How many times have you gotten on Instagram/TikTok/Facebook and seen “if you experience “fill in the blank” symptoms you probably have “xyz disorder”. Or see someone’s post of “is it normal to do “xyz” or is it just “ADHD/Trauma/Autism”. I cannot tell you, how infuriating it is, as a mental health professional to see these things. In recent years, the internet/social media has become a vast resource for information on mental health. While this accessibility is undoubtedly a positive development, it has also given rise to a concerning trend – self-diagnosing mental health disorders. Growing up doing research on anything took EFFORT! Now, it’s at the tips of your fingers 24/7. People have a shit ton of AUDACITY in today’s day and age and (in my opinion) are inappropriately offering up information to the masses. As of late, this has all been fueled by online quizzes, forums, and an overabundance of information, to some it may seem harmless at first glance. HOWEVER, the consequences of self-diagnosis can be severe and potentially exacerbate existing mental health challenges. In this blog post, I’ll explore why self-diagnosing mental health disorders is inappropriate, dangerous and misleading.
Lack of Professional Expertise
One of the primary reasons self-diagnosing mental health disorders is inappropriate is the absence of professional expertise. I went through EXTENSIVE training in grad school as well as YEARS of working as a diagnostician in a psychiatric hospital. Here’s the thing, it still takes TIME, EFFORT, INFORMATION GATHERING and consistent exposure to clients for me to diagnose. Diagnosing is NOT something to take lightly. Attempting to diagnose oneself without the necessary knowledge and experience can lead to misinterpretation of symptoms and misguided conclusions.
Complexity of Mental Health Conditions
Mental health disorders are COMPLEX. and MULTIFACETED, often presenting with a wide range of symptoms. Many conditions share overlapping symptoms, making it challenging for individuals without a background in mental health to distinguish between them accurately. For example, what looks like ADHD could be trauma, what looks like anxiety could be depression, what looks like bipolar disorder could be borderline personality disorder. Professional evaluation is crucial to tease apart the nuances and identify the underlying issues accurately. There are timelines, acuity, frequency, specific criteria one must meet in order to be diagnosed. It’s NOT a simple “procedure.”
Confirmation Bias
Self-diagnosing individuals may unconsciously exhibit confirmation bias, a tendency to interpret information in a way that supports their preconceived beliefs. If you have in your brain that you have ADHD, EVERYTHING you see about ADHD will confirm this because you want that answer. Make sense?? This can lead to a distorted perception of symptoms and hinder the ability to consider alternative explanations. Confirmation bias can impede the journey to understanding one's mental health and seeking appropriate help. You HAVE to understand many disorders have overlapping symptoms and one person’s experience with said disorder does not equate to your experience.
Misinterpretation of Information
The internet is a vast repository of information, but not all of it is accurate or reliable. Self-diagnosing individuals may misinterpret symptoms or rely on outdated or incorrect information, leading to a skewed understanding of their mental health. There are also an ENDLESS number of individuals spreading misinformation and people are eating it up. This misinformation can result in unnecessary distress, fear, or inappropriate self-treatment.
Delay in Seeking Professional Help
Perhaps the most critical danger of self-diagnosing mental health disorders is the potential delay in seeking professional help. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen reels on Instagram encouraging people to use podcasts and people’s Instagram pages for “treatment”. THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE. Rewriting [Her]story is not a replacement for treatment, it can absolutely support you between sessions or provide you information, but it does not replace the intimacy and vulnerability of an actual therapy session.
I will say, googling a symptom of something physical I had experienced while pregnant literally saved me and my son. HOWEVER, I did not self-diagnose. I took the information I read about and went to a PROFESSIONAL to confirm it. Gather information and take it to a professional with the mindset of, “I am seeing a professional because they are an expert”.
Mental health conditions can worsen over time if left untreated, and timely intervention is crucial for effective management. Relying on self-diagnosis may create a false sense of security or lead to unnecessary worry, both of which can impede the decision to consult with a mental health professional.
The other terrifying aspect of self-diagnosing is the amount of people who are taking information about CLINICAL DIAGNOSES to medical providers and are then being prescribed medication. There is a NATIONAL shortage of ADHD medication and in my opinion, it is due to the surge of ADHD related content on social media and EVERYONE thinking they have ADHD who are seeking medication. This then makes it nearly impossible for those who DO have ADHD to get medicated. I will say it is ON the prescriber to do the appropriate assessment of those individuals and to not be throwing medications out like candy, because that also happens.
While it is understandable that individuals want to understand their mental health better, self-diagnosing mental health disorders is inappropriate and harmful. Seeking guidance from mental health professionals ensures accurate diagnoses, appropriate treatment, and ongoing support. In the age of information, it is crucial to prioritize the expertise of trained professionals over self-diagnosis to safeguard mental well-being and promote a healthier approach to understanding and managing mental health. I would never tell you to not research and learn about yourself, I just encourage you to seek professional advice to tease out what could possibly be going on.
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