Can you will yourself into catching the flu?

Hi. I am wondering if I really had the flu or if I just wanted the flu and willed myself into experiencing flu symptoms.

My sister was sick with the flu all last week. On Sunday, I had a very emotionally trying evening. When I woke up on Monday, I was tired and thirsty, and I thought to myself, "I'd really like to take Tuesday off work as a mental health day."

Well, halfway through the day on Monday, I began sneezing violently and feeling very congested, tired, and weak. My co-workers said I looked ill and felt clammy.

I took Tuesday off work and slept a lot of the day. I felt very feverish, flushed, dizzy, and weak. I was very congested and sneezy, and just felt generally ill. However, when I took my temperature (with two brand new thermometers) it gave readings of 97-98 degrees! When my sister and fiance took their temperatures with the same thermometers, they got readings of 94-95 degress. I know they don't have hypothermia, and their body temperature is usually normal.

Do you think I really had a fever (they said I felt pretty hot) and both thermometers were defective? Or do you think my body temperature was normal and I somehow "willed" the thermometer to give them lower reading so I would seem sick?

I woke up last night in a sweat, so I think my fever broke, and today I feel tired but a lot better. I'm headed back to work tomorrow. My sister's flu lasted 4-5 days, though, and I'm feeling better after just 2.

What do you think happened?

It sounds to me like you were really sick. I'm not sure what happened on Sunday, but maybe the reason you were so emotional and tired is that your body was already starting to get sick. You might have realized you were getting sick before you came down with symptoms... maybe that's why you wanted a day to rest.

People recover at different rates, so what may knock one person out for a week, another person might get over in a day.

I'm not sure about the thermometers, though. That's really weird. Did your sister and fiance have a cold drink, maybe, before they took their temperatures?

I'm glad you're feeling better!

yes ur mind is powerful and if you see her with the flu and are around her, you can think u have it and even develope symptoms without even having it.

It's more than likely that you came into contact with your sister's germs and were susceptible because of a decreased activity in immunity due to stressful thought patterns. EVERYTHING is connected, and the mind is a powerful thing. We are not simple machines.