What is a cyberchondria?

The concept of cyberchondria has been invoked to refer to the anxiety-amplifying effects of online health-related searches. Considering the origin of the term (i.e., as the counterpart of hypochondria in the digital age), cyberchondria refers to an abnormal behavioural pattern and emotional state.

What is meant by the term cyberchondria?

Cyberchondriac is a slang term for an individual who is constantly using the Internet to self-diagnose various health problems. In addition to providing large amounts of information, some medical websites allow people to enter in symptoms that they experience to get a list of disorders that match them.

What triggers cyberchondria?

What Causes Cyberchondria? People with depression or anxiety are more likely to experience cyberchondria. It is also prevalent in people who have had a loved one die. First-time mothers may also be prone to cyberchondria, as it is very common for them to do online research about their new babies.

What are the symptoms of cyberchondria?

Is cyberchondria an illness?

Cyberchondria is not a formal diagnosis, and you won't find it listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The term is a play on the word “hypochondria,” also known as illness anxiety disorder, which is listed in the DSM-5.

Cyberchondria: Do Online Health Searches Prompt Symptoms (and Worse)? | Mary Aiken

How do I get rid of cyberchondria?

Why is cyberchondria important?

Cyberchondria may also have effects on seeking and receiving healthcare, which has public health implications. Thus, cyberchondria may drive help- and treatment-seeking behaviour as a result of the anxiety induced by excessive OHR.

What is it called when you self-diagnose yourself with everything?

This not only leads to people self-diagnosing incorrectly, but it also leads to more anxiety than you had before you did the Google search. Psychologists call this “cyberchondria” for obsessing on investigating health symptoms on the Internet. Think of it as online hypochondria.

What should you not say to a hypochondriac?

How do I talk to myself down from a hypochondriac?

Hypochondriac Treatment

Self-help for hypochondria can include: Learning stress management and relaxation techniques. Avoiding online searches for the possible meanings behind your symptoms. Focusing on outside activities such as a hobby you enjoy or volunteer work you feel passionate about.

How can I stop myself from googling?

Use a distraction. Another technique to keep you from self-diagnosing is distraction. When you feel like doing some Googling distract yourself by doing something else — going for a run, calling up a friend, watching some funny videos, whatever will get you out of your head.

Is health anxiety a mental illness?

Health anxiety is no longer included in the American Psychological Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It was previously called hypochondriasis (better known as hypochondria).

Is it okay to self diagnose?

Those who diagnose themselves can't go it alone. They need confirmation, guidance, and treatment from doctors. Patients may worry that doctors won't agree with their self-diagnosis and that if they don't, their doctors won't help identify the real problem.

Can you self diagnose a mental illness?

Self-diagnosing is the process of diagnosing your illness, whether physical or mental, on the basis of past experiences or information available on popular media, such as internet or books. Access to information on the possible signs of an illness is certainly important and also empowering.

What mental disorder makes you act like a child?

Trauma recovery

In fact, age regression may be common in people who have been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID), a disorder formerly known as multiple personality disorder. People with this disorder frequently have a younger personality among their distinctive personalities.

How can you tell if someone is faking anxiety?

If you are noticing thoughts around that you “shouldn't” be feeling or acting a certain way, this could be an indication there is some presence of anxiety, depression, or other mental illness. Also, cultural messages around emotions and expression of emotions and mental health can amplify these thoughts.

What is it called when you make up stories in your head and believing them?

Confabulation is a symptom of various memory disorders in which made-up stories fill in any gaps in memory. German psychiatrist Karl Bonhoeffer coined the term “confabulation” in 1900.

Can anxiety trick you?

But when does this run haywire in our minds? When we are more susceptible to stress, depression, or anxiety, our brains may be playing tricks on us. A cycle of continuing to look for what is wrong makes it easier to find what is wrong out there. It's called a confirmation bias.

Why can't I stop googling my symptoms?

Research literature has associated anxiety and cyberchondria with problematic internet searching for medical information. A study reviewed in Comprehensive Psychiatry shows that googling symptoms results in an escalation of concerns and excessive worrying about symptoms.

Is being a hypochondriac a mental illness?

Illness anxiety disorder is a chronic mental illness previously known as hypochondria. People with this disorder have a persistent fear that they have a serious or life-threatening illness despite few or no symptoms.

What is the 3 3 3 rule for anxiety?

Follow the 3-3-3 rule.

Look around you and name three things you see. Then, name three sounds you hear. Finally, move three parts of your body — your ankle, fingers, or arm.

What is overthinking disorder called?

Overthinking is commonly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), says Duke. GAD is characterized by the tendency to worry excessively about several things. “Someone can develop GAD due to their genes. Or it could be personality factors like the inability to tolerate uncertainty in life.

Does anxiety worsen with age?

Does anxiety get worse with age? Anxiety disorders don't necessarily get worse with age, but the number of people suffering from anxiety changes across the lifespan. Anxiety becomes more common with older age and is most common among middle-aged adults.

Why you shouldn't Google your name?

Googling Yourself Doesn't Reveal Your Position in the SERP

The search engine results take into account many factors to determine which pages you're shown and when you see certain ads. Your result is different from your boss's result, even if you use the same search query.