An inordinate preoccupation with oneself?

Here's part of an interesting 2006 article published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine:

"Physical disease as a narcissistic threat. Sigmund Freud, in his landmark work On Narcissism: An Introduction wrote that, when in a state of physical stress such as illness,"the egoism of the instinct of self-preservation" is expressed.

Illness and disease are a threat to a person's integrity. It's therefore, not uncommon for many competent, responsible individuals, when faced with the threat of an illness, to behave in an uncharacteristic manner.

Today, this situation may be compounded by an excessive preoccupation and search for information relating to their symptoms/ illness on the Internet, as well as by the breakdown of relationships, family life and community structure that has been such a characteristic of the 21st century.

All of this may contribute to a feeling of loneliness and alienation in the suffering individual and further engender a sense of need to fend for oneself as well as a distrust of the medical system."

I’m sure this would also pertain to “emotional” disease.

Many folks have very poor social supports in terms of empathy and optimal communication with significant others and have become very computer savvy. 

I can't stop pondering how Freud came up with "the egoism of the instinct of self-preservation" quote in 1914.

Scary smart guy!