Personal alienation as a factor in the occurrence of hypochondriac disorders of the elderly people

One of the characteristics of personal alienation is the increased attention to one's own physiological health. A particular focus on one's own physiological health in old age often leads to hypochondriacal disorders. The purpose of this article is to theoretically analyze the problem of personal alienation as a factor in the development of hypochondriacal disorders in the elderly. Using the method of theoretical analysis of scientific literature on selected topics, in the article substantiated the concept of personal alienation of older people and the concept of hypochondriacal disorders. Personal alienation is a complex process of gradually reducing social and psychological contacts between the individual and the surrounding society. Hypochondriacal disorders are disorders that are caused by mood depression and increased accentuation of attention to one's physical health, which is recognized by humans as having an incurable disease. Applying the synthesis method to the characteristics and features of the selected concepts, the article reveals the areas where these phenomena are relevant. According to the purpose of the article, significant characteristics of personal alienation and hypochondriacal disorders of the elderly were revealed using the methods of comparison and abstraction. Personal alienation is characterized by dissatisfaction with life in whole or in its individual spheres, experiencing powerlessness, anomie, nihilism or cynicism towards social values, experiencing isolation, and a sense of loss of meaning. By experiencing such negative psycho-emotional states, the elderly person can delve deeper into themselves, concentrate on what is worrying them, pay special attention to their health, which can lead to hypochondriacal disorders. Among the main manifestations of hypochondria of the elderly are increased anxiety, depression, apathy, lack of confidence, sentimentality, upset, sadness, fear of the future, bad mood and more. Socio-psychological problems of the elderly are capable of giving rise to a painful experience of personal alienation. The experience of personal alienation and associated negative psycho-emotional states will be a factor in the development of hypochondriacal disorders in the elderly.