Health anxiety can be all-consuming. Accepting uncertainty is an important step | Gill Straker and Jacqui Winship

The overwhelming fear of contracting an illness or an excessive focus on symptoms are debilitating conditions, exacerbated by Dr GoogleThe modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their workIn an era where a world of information is just a few clicks away, health anxiety has taken on a new dimension. Many of us have experienced moments of worry when seemingly innocuous symptoms trigger thoughts of dire health conditions. Could that persistent headache be a sign of a brain tumour rather than just a consequence of too many late nights? Is that peculiar skin lump a harbinger of melanoma? A quick Google search often exacerbates these worries, leaving us awash in a sea of potential ailments. Fortunately, for most, these fears dissipate once the headache subsides or a reassuring word from a trusted GP alleviates concerns.In the wake of a devastating global pandemic, there is naturally a greater concern for the health of ourselves and those around u