The first 1.5 minutes of this clip oddly came to mind yesterday as I watched my doctor write out a prescription for me.

Background: I have fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that's also linked to chronic fatigue. It isn't degenerative or terminal, but it also isn't curable. It's often linked with stress or trauma, which brings me back to my doctor's prescription. It reads:

+ ATTITUDE > + PERCEPTION > + BODILY REACTION
- ATTITUDE > - PERCEPTION > - BODILY REACTION

You are where your thoughts are. Where do you want to be? Choose where you want to be. You cannot eliminate thoughts; replace them with other thoughts. Count your blessings.

Watching him write the prescription I couldn't hide the smile on my face.

"Have you seen What About Bob?," I asked my doc.

"No, I don't think I have," he said.

I explained the scene in which Dr. Leo Marvin writes Bob a prescription to 'take a vacation from my problems'. With a wry smile, my doctor reached for his prescription pad and asked: "Do you want one?"

I laughed, and said I'll probably survive without it.

Sure, it was funny. And yes, I'm a psych grad who knows all about the link between state of mind and physical health. But my problem is this: I don't feel particularly good, great or wonderful (watch part 1 of the movie for this quote) about reminding myself of Bob Wiley. Who would?

I suspect I may have hypochondria, to a small degree at least; my husband is inclined to agree. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that's definitely not a figment of my imagination, but the colourful spectrum of symptoms it inflicts upon me has undoubtedly messed with my mind. When I had intense pain and tingling along my spine three years ago, I was convinced I had meningitis. When my stomach was overcome with stabbing pains I just knew I had cancer. When my joints became excessively achy and more difficult to move I feared I had Multiple Sclerosis. When a birthmark's tint or definition alters, there's no doubt in my mind that it's melanoma. Fibro can cause my arms, fingers, and toes to lose their feeling, and at times I've suspected diabetes. My shoulder has been bothering me constantly for the last few days, and what's my first conclusion? Cancer. Why? Because as in most other cases my fear is based on a story I heard about someone who had the very same symptoms and did in fact fall victim to the deadly disease.

I don't enjoy fearing the worst, but with all the teasing I've gotten from my dear hubby I realized, Hey, hypochondria's not so bad! And here's why:

If you're a hypochondriac...
- you believe junk food is only going to accelerate your cancer, so you're more likely to make healthy food choices.
- you'll take very well to running, because fitness and good health will help you outrun heart disease.
- the doctor's office and health food store know you by name.
- you won't ever be like those people who stubbornly refuse to see the doctor out of pride or awkwardness; no, you're on the phone at the slightest twinge - diabetes will not get the best of you!
- you'd rather stay indoors and blog than hang out at melanoma heights the beach.
- when you die your epitaph will read: I was right.

So, is the list missing something? Let me know!

In a desperate attempt to escape my policy paper I tried out Tickle's Classic IQ test for the first time. Here's what they told me:

131: Your Intellectual Type is Word Warrior. This means you have exceptional verbal skills. You can easily make sense of complex issues and take an unusually creative approach to solving problems. Your strengths also make you a visionary. Even without trying you're able to come up with lots of new and creative ideas. And that's just a small part of what we know about you from your test results.

Wait a minute, how did they know about that little, black notebook I keep beside my bed in which I scribble away each night about my grand vision to spark a new enlightenment around the world? Bizarre.