Googling My Way to the Grave
It usually starts the same way…
You wake up with a strange headache, nothing too serious, just a slight ache near your temple. You brush it off, thinking it's probably nothing. Maybe you slept awkwardly, or maybe it's the three iced coffees and zero water you had yesterday. Instead of hydrating like a sensible person, you do what any modern, slightly unhinged adult would do: you hit up Google.
Suddenly, you're not just tired or dehydrated anymore. You've convinced yourself you have a tumor or an aneurysm. Or some bizarre condition that doesn't even have a name yet, just a cryptic jumble of letters and numbers like a password you'd forget in a heartbeat. You've gone from mild worry to drafting your will in just five minutes. You're not just spiraling anymore; you're mentally preparing for your own funeral. Should it be outside? Do you want a playlist? Who gets your books?
Welcome to the world of digital hypochondria, where one search bar and too much screen time turn every slight cough into a major crisis.
The internet has changed how we deal with health, and not always for the better.
Back in the day, if something felt off, you'd wait it out, maybe mention it to your mom or a friend, and if it really stuck around, you'd call your doctor. Now, we have Google and TikTok. We also have Reddit threads filled with people diagnosing each other based on vibes and secondhand info. We have WebMD, where the choices are always: "You're fine" or "You might be dead by Wednesday."
It's not that we're dumb; we're just overwhelmed. There's something enticing about searching online; it feels like you're being proactive, like you're taking control of your health. But really, you're just giving your anxiety more stuff to fixate on. The endless scrolling gives you something to do with your fear; oddly enough, that feels like having control.
Let's dive into the whole spiraling thing.
Our brains are wired to look out for threats, a phenomenon known as negativity bias. This was a crucial survival mechanism back in the day when thinking the worst could actually keep you alive. Nowadays, though? It just tends to mess up your day.
A 2020 study in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders found a strong link between online symptom-checking and health anxiety. The more people looked for answers, the more stressed they got, especially when they stumbled upon conflicting or extreme info. This behavior is known as cyberchondria. Yes, it's a real thing.
There's also this thing called intolerance of uncertainty, which is like the mental version of “I need to know right now or I might explode.” Instead of waiting to see how we feel tomorrow, we dive into every possible explanation today, hoping one will resonate, but all we do is scroll deeper into chaos.
Enter TikTok: the new go-to for medical advice for those always online.
While Google was the original rabbit hole, TikTok has turned doom-scrolling into a competitive sport. It's pretty unsettling to watch a 19-year-old casually explain the symptoms of a rare autoimmune disorder over a catchy tune and soft lighting. The presentation is chill, the editing is adorable, and the takeaway? You might have it.
TikTok has sparked what some researchers are calling 'symptom socializing' where folks connect over diagnoses and chronic illness tales. While this can be a source of comfort for those genuinely facing health challenges, it also creates a strange feedback loop. The more relatable a symptom seems, the more we start to notice it in ourselves. You might think, 'Wait… I do feel tired sometimes…' and before you know it, you're tagging your posts with #chronicillness.
Looking up symptoms online can feel empowering, like you're preparing for something, but often, it's just a way to feel in control. What we're really doing is seeking reassurance which is essentially saying, "I'm freaking out, and I need someone or something to tell me I'm alright." However, the internet isn't about reassurance; it's about information. This means there's always another theory, another story, another possibility out there. What we think will help us often ends up making us feel worse.
So, how do we break this cycle?
Let's be honest, we probably won't stop completely. The desire to know, to fix, to prepare is part of being human, but we can be smarter about it.
Set a personal rule: limit yourself to one search and stick to trustworthy sources like the Mayo Clinic or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Also, avoid forums like TikTok or that friend on Facebook whose dog walker had a similar rash. If you're still anxious, go old school and call your doctor; they have the training, TikTok doesn't.
Also, take a moment to reflect: what are you really after? Information or comfort? If it's comfort, scrolling won't help, but a chat with a friend, a nap, or even just drinking some water might. Health anxiety in today's digital world is tough. The internet didn't create it, but it definitely amplified it. We're all just trying to feel okay in a world that gives us plenty of reasons not to, and sometimes, stepping away from the screen is the healthiest choice you can make. So, the next time your chest feels off, and your mind says to Google it, maybe respond with, "We're probably okay."
Probably.
Strike Out,
Jessica Harris
Boca Raton
Jessica Harris is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. As a proud introvert, she is described to be quiet but always up for challenges to get her out of her shell. When not overworking herself with school and work, she's nose deep in a book on her balcony, sobbing over Kdramas or constantly writing in hopes of publishing a book. You can reach her at jessicaharris777@gmail.com.
