I am banned from Googling ;)

[mrsalphabet 4]

I don't know about you guys, but I have banned myself from googling symptoms. I am my own worst enemy when it comes t that.

Because of googling I have self diagnosed the following diseases for myself:

MS

Colon C

Ovarian C

Thyroid Disease

Aneurysm

AAA

You name it I've probably thought I had it. When i write it down it does seem so comical, but like I've said before, at the time I am seriously convinced I have these things.

[Twinks* 16]

YES GOOGLE IS EVIL !!!! and has fueled ALOT of my obsessions. My husband took my computer keyboard once and cracked it half

[Gilly 1086]

Dr Google is EVILLL indeed!! I slip every once in a while but I found if I put 'anxiety' or 'stress' on the end of my search I found much more reassuring content.

[kinser 3]

LOL, this reminds me of a line I remember from a Sex and the City episode. Miranda says, "sure you can diagnosis yourself on the Internet - just type in your symptoms and look for the word 'c.ancer."

When I was a teen (long before the Internet), I used to babysit for a doctor who kept his medical books on a bookshelf in the family room. I convinced myself I had so many ailments from reading through those books. I really and truly thought I had Lymphoma at one point because of a perpetually swollen lymph gland.

[SEA81 2]

That's so funny. My doctor literally did ban me from Googling! She said 95% of the websites online are not legitimate.

[mrsalphabet 4]

My Dr. did to. I just went to see her last week for something that was bothering me. I was convinced once again I had rectal c*****. She asked if I googled and I couldn't lie. Of course I did! Ends up I have hemorrhoids We both had a little giggle and I got the no googling lecture again.

I love my new Dr.

[racechick79 2]

I used to have problems with looking up my own symptoms and convincing myself that I was never going to live to see the age of 30 (and by the way, i'm 33 now!). Now, even though I have taught myself not to worry about me...I worry about my children. Every time I feel a little bump on their head, they run a fever, or tell me something hurts, I am convinced that something is really wrong and then I don't sleep! I am now convinced that I will never sleep well again!

[panicstricken 4]

I think this happens because a lot of the symptoms of illnesses and diseases are so similar. I thought I had a skin disease once because I googled it, and I found pictures of what I thought I had, but it was nothing serious at all. People forget the Internet is entertainment and it shouldn't be taken literally. Actually visiting a doctor in real life is probably the best thing you can do.

[daisiesndots 1]

haha! My husband often tells me to get off Google. Not only do I self diagnois myself into these horrible diseases that I might have, I also google any problem that I may be having. Then I find the worst possible outcomes that have happened and worry myself sick because I just know that it will happen to me. For instance, my car may be making a noise, so I will google it, search the forums and then I am convinced that my transmission is dying rather than it was actually my car dragging something for 2 miles.

[JungleJulia 235]

Googling never helps! And just remember, before google people managed to get by

[scotty 1]

Web MD is the worst thing ever! My Cat big me once, her mouth was covered in raw meat, so I Googled...by the end I thought I was going to loose a finger to ganggreen! I ended up driving myself to the ER with the tiniest, most pathetic prick on my finger. The DR did give me antibiotics, but nothing ever came from it.

[shaun 6]

Diagnosing yourself can be so easy, we can recognise many different symptoms and assume we must have this particular problem. The reality is we usually don't, and we are worrying unnecessarily. More ofthen than not there is no real evidence to support your belief, it is irrational.

Imposing a google ban on yourself is a good step to take.

[Quirky Jessi 2]

Between WebMD and Google itself, it can get crazy!

It takes hypochondria to a whole new level. I feel like if you're already freaking out, or even if it's just really late at night, you're tired and alone, etc, even the tiniest symptoms can feel like the end of the world when you're looking through medical disorders. After-the-fact, it's funny of course, but if you're the type that worries constantly, it can be awful.

[Urban Legend 0]

I don't know about you guys, but I have banned myself from googling symptoms. I am my own worst enemy when it comes t that.

Because of googling I have self diagnosed the following diseases for myself:

MS

Colon C

Ovarian C

Thyroid Disease

Aneurysm

AAA

You name it I've probably thought I had it. When i write it down it does seem so comical, but like I've said before, at the time I am seriously convinced I have these things.

