Get the Facts on Cyberchondria

Suddenly, you wake up in the middle of the night with a bellyache. It starts off as a dull pain, but then quickly intensifies and seems to move down your torso. So, you immediately jump on your computer or phone to search for various conditions you could be suffering from. Could it be a stomach virus, or maybe an ulcer or worse yet, stomach cancer?

If this sounds familiar, you may be suffering from cyberchondria. It’s a hybrid term for cyberspace and hypochondria (now called “illness anxiety”), which refers to people who are preoccupied with fears of having or acquiring a serious illness. A cyberchondriac is someone who searches the Internet excessively for health-care information and rather than finding relief, diagnoses himself or herself with a horrific disease, and feels more anxious as a result.

A person with low illness anxiety can search for health information on the internet and are likely to be reassured by what they find. They are more likely to go discuss the information with their primary care physician and make a plan to address the problem.

For a cyberchondriac, that’s not the case. Their excessive searches tend to fuel unnecessary fear and anxiety and they often accept what they find online as fact without ever consulting a physician.

Typical symptoms of a cyberchondriac include:

• Obsessive online searching for several hours a day, possibly even interfering with their daily life.

• They fear having several diseases (4 or more).

• The searches fuel fear and anxiety, instead of relief.

• Searching causes increases in their heart rate, sweating and even sickness.

• They automatically jump to the worst conclusions.

• They take what they read as absolute truth.

Excessive online searching not only makes a person with high illness anxiety more anxious; there are also other risks. A person might choose to self-medicate for an illness they don’t have, with a medication or herbal remedy that may have side effects. What’s more, much of the health information online is not complete. Even Google warns its search-engine users that medical-related data on the web is “intended for informational purposes only and you should always consult a health-care professional if you have a medical concern.” The bottom line is the Internet is an invaluable resource for information, finding providers, making connections and more, but it should never replace the sound advice from a medically trained physician.

So, how does a person suffering from cyberchondria get help? Because the online searches only serve to increase anxiety in someone with cyberchondria and does not benefit their physical health, it is important to stop the habit of online searching. Tell a trusted friend or relative of your goal to stop online searching and ask for their support. Set goals to change your habits.

However, if you find that you have trouble stopping this habit, you are not alone. Changing habits is not easy. For most of us, our habits and behaviors are connected to our feelings of stress, our mental health, and our relationships. Fortunately, behavioral health professionals (like psychologists and counselors), are experts in helping people change harmful habits. Many primary care offices at Summa have behavioral health professionals integrated into their practices. Ask your doctor at your next visit if they have someone they recommend to help you with this. And instead of searching online, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss any concerns you have about your health in person.