22/02/2026
****"GOOGLING YOUR SYMPTOMS" đ đ aka CYBERCHONDRIA**** đđĩī¸ââī¸đ
đĩī¸ââī¸ where excessive online searching leads to increased distress and functional impairment
đī¸Key Characteristics:
đŠâđģ1.COMPULSION : The degree to which searching interferes with daily activities and responsibilities.
đ°2.DISTRESS: The immediate experience of anxiety, panic, or fear during or after a search session.
đĨĩ3.EXCESSIVENESS: The repetitive nature of searches, such as checking the same symptoms multiple times a day or across different sources.
đĢĨ4.REASSURENCE-SEEKING: The persistent need to find a "perfect" explanation or validation from online sources to reduce uncertainty.
âŧī¸Risks of Self-Diagnosisâŧī¸
đ¨Dangerous Self-Treatment: Believing a self-diagnosis can lead individuals to self-medicate with unprescribed drugs or herbal remedies, which may have harmful side effects or interfere with real conditions.
đ¤ˇđģââī¸Overlapping Symptoms: Many psychiatric and physical conditions share broad symptoms (e.g., fatigue or difficulty concentrating). Without professional context, it is easy to misapply a complex label like ADHD or Bipolar Disorder to normal variations in mood or focus.
đ°ī¸Delayed Intervention: Self-diagnosis may provide a false sense of certainty that prevents someone from seeking professional help for a genuine, treatable issue.
For Psychiatric consultation
Dr.Soumi Ghosh
Consultant Psychiatrist
Uttarpara
Call/wtsapp: 090514 66757