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I went to see a dermatologist about my mole and red patch on my skin, he said my mole was fine and my patch is a small case of Psoriasis. I relaxed immediately and felt more content! Anyhow, I wanted to Google products for dry skin treatment and I couldn't help but noticed that skin cancer was in the suggested Google search so I clicked it and now I have started worrying all over again! How does anybody move away from Dr. Google and stop using him?! I am such a fool! :(
Hmm tricky. Perhaps try using amazon?
It's a tough one; the internet is a fabulous tool for most things, but for those with too much time on their hands and a tendency to worry then it is often not beneficial.
It is easy to say that we have to apply rational and logic thinking, but if we were all capable of thinking this way, then most of us wouldn't suffer the levels of anxiety we experience.
I think it really does sometimes come down to applying some tough love - to ourselves and to attempt to fill those empty moments so that we don't have too much spare time to Google.
I know it is an unpopular approach but I do think that some tough love is essential as you suggest, Sandie. I think Dr Google needs to be virtually castrated once and for all for some people who are tortured by HA
Google really is a great tool. I can get answers from everything from "How Tall is Bar Rafaeli" (5'9" btw ;) ) to chili recipes etc. BUT for the HA sufferer? Not good and we all know that.
This is an extreme approach bit if you really, really want to stop and can't, you'll need some help from a friend or loved one.
Most browsers have parental settings. If they don't, there are plug ins available. Have someone block medical websites and prevent certain keyword searches and password protect it so you can't get around it. It's gonna suck for a few days but in the long run, you'll be better off for it.
Positive thoughts
may be keep yourself busy and do something u like, get away from computers.
Hello:) My first (well second post here because of the introduction!).
I use an extension in Chrome called Adblock. It blocks those annoying ads coming up if you have searched for something. It's free and worth a go and if you like it you can donate afterwards to keep it free and going!
I read an article in a newspaper a couple of weeks ago which was saying there are some useful, trustworthy sites. Webmd.com was one of them, the nhs.uk site and patient.info.
This article said that even some GPs use these sites.
If I google something I always put 'Uk' at the end of the sentence, so as not to be directed to an American site.
WebMD will tell you it's cancer for a blister! NOT a good site for HA sufferers. My neck hurts all the time. It's a side effect from cancer treatment. If I use the symptom checker and put in that my neck hurts, a big red window pops up that says "GET PROMPT MEDICAL ATTENTION!" . Uhhhh... no... I'm fine actually. Some pain meds help but it's not sinister.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimsmrs
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I went a little Google crazy. It scared the hell out of me! I found a forum of fellow sufferers and survivors that told me like it is. Everyone is different. If I had believed the medical sites I visited, I shouldn't even be here!
Medical sites and online doctors should be avoided at all costs IMO.
Positive thoughts
Just saying what I read fishmanpa.
I found the no more panic forum through Google, and a local support group for my thyroid condition,
so it can't be all bad can it!!!!!!??????????
Not at all! See my previous post on the subject. I use it all the time... just not to feed a fear or negativity. That being said, to entrench yourself in the medical sites and disease forums or read horrible stories about misdiagnosis and other "Daily Mail" type stories sinks you deeper in the mire of anxiety and fear. Trying to self diagnose that ache or pain is only going to lead you to more worry. WAY too many do this. The words "I read..." are part of more threads than I can count and that's typically not a good thing when it comes to anxiety and HA.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimsmrs
Positive thoughts
I have been obsessively and compulsively googling my symptoms when my anxiety has been through the roof. Eventually, I got my partner to block a whole load of websites on my iPad - most medical websites etc. and health discussion boards, and they are all protected by a password. I thought it was going to make my anxiety worse, not being able to google, but actually it has improved things a LOT. So, it might sound like a last resort but blocking websites really worked for me. You need to get someone else to do it for you.
I've suggested the very same thing many times. It leaves you no choice but NOT to Google!Quote:
Originally Posted by panicwomble
Positive thoughts
As the Angry Video Game Nerd says, "The only way to do it is to just f:curse:g do it."
