A symptom search can sometimes be useful, but it can also lead to hours of reading, comparing and trying to feel certain. This blog cannot decide whether a bodily sensation needs medical attention. New, severe, persistent or worrying symptoms should be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional. If there is an emergency, use urgent or emergency services. Some people notice a pattern in which a sensation prompts a search, the search brings more possibilities, and anxiety rises rather than settles. That pattern may be relevant to health anxiety, but it is not a diagnosis and it does not mean the physical experience is imagined. Both medical safety and emotional distress deserve to be taken seriously. A CBT based assessment can explore symptoms, searches, reassurance seeking, health history, current pressures and impact on daily life. It can also consider whether a medical review, another service or different support is the more appropriate next step. Therapy is not a substitute for medical assessment. Where CBT based work is suitable, any behavioural or exposure based element should be planned collaboratively and paced with a clinician. It should never be reduced to an instruction to ignore symptoms or to stop seeking medical help. The Lyceum offers CBT based support in West London and online where clinically appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Can Googling symptoms make health anxiety worse?
For some people, repeated searches can increase uncertainty and distress. It does not mean symptoms should be ignored or that medical advice is unnecessary.
How do I know whether I need medical help or therapy?
Medical concerns should be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional. Therapy may be considered where worry, checking or reassurance seeking is also causing distress after assessment.
Can I manage health anxiety alone?
Support should be individual. Do not use a webpage as a substitute for medical advice, risk assessment or clinician led therapy.