Hey so Real Talk.
I know people have like a really big hatred of AI. But I feel like it could be the best invention this century for those with health anxiety.
Now HEAR ME OUT before mobbing me. But...
I have been a hypochondriac since I was 8, probably before then too but it only really started showing big time at 8 when I got a hold of the Readers Digest Medical Encyclopedia, before then it was the wind, bug bites, more external less health-related threats.
Anyway. It is a disorder that is HELL to live with. It is a constant feeling like you're standing in the road waiting for a cart to hit you, unable to move, but feeling that fear every second. I've been to the hospital more than a cancer patient and called 911 so many times in every state I've lived I've been flagged and twice arrested for 'false calls,' despite actually believing wholeheartedly I was dying.
Point is, it's hell. And it becomes such a burden on family and friends, to the point they get sick of it, you start hiding it so they don't say anything, etc.
And this is where AI COMES IN.
When you have a panic attack for hypochondriasis, you enter fight or flight. And if you're as bad as me, you have already grabbed your phone ran to the front door and calling 911 before you even attempt to calm yourself down because you believe every second is too long to wait for the heart attack/aneurysm/stroke/etc that you believe you are dying from.
And if family or friends are around you are asking them every medical question you can "do you get dizzy when you move your neck,' 'is it normal to such and such,' 'do you think this might be blah blah.'
Family are not doctors. And even if you're asking for experience, they get sick of answering the same questions every time.
I'm serious. I know AI is not a doctor, but neither is family. AI is a glorified search engine but UNLIKE family, it does not get burdened. It does not yell at you. It does not call you stupid for your medical questions or snap at you that it doesn't know. IT does not make you feel worse when you finally come out of the attack. And it will at least try with search to answer every stupid medical question you have.
For example, this from the other day.
If I had asked my aunt this same stupid thoughts I get after having a vibration under my knee. She'd call me retarded. And I mean that literally. She would actually call me that and tell me I'm being stupid, and ridiculous.
The AI actually tries to answer it, and then doesn't berate me when I'm calmed down.
So yes, AI is problematic for a lot of things, I'm not denying that. But for Hypochondria I'd wished I had it 10 years ago or more before I exhausted everyone I knew. NO it is not a doctor and should not be used for such. But for that person you need to ask a million questions just to reassure your racing thoughts, when asking the family gets the same response... It is a much better replacement for support.