It's all about how you deal with the impulse to Google your symptoms - because that's what it is, an impulse. You're seeking confirmation one way or another as a method of eliminating worry. Trouble is, Dr Google's favourite diagnosis seems to be "imminent death" with a side order of the big C, so it just ends up making you feel worse.
One thing to try is, when you next feel the urge to Google something, say out loud things like "I am choosing to ignore this. I am taking ownership of myself. I am moving on with my life. I am choosing to recover."
Resisting such impulses is hard, and can make you feel worse at first, but you will not feel as distressed as if you looked it up and saw something terrible.
What really annoys me is pseudo medical info sites which link into each other and I get excited thinking that there is lots of evidence of a certain therapy or vitamin/ mineral working miracles for what ails me. Then after hours of searching I find they are run by "doctors" who have had their license revoked etc. They basically sell what they are recommending, many without evidence of it having any benefit. Snake oil salesmen! (& women). The worst part of it is their recommendations are passed on in good faith by people repeating lists of symptoms that can be cured by their worthless methods and posting them on other websites and forums out there. Fake cures are then talked about as Gospel. Ripples in a pond!
I think Google is driving the huge increase of HA sufferers. Or at least they are a major component of it. Their algorithms are set so to promote certain products by way of fear. That is one way they produce revenue for their company. Fear is an enormous tool in the world of advertising. Just turn your tv on and you will see it. The only way is to just stop googling. Or at least do so with a very discerning eye.
N.
What makes it even worse is doing those searches places cookies on your computer and then you start seeing health related advertising on the other sites you visit (FB, Yahoo etc.).
Positive thoughts
I usually do guided Internet searches to seek assurance that my condition could be benign. As well as HA, I have GAD and IBS so I will usually put those terms in along with whatever symptoms I'm having and I come up with loads of hits that tell me my dizziness or chest pain could be caused by IBS or GAD, rather than a stroke or heart attack.
Most symptoms are common to lots of diseases so I find it best to try not to explore too deeply.
Googling symptoms one of the worse things you can do.
---------- Post added at 21:37 ---------- Previous post was at 20:34 ----------
It was what I was doing when this health anxiety first started.
Google is like that super negative friend we all have! But everything you type into Google comes back, you are about to die.
Haha..an avgn reference, love itQuote:
Originally Posted by NoPoet
I must admit I really really avoid this, especially as I have a Nurse wife so shes my fount of knowledge.
Self diagnosis is no substitute for a professional opinion.
Yes Dr. Google is the worst, however, it did help me recognize I had cellulitis, but when I googled the worst cases came up and that put me in panic mode, I think I am going to try to block medical websites, and certain key phrases.
Whilst it doesn’t solve the fundamental problem I would recommend that if somebody is going to google a symptom then they should also include the word anxiety in the search subject. By doing this at the very least the returns you get indicate that what you are experiencing has been an anxiety presentation for nameless others.
The problem with Google and online searching is that it really is a rabbit hole easily disappeared down...you go from experiencing relief to doom and back again at the click of the mouse. Yes, you may hit that testimony that gives you all the relief you think you need but of course you won’t stop there. Just like you ain’t eating a single Pringle you are never going to restrain your symptom search.
I've done this trick many times! It's even led me here before. Definitely a good chance to calm some panic if I MUST google something.Quote:
Originally Posted by itoldyouiwasill
One thing that toned down my need to Google symptoms (for awhile anyway I still do it like OP and many of us!) was the time I playfully found that even hiccups - yes, HICCUPS! - was a sign of cancer! LOL. So obviously Dr. Google doesn't have a very good track record. I need to remind myself of that one more often!
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Get a friend or relative install parental controls on your computer and phone browsers to block sites and keywords as well as a password you don't have access to. Done.
Positive thoughts
Good advice! Parental controls can really help to limit the search on Dr Google.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishmanpa
Qustodio for example can block Health category sites. It is a free program and helps me a lot :)!
Whenever you have the urge to put the c word or your symptom in the search field, replace that with health anxiety, anxiety coping skills or something completely else.
I just relapsed to googling symptoms, panicked a lot but then switched to googling health anxiety instead and ended up here (and now it's manageable again).