At one point I decided that I couldn’t live my life like that and that it wasn’t so bad.</p>

<p>Now I was wondering if I should write about this in my college essays when they ask what has influenced me or impacted me, or what I have overcome. </p>

<p>I don’t want to sound like someone who wants to get pity just to get an acceptance. But this has definitely influenced me and my outlook on things. I’d like the opinion of mature adults and parents on CC. Thanks for reading my post!</p>

2

<p>Not sure about this topic. I can see your perspective of having overcome a problem, but college admissions staff are looking for students who will make good roommates and become active participants in campus life. This topic might give someone reservations, even if you present it as something in the past that you have overcome. I’m not sure that I would recommend this one.</p>

3

<p>Agree with rockvillemom. If you were my child I would advise against it. In my opinion, that may not be the best way to present yourself to admissions.</p>

4

<p>I think a different topic that picks up on another aspect of your personality would better serve you.</p>

5

<p>I agree with the other posters. I just don’t think a topic that is this much of a downer is a good idea. I would suggest that you pick something different.</p>

6

<p>Pick a different topic.</p>

7

<p>I would not. Your essay should make the admissions officer think I’d really like this student in our classes, or this person would make a really great roommate. It’s not so much that you overcame adversity, but that you are a person who will make a positive contribution to college life.</p>

8

<p>I’m thinking not.</p>

9

<p>Not a good idea, even if you can write like Woody Allen - check out his NYT piece about hypochondria:<a href=“Opinion | Hypochondria: An Inside Look - The New York Times”>Opinion | Hypochondria: An Inside Look - The New York Times;

10

<p>I’m surprised by the responses to this, because handled right, I think an essay about hypochondria could be very good. What would be important is</p>

<p>a. Keeping a sense of perspective. As someone who has been diagnosed with hypochondriasis (which is thankfully under control with medication), I’m the last person to minimize what you’ve been through, but you don’t want this to turn into a narrative of your heroic victory over an overwhelming foe. Frankly, colleges are going to get some overcoming adversity essays from kids who have faced real horrors, so it is important for people who write about their own obstacles, whether it is an anxiety disorder or a speech impediment or an LD, to remember that their problems aren’t the only ones or the worst ones out there.</p>

<p>b. Focusing on the type of person this experience has made you rather than the fact of your illness. Do you appreciate life more now? Are you more sensitive to other people with mental illness, or who actually have the diseases you thought you had? Do you approach other challenges with greater confidence because the things you face now aren’t as bad as the terrors you used to face because of the hypochondria?</p>

<p>c. Not saying anything that would indicate to the college that you are currently or likely to become unstable. I’d avoid using the “d” word (depression), because that sets off alarm bells for colleges worried about suicide. Certainly, if you ever contemplated sucide, don’t mention it. You don’t have to lie, but you don’t have to reveal everything, either. </p>

<p>If I were writing this essay, I’d open with an anecdote describing a time you thought you had a major illness. After that, I’d give some informational context - describing the family circumstances that triggered your hypochondriasis, and then giving some clarification about the disease, which is very commonly misunderstood. A lot of people think hypochondria is faking illness, and treat it as something of a joke. As you and I know, that isn’t the case at all, but you should briefly make sure your reader knows that. I’d then devote the rest of the essay to talking about how you overcame it - to the extent that you can explain that at all - and how it has made you a stronger and better person.</p>

<p>Most subjects can be the basis of a great essay or a terrible essay depending on the writer. There are certain explosive topics you’ll always want to avoid, but I don’t think this is one of them.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

11

<p>You shared a room with both your aunt and your grandmother and went through cancer with them until they passed away. Is there anything from this experience that you can write about? </p>

<p>Like previous posters, I am concerned about the hypochondria angle. But it seems to me you’ve had a lot of other life experience you can use.</p>

12

<p>Here;s the thing: nearly any topic can make a great essay by a very good writer. But most of us are not very good writers and even good writers miss the mark at times. You also don’t choose your reader. Your reader is not likely to be focused fully on your essay but instead going to be reading God only knows how many essays in a very short time until her brain feels like exploding and her eyes are a blur. The likelihood of nuances that may make an essay special, getting noted and appreciated are small in the process. A lot times what comes from the essay when reading quickly, is the feel and basic point. </p>

<p>So, as a rule focusing an issue like hypochondria in an essy is not usually a good idea, having it appear as angle could be. It all depends on how well this is done. But bear in mind that most of you kids are NOT terrific writers. Few essay, very few stand out,</p>

13

<p>The short answer is no. Calla1 above makes a very good suggestion.</p>

14

<p>No. Other students will be writing things that make the readers smile; you do not want to write things that make them wonder if you will be OK at their school</p>