The author shares a personal anecdote about experiencing severe health anxiety and a trip to the hospital due to migraines that turned out to be caused by muscle strain. They have learned to live with health anxiety but have found that health-tracking tools can exacerbate their worries. The author describes how they have experienced panic attacks from using devices like the Apple Watch to track heart rate and other health metrics, and they have decided to avoid AI-based health tools due to concerns about the potential for increased obsession and panic.
The author expresses concern about the proliferation of AI-based health tools, such as Samsung’s Galaxy AI and Google’s Gemini AI, which offer personalized insights and the ability to ask health-related questions. They worry that these tools will provide limited and potentially inaccurate information, similar to the experience of Googling health queries, which often leads to increased anxiety. The author questions whether AI tools will provide the context needed to alleviate worries or if they will simply feed into anxiety and panic by presenting a multitude of possibilities without proper reassurance.
The author recalls an incident with a NHS phone operator who inadvertently caused panic about dying, and they fear that AI-based health assistants may similarly provide information that leads to increased anxiety. They question whether AI tools will be able to offer logic and reassurance, or if they will simply add to existing worries. The author speculates about a future where AI tools could provide a comforting message to counter anxiety, but for now, they are not willing to take the risk of using AI-based health tools.
Overall, the author shares their personal struggles with health anxiety and the ways in which health-tracking devices and AI tools have impacted their mental health. They explain their decision to avoid AI-based health tools, citing concerns about the potential for increased obsession, worry, and panic. The author highlights the need for proper context and reassurance in health information and questions whether AI tools will be able to provide this support in the future. Until then, they will continue to prioritize their mental wellbeing by staying away from AI-based health tracking.
