The paper presents a case report of a patient who, after sudden death of a close family member from cardiac causes, developed symptoms of fear of a serious, life-threatening heart disease. The patient managed to create in her life a situation of compromise regarding professional activity in the workplace, which allowed her to maintain employment. The changes of the economic situation of the company in which she worked caused a breakdown of this compromise of the level of her professional activity and induced intensification of fear of heart disease. As a result, she began to demand frequent contact with a cardiologist and diagnostic tests. Typical problems regarding diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with symptoms of illness anxiety disorder (hypochondriac) are discussed.