To just turn the internet off forever. It's ruining my life.

[PanickingPercy]

I have an anxiety problem.

I also have a habit of clicking on links even though I'm already thinking 'Hang on probably shouldn't do this...'

As an example, I have just been give some Lush products for my birthday.

I just googles to see if I could use them in the bath if my baby was coming in with me.

This led to a site claiming anything with parabens and sls and whatever else in cause cancer and that it stays in our tissue.

Nhs said the story didn't provide a link to cancer but that yes it was found in tissue.

I don't even know what half of these things meanbut I've just stopped myself spending ££££ online for products 'free' of these things and throwing out my birthday present.

I'm acting irrationally I know. I should just never look at google again.

Just me then

Turning off the internet altogether might be a little extreme but yes definitely stop googling!

I also have anxiety and had a short break from MN and Facebook earlier in the year because it was making me worse. I felt like I was on top of it, so gradually started using both again, but they have become a bit obsessive again, so I'm thinking I need to step away!

Are you doing anything to help with your anxiety? I've been having counselling and reading various self help books. Still a long way to go, but have got a few helpful things out of them.

Being aware of it is probably half the battle - you just need to step in when you say to yourself "I probably shouldn't" and DON'T!

In the most gentle way possible, yes you are being irrational, yes you should stop yourself googling anything even remotely medical.

But I can completely understand how you feel.

With anxiety The only way to stop yourself being scared of whatever it is you are scared of in that moment is to just do it and eventually it will stop being so scary ( just ride out the panic attacks it will be horrible to begin with) so I suggest you buy some more replacement lush stuff and use it! Honestly you will be fine but you need to see that for yourself.

Once you start pushing your fear you will find yourself googling symptoms and things less anyway.

If you want a book to read about surfing the wave of anxiety, Claire Weekes is often recommended, so I bought it and would be happy to post it to you if you PM me your address. I think it was intended for people with much more severe anxiety than mine so I didn't get a huge amount from it, but you might feel differently.

I sympathize OP. Somehow I can't stop myself clicking on things even though I know they're likely to trigger my anxiety, I often wish I had no internet. I have recently quit Facebook which I think helped.

I've often wondered about doing the same thing OP. I've recently got over depression (that I'd had for years) but I still have horrible health anxiety and Twitter, mumsnet etc definitely doesn't help. Plus it wastes so much time.

I don't know what the answer is though..limiting time on the Internet or complete avoidance.

I do the same thing OP, googling medical stuff. It's the most dangerous thing you can do, get myself in all sorts of states. Must learn to keep away from it lol

I had been doing fairly well, started driving again and had even started to completely ignore my brain (Oh my god what is that [insert symptom] I am definitely dying this time! Quick google it)

I'm breastfeeding at the minute but when ds is one I think I'd like to try medication.

Dh is currently running me a lush bath.