Can I Use the Internet to Self-Diagnose?
In the digital world we live in, teens have unlimited access to an endless amount of information via the internet. With the rise of social media we have seen an increase in online discussions about symptoms, struggles, and typical traits of mental illnesses. While this new found awareness has been wonderful in decreasing stigma and increasing access to mental health resources, it has also been damaging.
What is Self-Diagnosis?
Self-diagnosis describes the process of someone, who is not a trained mental health professional, labeling a cluster of feelings or behaviors they have as a mental illness. Typically this is a result of collecting information from an unreliable source, and aligning themselves with the described traits. While it does make sense why people would look to validate their struggles via an online community, it is also incredibly dangerous.
Why the Internet is Unreliable for Mental Health Diagnosis
Similar to those who self-diagnose, the people providing the information about said diagnoses are often untrained or unqualified. The vast majority of the time they are relaying unreliable information about mental illness. Just about anyone can create a social media account and post “facts about” or “symptoms of” a diagnosis that can then go viral and be seen by people who relate.
“Relating” does not mean the criteria provided is accurate or factual and does not mean you then have said mental illness. Most of these videos or articles detailing “warning signs” for diagnoses list very broad descriptions of common, and normal, behaviors and feelings. For example, someone stating online “if you have a hard time doing homework, get frustrated studying, and have bad grades you have ADHD” when you very well may just have poor study skills or don’t like the class you are in. Sometimes school is boring and frustrating and that does not mean something is wrong with you.
Why Self-Diagnosis Limits Progress
When people see descriptions of traits online they feel they relate to, that is likely not proper diagnostic criteria, a few things can happen that make treatment much harder. People can begin experiencing something called “confirmation bias” which is when we search out things to make us feel we are correct, even if we are not. This can increase or worsen symptoms that were not problematic before or even cause new symptoms to appear that we had not been experiencing before. Self-diagnosis can also increase overall stress and anxiety if people are misdiagnosing themselves with severe mental illness that needs professional insight, and then self-treating from those same unreliable sources
Why Proper Support and Resources are Important
Mental health goes far beyond just a label and diagnosis. Mental health professionals are trained and educated in providing support, therapy, and resources that are specifically tailored to your needs. This support system is essential in managing and recovering from mental health conditions. Relying on self-diagnosis via “Tik Tok psychologists” can delay acquiring appropriate professional help and can complicate treatment.
If you feel you are experiencing thoughts, behaviors, or symptoms that are causing distress and hindering your daily life functioning that is a good sign you should seek out a therapist to consult with.