Health anxiety and ‘Dr Google’: when search becomes unhelpful

It is common to feel anxious about health issues you might be experiencing. But there is a difference between arming yourself with information and self-diagnosing, writes Registered Psychologist Olivia Loughnan.

Health concern, or health anxiety?

If your body is sending you signs that you are unwell, it is normal to be concerned. A strong headache might make you wonder if it is a sign of illness, especially if you have recovered from health issues in the past.

But rational, reasonable concerns about your health are not the same as health anxiety.

Health anxiety, previously referred to as hypochondriasis, is characterised by excessive fear of having or developing a serious illness and misreading your symptoms.

With health anxiety, people can often feel extreme distress about real or imagined symptoms, even after tests come back negative or a doctor reassures them that they are healthy. They may become so consumed by their worry that the distress negatively impacts their quality of life.

COVID-19 and ‘Dr Google’

If you are concerned about your health, the sensible thing to do is attend a doctor. But people experiencing health anxiety have a strong tendency to self-diagnose. What’s more, as a result of COVID-19, people may feel nervous about attending a medical centre due to fears of contracting the virus.

This makes it even more tempting to turn to ‘Dr Google’. The internet is a rich source of health information, but it does not always provide relevant, accurate and non-conflicting information. Put simply, Dr Google is not a doctor!

When a doctor makes a diagnosis, many complex factors come into play, including pre-existing issues, medications you might be taking, or other disease interactions. Dr Google is unable to assess you as an individual in the same way. Search engines and health concerns are not a good mix

Registered Psychologist Olivia Loughnan

Search engines like Google will try to ‘answer’ your questions using sophisticated algorithms. But what’s missing in the equation is context and your personal story.

The other issue with consulting Dr Google is that people are often drawn to click on the results that are intriguing or potentially frightening. This, in turn, impacts on the online ranking of the website – the more times a user clicks on a search result after typing a query, Google sends it further to the top of the list, occasionally fuelling misinformation.

Witnessing extreme or scary results can also lead to further health anxiety.

Think you might have health anxiety? • Do you have excessive fears of having or developing a serious illness? • Do you have no symptoms but fear that you are sick? • If you hear about an illness do you start worrying that you have it? • Does your worry fail to subside even after reassurances from your doctor? • Do you constantly seek health information online? • Are these worries about your health interfering with your capacity to enjoy your life? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, it might be worth consulting your doctor or a psychologist.

Managing health anxiety

The most important thing to know about health anxiety is that it is a treatable condition. Options can include psychotherapy which can help you to manage and move past your concerns. In some instances, medications can also be prescribed. The most common treatment for people who worry excessively about their health is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT will teach you to identify your own patterns of anxiety and help you to develop your confidence and ability to manage your symptoms.

In therapy, health anxiety sufferers might explore ways to recognise symptoms, examine potential triggers, eradicate anxiety-inducing behaviours and engage in mindfulness techniques.

Therapy also extends beyond health anxiety. Psychologists treat people with depression, other forms of anxiety, addiction or substance abuse issues, cognitive concerns, and other challenges, helping them to develop healthy ways to live the fuller life they deserve.

Olivia Loughnan is a Psychologist at Ramsay Psychology - located on the ground floor consulting suites at Northside Group St Leonards Clinic. To learn more, or to book a consultation, call 1300 171 715 or visit