Does Dr. Google create more anxiety?

[bg77]

Every time I have a twinge, a tingle, a cough, or a pinprick, I spend 10 minutes online and convince myself that I am suffering from some horrible fatal or crippling disease.

Is it just me?  I can't stay away from Dr. Google, but he makes me so stressed I swear 90% of my symptoms are just anxiety!

[bg77]

I start making up symptoms!  I fixate on what I think I have, then the other symptoms I'm not experiencing seem to begin to appear.

[izzy87]

I do the same thing with the blood pressure cuff I'm always checking it, if I feel anything I start to freak out so I check it to make sure I'm ok... It's addicting!!!!

[bg77]

Another comment - I CONSTANTLY bounce my knees at my desk and at other times, more the right than the left, but I do both - always have since childhood.

[pmonique3]

I am guilty of it all the time.  I google everything not to mention I made the mistake of purchasing a blood pressure cuff and I check my blood pressure regularly.  I even bring it to work.  Yesterday I counted and by 3 oclock I had checked my pressure 37 times.  Which is ridiculous.  If I sneeze I google or cough.  Which I know have to be because of the anxiety b/c I never did this before.  Googling is bad for anxiety b/c our mind will think we have this and then we start to panic and have anxiety/panic attacks...

[bg77]

I have another post about it - have had varying degrees of stocking glove tingling, some right leg and arm weakness (percieved only, strength is still there) that mimics a sciatica or cervical spinal stenosis, but the tingling has mostly subsided.  Does seem to get worse if I stress or worry...

[mammo]

I think we are all guilty of this.  We have so much knowlege at our fingertips that it's hard to resist.  But we aren't doctors, symptoms can sometimes mimic so many other conditions, that it is best to try and avoid looking at everything.  But I also feel it's good to arm ourselves with this knowledge so we at least know the right questions to ask when we see our doctors.  Just always keep in mind that there are varying factors and chances are you are fine. Take care....

[izzy87]

Hi my name is izzy... I know what you mean I do it all the time.. Lol ... Afterward you feel crazzy for even thinking I could be something that bad... Well I do it all the time even if my doc tells me it's nothing big I'll still look it up and think iTs worst than what I thought...I'll convince myself that I'm not ok and it will make me feel even sicker.... Well I feel like I do this because I don't have anyone to talk about it to calm me down or reasure me everything is ok... I feel like not everyone understands what your going through... Well just remember 90% of the time it's nothing.. Lol