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Addicted to google

Posted , 4 users are following.

emily52713
emily52713

For the past around 2 months google has been my best friend but also a complete pain. Every symptom I have I just automatically google them and then the worst thing comes up. I now know all the symptoms for brain tumours and motor nuerone disease and have scared the hell out of myself  as now I think I have MND. Literally so convinced. I told the doctor about this and she said that she cannot tell me wether I have it or not and there is doing more she can do. But could the symptoms all be in my head, like is it possible to make you have symptoms of serious illnesses, otherwise google must be right. 

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • jmcg2014
    jmcg2014 emily52713

    Posted

    its called health anxiety - constantly checking for symptoms and looking for reassurance, even becoming symptomic with the symptoms of the things you find out.  Very common with health anxiety, which comes from anxiety in general or ocd tendancies in other cases.  What is the most disturbing is that your doctor didnt recognise that.  Treatment for the underlying anxiety will help you, i guarentee no matter what tests you get (which im sure will be clear) will ease your mind, this is how anxiety goes.  Stop googling too!! We all do it, especially those of us with health anxiety but it absolutly the worst thing you could ever do
    • emily52713
      emily52713 jmcg2014

      Posted

      My counsellor said it was health anxiety and my doctor said that there's a high chance of it just being that but it's so hard to believe them because of the symptoms matching these diseases 
    • jmcg2014
      jmcg2014 emily52713

      Posted

      i know it is hard to believe, its a very powerful problem - but look at it this way - if you hadnt checked online then you wouldnt be so sure. when you fill your head full of the symptoms and are constantly checking your body for any changes or sensations - it doesnt take very much to start going out of control. thats just the nature of health anxiety im afraid. its good you have some form of therapy, stick with it and keep being honest with them about how your feeling
    • emily52713
      emily52713 jmcg2014

      Posted

      When i thought i had a brain tumour i had headche, and now theyve gone completly. But what if this is actually motor neurone disease
    • jmcg2014
      jmcg2014 emily52713

      Posted

      you could go round in circles with "what ifs" im afraid.  If you reread what youve just said - your starting to query when you DONT actually have a headache.  This is understandable, its exactly what happens with health anxiety.  No more google, tell all these worries to your therapist. hang in there, its a tough road i know
    • anne240
      anne240 emily52713

      Posted

      Emily we all do it.  Have symptoms like a headache, look it up on google, and then convince ourselves we have a brain tumour.  Stop scaring yourself.  If the doctor and counsellor tell you that you have health anxiety, try to accept that.  It is very common, as you will see if your read other people's post here. 

      We get ourselves in a state.  I've done it, but all tests I had came back negative.  I therefore have accepted, yes my mind plays tricks with my body. 

      Stop worrying so much.  You could convince yourself you have every disease that ever existed.  Brain tomour, motor neurone, no it is anxiety!! 

  • Aspinan
    Aspinan emily52713

    Posted

    Hi Emily, of all the symptoms and self diagnosis of terrible illnesses have any of them having had the tests or symptoms actually turned out to be what you thought they were?

    Ive currently got tooth ache, Google suggests possible nerve damage.... But I know it's simply because I'm grinding my teeth due to my anxiety.

    I understand what your going though petal and it must be horrible for you especially as you get yourself so convinced about your symptoms being something more serious, BUT your getting therapy. 

    The mind is a very powerful thing and when it's not playing fair it can be debilitating and frightening but you are in control and you have a choice as to whether to google or not and to accept that this is all part of your heakth anxiety if indeed you have chosen to accept that you have health anxiety?

    N

  • UK-Ven-medicate
    UK-Ven-medicate emily52713

    Posted

    You have health anxiety, Its hard when you have the slightest pain not to think the worst. I have only used google when it come to my own health, to understand my own problems. I have Spina Bifida and Spondylolisthesis for my own well being glen knowledge on management of my pains.

    Putting in what can be random symptoms in google can be a really risky thing to you own thoughts. Anyway you take care.

    Jimbo

  • UK-Ven-medicate
    UK-Ven-medicate emily52713

    Posted

    How you feeling have you managed to unwind a little in the last 7 days ?
    • emily52713
      emily52713 UK-Ven-medicate

      Posted

      Not at all. I'm still very worried and convinced something serious is happening to me and of course still on google 
    • jmcg2014
      jmcg2014 emily52713

      Posted

      when you feel yourself turning to google, get up and do something else - anything else. the more you turn to google then im afraid your not going to get anywhere at all. i do know how hard it is, but try to do whatever you can to avoid the impulse, you already know its not helpful so just remind yourself of that
    • emily52713
      emily52713 anne240

      Posted

      Not that great tbh. Still comvinced theres something wrong. Like i know there is! 
  • UK-Ven-medicate
    UK-Ven-medicate emily52713

    Posted

    Google has som much to answer for. And in a self sufficient world where Doctors time is short and appointments are crammed in, that we are now having educate the world how to look after themselves for simple things and also remind them what is deemed and emergency.

    The sad fact is that our A&E department (in the UK) are jammed packed full over people who dont necessarily need to be there, and a GP appointment the following morning would suffice. And lets not get started on the drunks

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