The Google that never reassures

Specialist CBT therapy for anxiety, OCD, depression and more in West London

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. It can help to ask what a search is trying to answer in that moment. Is it a question for a medical professional, a question about risk, a wish for certainty or a need for reassurance? The answer may vary, and a respectful assessment can keep physical health and emotional distress in view together over time, without unnecessary self blame or rushed conclusions alone. If worry comes with crisis, thoughts of self harm or an inability to keep safe, urgent appropriate help is needed. For related information, see <a href="/therapy/health anxiety/">CBT support for health anxiety</a>, <a href="/guides/health anxiety cbt west london/">the health anxiety clinical guide</a> and <a href="/guides/panic attacks subtypes explained/">information about panic like symptoms</a>. The Lyceum Clinic offers assessment led CBT online and in West London.