Cyberchondria - health anxiety in the age of the Internet

Cyberchondria – health anxiety in the age of the Internet

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Have you ever felt a slight headache and, after 20 minutes of searching the Internet for information, been convinced that it was definitely a brain tumor?

In the age of the digital revolution, access to health information is at your fingertips. It takes just a few clicks to find answers to questions about symptoms, diseases or treatments. However, this ease of access to knowledge has its dark side – more and more people are falling into the trap of cyberchondria, or overconcern about health, driven by online searches.

What is this phenomenon and how can we deal with it?

What is cyberchondria?

Cyberchondria is a modern form of hypochondria,( a.k.a. health anxiety), which develops in response to excessive use of online sources of medical information. Affected individuals spend hours scouring websites, forums and social media in search of explanations for their ailments. Unfortunately, this often leads to misdiagnoses, mounting anxiety and unnecessary stress.

Example: You wake up with a slight headache. Instead of waiting for the symptom to pass, you reach for your phone and type “headache causes” into the search engine. After a few minutes of reading, you are convinced that you are suffering from a serious medical condition. Your anxiety grows, and you start making plans to see a specialist, even though in reality the pain could have been caused by simple exhaustion.

Symptoms of cyberchondria

The most important areas of difficulty for patients experiencing cyberchondria are:

1. Information retrieval pattern

  • Excessive, repetitive searching for health information online (minimum 2 hours per day).
  • Repeatedly checking the same information on different sites.
  • Searching for information about increasingly serious diseases related to initial symptoms.

2. Increasing anxiety

  • Increased anxiety levels after each search session.
  • Difficulty refraining from continuing to search for information despite increasing anxiety.
  • Transient relief after finding reassuring information, followed by a relapse of anxiety.

3. Disruption of daily functioning

  • Significant impairment of functioning at work/school.
  • Neglect of household responsibilities.
  • Problems in interpersonal relationships.
  • Difficulty concentrating on other tasks.

How to recognize cyberchondria?

Consider if:

  • You spend hours scouring the Internet for health information.
  • You interpret every minor symptom as a sign of a serious illness.
  • You feel relief after reading medical information, but only for a short time.
  • Your searches begin to affect your daily life, causing stress and avoidance of activities.

Why does the Internet scare us?

Search engine algorithms are designed to attract attention. Therefore, they often display the most dramatic and disturbing scenarios. When we type in symptoms such as “abdominal pain” or “stabbing in the chest,” the first results often suggest serious illnesses. This leads to a vicious cycle of anxiety the more we read, the more worried we become, and the more worried we become, the more we read.

Psychological mechanisms behind cyberchondria

  1. Selective attention: People with cyberchondria tend to focus on information that confirms their worst fears, ignoring those that suggest milder causes of symptoms.
  2. Catastrophizing: This is the tendency to exaggerate negative consequences. A simple headache becomes a sign of a deadly illness, while a minor rash becomes a symptom of a serious infection.
  3. Lack of confidence in one’s own body: Cyberchondria often results from a low tolerance for uncertainty. Those affected have difficulty accepting that some symptoms are natural and do not require immediate medical intervention.

Critical thinking vs. information retrieval

Critical thinking is a skill that should accompany anyone who uses the Internet as a source of medical information. In an era of fake news and unverified data, the ability to evaluate the quality of information becomes crucial. Critical thinking allows you to analyze content, which in turn allows you to make better health decisions. People who can think critically are less susceptible to manipulation and misinformation, which significantly affects their mental health.

An important part of critical thinking is the ability to ask the right questions. For example, it’s worth considering who the author of an article is, what qualifications he or she has, and whether he or she is citing the sources of his or her information. It’s also a good idea to look at the date of publication, because in the medical field, knowledge changes quickly, and outdated information can be harmful. Critical thinking also helps to see the differences between opinions and facts, which is crucial in the context of health.

With critical thinking, you can also better interpret search results. Instead of automatically accepting all information as true, it’s a good idea to verify and compare it with other sources. This kind of approach can significantly reduce the risk of developing cyberchondria, as it allows you to use the available information more consciously and avoid panic over unfounded fears.

How to use available sources of medical information responsibly?

Using available sources of medical information responsibly is a skill that requires a certain amount of discipline and knowledge. First, it is a good idea to use reliable sources, such as websites of health institutions, medical organizations and scientific publications. Sites such as the WHO or reputable medical universities often offer reliable and up-to-date information that is based on scientific research and the experience of specialists.

How to deal with cyberchondria? Practical tips

  1. Limit the time you spend searching the Internet. Make a rule for yourself that you spend no more than 15 minutes a day searching for health information. If your symptoms persist, instead of looking online for answers, make an appointment to see your doctor.
  2. Critical thinking. Before you believe what you read, check the source of the information. Was the article written by a doctor? Are scientific studies given that support the theses? Remember that not everything you find on the Internet is true.
  3. Keep a symptom diary. Record your complaints, their severity and duration. This will help you stay objective and provide your doctor with specific information during your visit.
  4. Find alternative ways to deal with stress. Meditation, yoga or breathing exercises can help reduce anxiety and improve your mood. Instead of focusing on the symptoms, try directing your attention to something positive.
  5. Seek support. If you feel your health concerns are spiraling out of control, don’t hesitate to consult a psychologist or psychotherapist. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly effective in treating cyberchondria, helping to change negative thinking patterns.

When to seek help from a specialist?

If you notice that:

  • Your health concerns are significantly affecting your daily functioning.
  • You spend more than an hour a day reading about diseases.
  • You feel severe anxiety that doesn’t go away after consulting your doctor.
  • You avoid normal activities because of health concerns.

This is a sign that you should consult a psychologist or psychotherapist – online psychotherapy. Cyberchondria can lead to chronic stress and even depression, so it is not worth underestimating the problem.

Practical tips at the end

  1. Wait 30 minutes before reaching for the phone to check your symptoms. Often ailments will subside on their own.
  2. Set up regular times to see your doctor – regular checkups can reduce your health anxiety.
  3. Find alternative ways to deal with stress – breathing exercises, meditation or physical activity can be a great way to relieve tension.

Remember – taking care of your health is important, but it shouldn’t turn into an obsession. The Internet is a great source of information, but it is no substitute for a professional medical consultation. Take care of yourself wisely!

Bibliography:

  1. Starcevic, V., & Berle, D. (2023). Cyberchondria: An old phenomenon in a new light. Current Psychiatry Reports, 25(2), 91-99.
  2. McMullan, R. D., Berle, D., Arnáez, S., & Starcevic, V. (2019). The relationships between health anxiety, online health information seeking, and cyberchondria: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 245, 270-278.
  3. Mathes, B. M., Norr, A. M., Allan, N. P., Albanese, B. J., & Schmidt, N. B. (2018). Cyberchondria: Overlap with health anxiety and unique relations with impairment, quality of life, and service utilization. Psychiatry Research, 261, 204-211.
  4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24956357/
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I am a certified psychotherapist and CBT supervisor. I use the latest methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy and schema therapy. My specialty? Turning complex theories into practical advice and solutions! As an expert in the field, I not only run a clinical practice, but also train and supervise other psychotherapists. I invite you to read my articles and contact me if you need professional support.

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