You’ve just noticed a weird symptom, it may be a dull pain, a discomfort, a sensation, you name it, and suddenly you start typing on Google looking for an explanation, a benign and harmless cause. Guess what? You will not find that.
You should never consult Dr. Google
You’ll start following links and eventually, you’ll end up certain that you have a very rare sinister illness that will bring you to your inevitable end within a few days or weeks. How did you not notice before?
Ok, maybe it’s not that way for everyone but if you are prone to anxiety you’d better resist the temptation, you may end way down the rabbit hole, reading and searching for hours in uncountable websites about your symptoms. The worst thing about it is that your mind is so powerful that it’ll start creating new symptoms for you to worry even more in a horrible vicious circle. I’ve been there.
The web is not your doctor.
How to deal with it:
- Identify the temptation and the triggers
- Put your device down
- Use a relaxation or anxiety reduction technique
- Live the moment (focus on your work, activities, people around you)
- Keep moving and physically active, don’t let health anxiety paralyze you
- Ask for professional help
Consult your real doctor if you are worried about any symptoms or if your symptoms persist.
