Internet Says You're Dying? Let's Back Up
We've probably all been there—one odd ache and we're immediately turning to Dr. Google to see what our diagnosis is. But Google doesn't know you, and it definitely doesn't know about specific factors that could explain why you're experiencing certain sensations. In fact, the worst thing you can do when you're sick is ask Google for answers. Why? Let's dive into 10 reasons why you should never google your symptoms—and 10 ways to break the habit.
1. Diseases Are Complicated
There's a reason why medical professionals go through years of studying and hands-on practice before they know what they're doing, and even then, diseases are incredibly complex and hard to immediately diagnose. On top of that, symptoms can overlap across many conditions, making it more difficult to pinpoint a real cause without proper expertise to do so.
2. Anyone Can Post on the Internet
When you google your symptoms, the search engine pulls results from what they think you want to see. This means sources can range from medical websites to a stranger posting on an obscure forum. Remember: anyone can post on the internet, and you shouldn't believe everything you see.
3. The Internet Doesn't Know Your Health History
Just as everyone's body is different, your health history is your own. The internet isn't aware of the prior diagnoses you've had, the exact symptoms you're feeling, and whether there are any genetic factors at play. Whatever you see online are merely blind guesses, general enough to "fit" a broad spectrum.
4. You're Only Feeding Your Anxiety
Without first consulting a doctor, googling symptoms only feeds your anxiety. You see articles online confirming your beliefs, so naturally, you trust these diagnoses and fall deeper into your imagined reality. But anxiety could trigger your fight or flight response, and you may end up stressing your body even more on what's just a mere assumption.
5. You May Start Experiencing Psychosomatic Symptoms
Sometimes, you might start with a symptom as simple as a headache. While it could just be a regular headache, you turn to Google, and it tells you it could be a migraine, a neurological condition, or worse—a tumor. Then, because you've convinced your mind that you have a certain disease, you begin experiencing the symptoms you read online, further fueling your belief that this isn't just a headache. But these psychosomatic sensations, as real as they feel, aren't always a sign of a problem. You, however, don't know that.
6. It's Always Cancer
Have you ever noticed that no matter what symptom you search up on Google, it always tells you that it's cancer? It's almost as if the search engine spits back the worst-case scenario, even when it's far more likely what you're experiencing isn't cancerous at all. Until you see a doctor, you won't know for sure.
7. You May End Up Self-Diagnosing
Fully convinced that all your symptoms match a certain disease, you might even end up self-diagnosing your problem. You think there's no longer a point to see a doctor anymore because you already know the name of what you're experiencing. But unless you're a medical professional as well, you cannot accurately diagnose yourself.
8. There's No "One Size Fits All" Treatment
After self-diagnosing yourself, you might even start following certain treatment plans suggested by sources and strangers online. While you might think it harmless, you could be making your problem far worse than it is Remember: there is no "one size fits all" remedy because your medical history is different from everyone else's.
9. You'll Develop Hypochondria
The more you consult Google instead of a real doctor, the more you fall into the trap of believing everything you see. You might start to hyperfixate on every ache and sound your body makes, conjure up more symptoms, or become thoroughly convinced that you're dying.
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10. You Should Always Consult a Medical Professional
You should never take the words you see online as confirmation of anything health-wise. While it's understandable that you just want to know what's going on with your body and why you feel the way you do, the only way you'll get a definitive answer is if you see a doctor. Plus, the more time you waste consulting Dr. Google, the more you prolong getting a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
If you recognize that you have this tendency of googling your symptoms, it may be hard to stop—but it's important you do. Let's take a look at 10 ways to break this habit.
1. Start a Health Journal
If you don't already have a health journal, you may want to consider starting one. This allows you to keep track of your symptoms, conditions, diagnoses, and medical history. This can also be useful if you suffer from health anxiety, as you can record any sensations you feel and monitor whether they get worse or go away on their own.
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2. Put Your Phone Away
When you start feeling that ache in your head or a tickle in your throat, do yourself a favor—put your phone away. Don't run to your computer, either. As much as it's in your habit to catastrophize, most of the time, it's your anxiety that's amplifying the symptoms you feel.
3. Block Health Websites
If you can't be away from your devices, you can also choose to block certain websites you frequently visit for health. This may include medical blogs, social media forums, or any other health platforms. Instead of browsing online for answers to your problem, make an appointment with your doctor.
4. Distract Yourself
If your symptoms are manifested by anxiety, distracting yourself may help. For example, if you hyperfocus on that tickle in your throat, thinking of all the possible scary things it could be, that tickle could turn into a full-on ache—which throws you back in the loop. Instead of feeding into your negative thoughts, go for a walk. Watch your favorite show. Do an activity you like. If the sensation passes, you'll know it was likely in your head. If it doesn't, call your doctor.
5. Take Deep Breaths
Before the anxiety takes over your rationality, try to calm yourself down by taking deep breaths. Follow a meditation video or find a breathing technique that works for you. One way is to breathe in for four seconds, hold for four, then out for eight. This may help slow your mind down and cut through the panic.
6. Set a Rule
Of course, just because you should avoid googling your symptoms doesn't mean you should avoid acknowledging these sensations at all. If they persist or get increasingly more painful, call 911 or your doctor immediately. You may want to set up a 24-hour rule as well, giving yourself a full day to see if your symptoms resolve on their own. If they don't, then schedule an appointment with your physician.
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7. Shift Your Mindset
When symptoms suddenly appear, it's normal to be frightened. But because your anxiety around them may only exacerbate the situation, you may want to consider shifting your mindset. Why are you feeling this symptom? Could it be something you ate? Have you felt this way before? How did it resolve last time? Our bodies are complex and often do many strange things—like the odd muscle twitch—so instead of fearing a sensation, question it.
8. Understand That You Won't Get a Proper Diagnosis
If there's one thing that should convince you to stop googling your symptoms, it's the fact that you won't get a proper diagnosis this way. Again, you have a medical history that the internet knows nothing about, so it can only ever give a rough, general conclusion.
9. See a Doctor
Dr. Google isn't a licensed doctor, even if it's able to compile credible sources from medical professionals. It won't be able to know exactly what you're experiencing or why, so there's no point in asking it for confirmation. The only way you'll get a proper answer is to see your doctor.
10. Reach Out to a Therapist
If you still find it hard to stop googling whenever you feel the odd symptom or two, you might want to reach out to a therapist as well, especially if you suffer from health anxiety. They'll be able to suggest techniques that can help you break out of the habit—and negative feedback loop—for good.
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