<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>