Does Reading & Studying About It Make It Worse??

[MysticSoul9]

Since I have gone back into a severe set back and have a ton of anxiety books I spend lots of time looking for answers or a clue that will help me recover. One of my anxiety friends is just the opposite - she wont even say the word anxiety.

What works better, has a therapist ever told you to stop thinking/reading about anxiety?

[boop159]

I think all the posts have been very accurate, in particular DJ210 said it well.  There is a sense of solidarity in community, in group support.  But who of us hasn't been freaked out by something we read on-line?  

I think this sums it up well (and is cute)- what the average internet user will post, vs actual scientific averages/ the obvious:

http://xkcd.com/715/

[MysticSoul9]

bump

[dizzychar89]

I asked my counceller about this and she said reading about anxiety and going on forums like this can help,because you can give advice and also no that you are not the only one going through it,but googleing is a big no no and does tend to make things worse and usually makes you think alot of unessesary things

[carmen802]

I think reading so much about it makes it worse.But on the other hand,it can also give you a peace of mind.

[DJ210]

I feel that the best weapon in your health arsenal is knowledge.  Educate yourself.  From time to time, however, it is truly beneficial for me to put aside all of my research and opinions and, even, experience, and trust my doctor.  Please put the proper weight on the information that you obtain.  I generally find the internet to rank very low in weight concerning facts and very high in weight concerning anecdotal information and excellent for relating to others.

[mjohnston]

I think googleing our symptoms makes it worse! But its so hard not to do it!!