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Cyberchondria Sufferers?

Anyone else suffer from cyberchondria? The act of searching online for diseases that explain your symptoms?  I can bring on a full panic attack when I look up my physical symptoms and start thinking I have any number of serious diseases. I know self diagnosis is a destructive behavior but some days I have problems stopping myself. I do have some "legitimate" physical health problems so that makes it all the worse. Many symptoms are not due to anxiety. I worry the doctors are not taking me seriously or assume it is nothing major because in most cases things aren't but I worry I am that 1 in 100 that has that terrible disease etc. It is exhausting.
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480448 tn?1426948538
" I am totally drawn to all the medical shows, especially House. It almost always features a healthy younger person who suddenly comes down with some life threatening ailment,. My husband doesn't want me watching it anymore LOL "

Amen!  Listen to your hubby, he is a smart guy!  LOL

"I know this intellectually but the anxiety often overtakes the rational part of my brain. "

This is what makes anxiety such a b***h, doesn't it?

Glad to hear that you're already in therapy....maybe you need to step up your visits?  Have you shared with your therapist the increase in anxiety?  What brought on the decrease in the Prozac dose?  You may want to consider discussing a med change with your doc as well...sometimes after being on an SSRI for a long period of time, it loses its effectiveness.  Sure sounds like the Prozac dose adjustment may be the culprit.  

Sounds at least like when you're feeling okay physically, you're not as anxious about health issues, which is good.  If you sincerely feel that what plagues you truly physical (and being an anxiety sufferer for so long.....deep down, we usually know these things)...then just insist that your doc take you seriously and not chalk everything up to anxiety....and if you still feel as though you aren't being listened to, maybe find a new doctor all together.  If the doc does a thorough enough work-up, and still can't come to a medical conclusion, then, of course..you may have to consider that indeed some of your symptoms are anxiety-based.

Hang in there!!

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Avatar universal
thanks for the reply. I already am seeing a therapist and have been on prozac for yrs for anxiety. Therapy has helped to some degree, I am very insightful and know what is behind all my anxiety and control issues (been having issues with anxiety in one form or another for 30 yrs).  About 6-7 months ago we decreased my prozac to just 10 mg/day. I have wondered if that is causing the increase in anxiety I am experiencing now. I know it can take a few months for a change in prozac dose to actually change in the body. I am usually calmed by a doctor telling me everything is OK, my problem now is I don't have an appointment with the Neuro for a month.
I do know that anxiety can exacerbate physical symptoms and we as anxiety sufferers are hyper sensitive to every twinge and twitch. I know this intellectually but the anxiety often overtakes the rational part of my brain.

I am not like this when I don't have symptoms but like I said I have been having symptoms (documented by doctors) so I know they are not all "in my mind".  When I feel normal I have no health worries, no endless surfing etc.

I am totally drawn to all the medical shows, especially House. It almost always features a healthy younger person who suddenly comes down with some life threatening ailment,. My husband doesn't want me watching it anymore LOL
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480448 tn?1426948538
You are obviously suffering from health phobias, and especially the uncontrollable urge to google like mad, which, as you said....can be more destructive than helpful.  You're right, self-diagnosis is the very worst thing you can do.  Now, how do you fix it?  Well, if it were as simple as just NOT going online and having self-control, there wouldn't be a forum like this, loaded with people just like yourself.  Right?

Therefore, if you haven't already, it is time to get some help!  Seek professional "talk" therapy that will help you to basically modify your behavior and learn how to cope with the intrusive thoughts.  I have found that this is also VERY helpful when there truly IS concurrent REAL medical problems.  Many docs are quick to chalk everything up to "just anxiety", ESPECIALLY when they learn that the patient has a history of anxiety.  The therapy becomes a useful tool b/c you can always say to the doctor (confidently)..."I am seeing a psychiatrist/therapist for my anxiety and am very intuned to what's what and which is which, I am here to see you about a medical reason, not my anxiety".  

But you have to keep in mind as well that people with health phobias are very resistant to hearing that the symptoms are NOT indeed caused by anthing physical. Doctors also respect this....if they can recognize that you are WILLING to accept the fact that it truly may be anxiety-related, then sometimes, they aren't as quick to just attribute everything to that. It's important to have an open mind and try to think as logically and rarionally as possible.  I know that isn't easy sometimes (which is where the therapy comes into play)...but it is vital.  If you're convinced you're having a heart attack, you have to look at the FACTS.  Facts are reality, and anxiety is emotions, two very different things.  You say.."Ok, now I've been to the ER three times, have had an EKG, blood work, and even seen a cardiologist, who tells me my ticker is fine".  At some point, that just has to be enough...problem is...it often takes some aggressive therapy until you can get to that point where you actually BELIEVE the doctors and diagnostic studies!

One last, hopefully reassuring thought...and this comes directly from my experience as a nurse.  Real life is NOT like TV...like "ER" and "Gray's Anatomy", etc.  Majority of the time, if there is a significant medical problem, it is easy to find.  Rare, undiagnosable diseases/conditions are just almost unheard of.  If there is something there, you must have confidence in your physician that he/she will find it using their judgement.

So....if you haven't, find yourself a therapist and get to work.  These things don't go away on their own, it takes some hard work and patience.  And, know that there are MANY many people out there who are in the same boat, you are far from alone.
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