"When to Worry" Decision Tree Flowchart

This is the tool you wish existed at 2am. When your brain is spiraling — "Is this headache a tumor? Is this chest tightness a heart attack?" — this printable flowchart walks you through a calm, evidence-based decision process instead of another Google rabbit hole.

Start at the top: What are your symptoms? How long have they lasted? Are there genuine red flags that warrant medical attention, or is this your anxiety talking? The flowchart covers five of the most common health anxiety triggers — headaches, chest symptoms, digestive issues, skin changes, and fatigue — with clear decision points that end in either "call your doctor" or "this is anxiety, here's what to do instead."