What do you do when your co-worker is always complaining about her ailments?

Nikkibunny: What do you do when your co-worker is always complaining about her ailments?
I have been working at this job for a year and I am really getting tired of hearing about how bad my co-worker is feeling all the time. No matter who else is sick she is the sickest! I have tried to ignore it but she still talks to me about it anyway. I don’t really know what to say. I have tried to sympathize with her and it seems to make it worse and ignoring isn’t working either. Please Help!

Answers and Views:

Answer by Karen B
I work with someone like that as well. It’s depressing – every day another ailment. Try to avoid the person is all I can say.

Answer by Kevin
I work with someone who is like that as well. Is it possible every office has one of these? I found ignoring that person for long enough that she dropped off pursuit since she knew that I wouldn’t be interested in what she had to say. They thrive off of attention so if you don’t give them the time of day they should leave you alone. If not tell your boss it is a distraction and that should help take care of things, good luck!

Answer by Adina
try going to school there is always someone trying to get attention by being sick. Or I hurt my foot or my butt hurts from sitting. Or I am hungry. My mom is a beast.
so who cares? At least you have one who cared enough about you to stick around.
My dad says, “that is the price we pay for being in the human race. those who need love and attention the most are the least lovable.”

Answer by Lizzie
I too, worked with someone like that. Everyday it was a different illness. She was always on the phone and making doctors appointments. She was sick a lot as well.

The first year I worked with her I was sympathetic. Then, as the years went on,it became old. After a while, I gave patent answers like “Sorry you aren’t feeling well.” “Have you called the doctor? What did he/she say?”

After that, I ignored her. She wanted attention and complaining about her illnesses was her way of getting it. The rest of the staff tried to be sympathetic,too. Most of them didn’t have to deal with it 8 hours a day.

So, my advice is, be polite, but don’t sit there and listen to the play-by-play. If it gets worse, talk to your supervisor. This person shouldn’t be burdening others with her problems.

Answer by moose
When ever she starts to talk about her phantom aliments, act like you just remember you forgot to do something thats urgent and needs attention right away and politely excuse yourself and walk away. Or use buddy system. Find someone at work that can help you out, when you give a signal. When ever that coworker starts about the ailments you excuse yourself for a quick call or hand motion and the other coworker can call you for a sec. that way you have an excuse to cut her off on her story and walk away.
pretty soon she will get tired of this and find someone else to tell her stories.

Answer by kiss
find out her bday and make an appointment at the doctor’s for her.possibly a pyschiatrist

Answer by berry
It’s her way of getting attention. Tell her straight that she should stop talking about it.