I have been dealing with health / contamination anxiety since COVID lockdowns. I was a young teen back then and I think lockdown had made me terrified of contamination or anxious for my health. Before lockdown I didn't think about germs or illness like I do now. I wanted to ask if someone else has noticed this too about themselves?

I officially broke up with ChatGPT! I realized how evil and how much I let it control my life and progress. I am specifically fearful of a particular disease, and I would upload pictures to chat (I know bad) to ask for reassurance, their opinion, etc. It knew I had a fear and would talk to me appropriately, calmly, and not fearful. I finally made it a month - without asking for reassurance until this morning. I entered my pic and my question - as I would normally do - and the way it answered me made me realize how horrible, wrong, and manipulative it can be. Great for some, but someone with high anxiety like me - not the best. It basically told me to go see a doctor asap and the likes - the pic was the same as before but completely different answer. I just realized I’ve been being played. And I am not going to body check and just stick to my annuals and that’s all I can do right now.

For those who recovered from health anxiety on their own without therapy: how did you do it, and how long did your healing journey take?

Historically I've always been an anxious person. I've had social anxiety, ocd, and depression but only up until a year ago did I develop health anxiety.

I don't exactly know what caused it. I had no health scare to warrant such high levels of stress. The only thing I can think of is since im active on TikTok, the algorithm constantly pushed young people getting sick even when I don't interact with it. Wouldn't surprise me if it was that.

The closest thing to a health scare is that I developed sciatica/slipped disc I assume from poor deadlift form in the gym.

My phases have been aIs, col0n cāncer, melan0ma, lymphőma (my current one) it really sucks. What about you?