Searching symptoms can begin as a sensible attempt to understand what is happening. For some people, though, each new search leads to more possibilities, more uncertainty and another search. It may become difficult to tell whether looking things up is helping, increasing distress or both. A blog should not decide that this pattern means health anxiety or assume that a physical symptom is harmless. New, severe, changing or worrying symptoms need appropriate medical assessment. Searching online is not a replacement for a clinician who can consider personal history, examination, tests and urgency. It is also important not to delay medical advice because someone is worried that they are being anxious or “checking too much”. For some people, reassurance seeking may include repeatedly searching, asking others to confirm that a symptom is safe, monitoring the body or returning to the same information. These behaviours can be understandable attempts to cope with uncertainty. Assessment can explore the pattern, physical health, medication, safety, what has already been checked and what the person hopes will change. CBT may be considered after assessment where appropriate. It does not instruct a person to ignore symptoms, cancel medical care, stop prescribed medication or remove all checking alone. If behavioural work is clinically indicated, it is planned collaboratively with a qualified clinician and with attention to medical guidance, consent and the person’s circumstances. The aim is not to make someone indifferent to their health. It may be to develop a more workable relationship with uncertainty, information and daily life. Progress may be uneven, especially when a new symptom appears, and needing medical advice does not mean someone has failed at therapy. If worry comes with crisis, thoughts of self harm or an inability to keep safe, urgent appropriate help is needed. For related information, see CBT support for health anxiety at lyceumclinic.co.uk/therapy/health anxiety/, the health anxiety clinical guide at lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/health anxiety cbt west london/ and information about panic like symptoms at lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/panic attacks subtypes explained/. The Lyceum Clinic offers assessment led CBT online and in West London.