Science guarantees that people who look up about diseases often suffer from cyberchondria

Nowadays, when a person feels pain or discomfort in some part of the body, it is normal to research the problem on the Internet. However, although many sites feature studies by experts, the Web should not, under any circumstances, be seen as the best method for making a medical diagnosis.

The question has so worried experts that it has even earned a curious nickname, “Dr. Google”, and a specific term “cyberchondria”, a combination of cyber (relating to the Internet) and hypochondria (excessive preoccupation with the state of health). They are the hypochondriacs of the digital age. We will deal more with the subject below.

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These days, it has become increasingly common for doctors to report that they have to deal with patients who claim to have a brain tumor just because they have headaches. The cause of this is the self-diagnosis that people make after searching for some symptoms on the Internet. Cyberchondria is a type of behavior that is characterized by the practice of jumping to conclusions while searching the Web for a health-related topic. This increases anxiety and complicates the work of health professionals.

Cyberchondria, like any psychological disorder, can leave some sequelae. The consequences of conducting obsessive disease research are:

Increase in anxiety level: after much searching, cyberchondriacs become saturated with information and end up worrying more than necessary about problems they will probably never have;

Self-medication and abandonment of serious medical treatments: some people start treatments they find on the Internet without talking to doctors; others are convinced by online diagnoses and abandon real treatments. The health risks in these cases can be very serious;

Development of hypochondria: because of the great exposure to a lot of information and the fear of contracting one or more diseases, the person with cyberchondria can develop hypochondria very easily;

Nosophobia: a very common phobia among medical students who are exposed to too much information and feel an irrational fear of contracting a disease.

As with hypochondria or any other disorder, the patient should receive psychological treatment. He needs to understand that, most of the time, there is nothing wrong with his health. Receiving family support and participating in psychotherapy sessions are critical. Psychopharmacology can also work in these cases.

The information we find on the Internet may just be useful for people to begin to understand what they have. However, the complete and definitive diagnosis, as well as the treatment that the patient must follow, must be carried out by a doctor. Therefore, for the process to happen more smoothly, it is very important that there is a good doctor-patient relationship.

Do you know someone who suffers from cyberchondria? Share your thoughts on this issue in the comments.