'You jump to the most nightmarish conclusion'

"In the last year alone I have convinced myself I have had oral cancer, breast cancer and a rare nerve disorder.

It can start with something quite innocuous but the problem is the misinterpretation of what's happening. You don't look at what the most likely consequences are but jump to the most nightmarish conclusion.

After my birthday I called NHS Direct thinking I had liver failure but I took some Gaviscon and it was fine. I just think I had eaten and drunk too much.

My situation is quite mild. I know I'm a bit paranoid about my health and usually the reassurance is enough but its made worse by looking things up on the internet. If I go to my doctor I believe him but I tend not to present myself to GPs or hospitals that much.

I've suffered from this for many years, even as a child. I think its a family trait because my father is the same. He went for tests recently when he had anaemia and was convinced he had bowel cancer. I can take the mickey out of him - it's funny, you can see the ridiculousness of it in someone else but not in yourself.

With some people you find they have cared for someone who died. My nanna died from cancer and I'm sure that has influenced the anxiety.

I've never been seriously ill. But just because you haven't been seriously ill in the past doesn't mean you won't be in future."

• Christine (not her real name) suffers from health anxiety.