The Problems with Self-Diagnosis

I see this every day on social media.

“I have ADHD”
“I determined my kid has…”
“I’ve concluded my husband is bi-polar”
“I’m OCD”

Doesn’t it seem that virtually everyone you know: your neighbor, co-worker, boss, bestie, and cousin, all have these conditions? But the big problem is, more than half of these haven’t been diagnosed by a professional, implementing exhaustive and conclusive testing. No, someone took a three-minute test on YT and now they’re assured that they have ailment X.

What you don’t know is that the majority of these self-diagnostic tools are not legitimate. I can almost guarantee that one of them will determine that you or I are suffering from “fill-in-the-blank,” the fashionable psychosis of the year.

Not only do we have an excuse for any of our peculiarities, but a wrong diagnosis can also be harmful.

Please note, there’s a difference between everyday experiences and a disorder or illness.

A mental health or everyday experience refers to the range of emotions and psychological states that individuals encounter as part of normal life. However, a mental health disorder or illness involves a pattern of symptoms that significantly disrupts a person’s daily functioning in their home, school, work, or other environment. It causes distress and requires a professional assessment, meeting specific criteria and warranting intervention.

So, do yourself a big favor and don’t put all your trust into Dr Internet. It may be doing you more harm than good and may lead to incorrect perceptions of one’s mental health and as a result can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Bottom line? Just be wary and alert. It’s for your own mental health.