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It’s not easy being a hypochondriac today. Thanks to search engines, it’s just too easy to diagnose yourself with cancer that turns out to be a mosquito bite (been there, done that).  Yes, being aware of your health is good, but blowing every possible symptom out of proportion and living in fear?  Not so good, plus the anxiety can make you even more prone to the nagging little symptoms that caused alarm in the first place.

Before you make H1N1 out of allergies, here are some tips for the modern hypochondriac.

1. Repeat after me: do not Google.  In an era of self-diagnosing on the Internet, it’s way too easy to panic.  If you’re already prone to worry and agonize over health concerns, it’s enough to send you over the edge.   Just try not to do it.

2. If you absolutely must Google, do it intelligently.  Read the symptom checker on WedMD or articles from the Mayo Clinic.  Steer clear of message boards where you’ll only read other hypochondriacs’ horror stories.

3. Keep your appointments.  A yearly physical is just an overall good idea. It can reassure you that everything is okay and provide a time to ask those ridiculous health questions and get real answers.  Schedule a yearly screening with a dermatologist to make sure any moles are harmless. Ladies, as tempting as it is, don’t skip the gynecologist appointment (it’s over in fifteen minutes and you don’t have to think about it again for another year).

4.  Find methods of relaxation that work for you. The added stress of worry can be overwhelming and learning to quiet your mind can be a big step towards feeling better about yourself and your health.  Explore different types of meditation, exercise, or treat yourself to a massage.  Bonus: these things are all good for you anyway.

5.  Last, don’t be afraid to go back to the doctor if something specific is bothering you. The best way to balance anxiety is with good information.  In time, gaining information can help you to tell the difference between a genuine hunch and a pointless worry.