I actually went through the same process about a year ago when I was really sick. I was trying to self-diagnose myself and to no avail. It seems like I was only making matters worse so I stopped using google entirely. Doctors know best and they help guide me into the right medication. Turns out I was having chronic sinus infections, which caught me off by suprise.

[btatro 0]

This is such a common thing, you are not alone! It is so simple to put in your symptoms and then stress and obsess over the 834 things we now "may" have. Resist from doing it. Talk to someone you know and trust instead, your doctor perhaps

[Epicfied 1]

I know so many people who do that! Googling it and WebMD make the smallest things seem huge. Self-diagnoses is awful. You're constantly worried. It's probably a good thing that you "banned" yourself from it. Congrats.

[Brad 1]

Googling can be awful.... BUT there are times where it can help as well. The key with googling is to be rational and not totally freak out when you see something you don't wanna see (I know this can be very tough to do sometimes). Sure every symptom in the world can be associated with a terrible disease, but a lot of times if you keep looking on google you'll find hundreds of people recounting stories of the exact same symptoms where it turned out to be nothing. And that can be really comforting at times, it's helped me out a lot before.

Before googling a symptom on its own, google it with the word "anxiety" beside it and you'll usually find a shit load of websites of people saying that anxiety is often the cause of that symptom. That can really ease the mind when you're worried about something. So... don't totally discount google, it can be a powerful tool. Of course it can work in both directions though, so if you are the type of person who will freak out hard the moment you see something bad, it might be a good idea to stay away.

[JOYCICLE 654]

If you actually cannot stop yourelf from googling, look at the bright side LITERALLY.

Instead of typing a symptom, we'll say purple polka dotted bikinis on my hand or PPDBOMH,,,,,,,,,,,to keep anyone from triggering!

Then dont type 'dangerous PPDBOMH ' or " C***** PPDBOMH" cuz you will find something FOR SURE.

Instead type 'harmless PPDBOMH"" This will show you all of the benign reasons for it and harmless ones and that will EASE your mind.

But probably if you've got a problem DONT GOOGLE AT ALL!

[Twinks* 16]

If you actually cannot stop yourelf from googling, look at the bright side LITERALLY.

Instead of typing a symptom, we'll say purple polka dotted bikinis on my hand or PPDBOMH,,,,,,,,,,,to keep anyone from triggering!

Then dont type 'dangerous PPDBOMH ' or " C***** PPDBOMH" cuz you will find something FOR SURE.

Instead type 'harmless PPDBOMH"" This will show you all of the benign reasons for it and harmless ones and that will EASE your mind.

But probably if you've got a problem DONT GOOGLE AT ALL!

\

Joy....Im so glad all the newbies will get to LOVE our Joy as we do!!!!

[Quirky Jessi 2]

Lol, awesome Joy! <3

And uh, I may have just done some googling because of that. Google didn't like your acronym, but when I searched for the full thing, I found some adorable bikinis.

[Mrs. Rogers 2]

Oh boy don't get me started on this. I was positive I had Cardiomyopathy around 3 months ago and was quite sure that I had an Aneurysm a year and a half ago.

[fortheo 15]

I think all people with anxiety disorders at one point come to the same conclusion you have lol. GOOGLE IS BAD.

[arctic 0]

I also feel the same whenever I encounter articles related to illnesses. I would be convinced that this is what I have. Good thing for me though is that i tend to forget it immediately after. Googling is fun to do, somehow it broadens the knowledge yet we still need to discern which site is factual and which one is not, But honestly, this thing called googling is addicting. )

[JOYCICLE 654]

Jessi, I promise you do not have PPDBOMH!!!!!!!!

[4leafclover 1]

So this prove's CIA's famous line: "Too much knowledge is dangerous". I am a nurse and the moment we started studying about diseases, its causes, treatments, complications, etc.... :emc22: it really scared the hell out of me. Plus with the dawn of computers where everything can be Googled, you will definitely be more conscious about yourself. Whenever I feel something, I read and research about it before coming to the doctor. I am a lover of education and learning and for me it would be your best weapon against anything or anyone. So though it would give me much to think about, I won't stop reading and Googling.