GOOGLING IS THE ENEMY!

[pssssst]

I have personally done this and I know 99% of everybody on this forum has.... the infamous google search of symptoms.  It is the absolute worst thing you can do when being a hypochondriac because every symptom we have due to anxiety is also related to something serious which triggers even more fear!  and even if you don't have anxiety symptoms, it isn't likely that anything you find on google will help reassure you of anything.  I just wanted to post this in hopes that at least one person will fight back to anxiety and not give in to searching for symptoms because it will only make the fears worse...

[brandons_mom]

I usually use 0278 as my search engine....but I know what you mean.  I search in hopes that I can find evidence that my fears are unwarranted, but usually wind up feeling 10x worse than when I looked up my symptoms or feelings.  It's better to just stay away for sure.

[Kayteecatt]

That disease actually has a name...cyberchondria...it's so common they gave it a name...I know I suffer from it.  I have finally managed to only google things that I know I have.  Or my newest way to google is adding the word "anxiety"....like "dizziness anxiety" that way the first 2 pages are related to anxiety symptoms, and I can't ever go past the first two pages of anything I google...lol...

Anyway, yes we should definately resist the urge to look things up on the net, but if you absolutely must, add anxiety to your search.

[NancyKim]

Symptom surfing is the worst thing people with our problem can do.  It winds up reinforcing the belief in a worst-case scenario.  I have stopped doing it and only look something up when I have  been diagnosed with something by a doctor and want to get further information.  I would give you an example of a a symptom I had and what I thought I had after doing a search, but I would probably make you all anxious about it.
One question unrelated to this topic.  How do you start a new post?  I did it about a week ago and now cannot figure out what I did.  Is there a "New Post" button that I I'm not seeing?

[NancyKim]

Nevermind.  I found the New Topic button

[angeliz]

My husband is so fed up with me googling symptoms and then thinking I have so dreadful disase that he has threatened to turn the internet off!

[k2626]

Yep totally true............