The Risks of Self-Diagnosing
We’ve all done it – you suspect something wrong with your physical or mental health, and immediately jump online to find answers. Between Google, Wikipedia, and WebMD (just for starters), there is a temptation to self-diagnose based on limited, and often, inconclusive or misleading information. Consider all those times you’ve read something and thought, “Yep, that sounds like me.”
I can’t focus at work. I think I have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
I’m always so tired and have no motivation. I must be depressed.
I can stand messes and disorganization. I must have OCD.
My moods are all over the place. I think I might be bipolar.
I feel really stressed. Is this an anxiety attack?
When you learn about signs and symptoms, there is often a process of unconsciously selecting the parts that suit you and abandoning the rest. And, like physical health, your mental health is nothing to toss around lightly. Think about your profession or areas where you have some actual expertise. How do you respond when less informed people approach you as if they know it as well as you do?
I regularly have clients come to me with information they’ve discovered about a mental health issue – diagnosing themselves, their friend, or most often, a family member. This can be potentially harmful if inappropriate decisions are made based on a misdiagnosis.
DOWNSIDES OF MENTAL HEALTH SELF-DIAGNOSES
Lack of objectivity – not accurately seeing the whole picture
Missing an underlying physical cause of your symptoms
Seeing symptoms listed under disorders that you may not have – leading to improper treatment
Minimizing symptoms that you find unpleasant, and therefore ignoring them
Magnifying symptoms to be more severe than they actually are, causing additional stress or self-medicating
Mental health language does not always mean what the average person thinks it means
Oversimplifying - missing subtleties or nuances. Relevant symptoms can vary in mental health, depending on circumstances and other background information
Identifying with specific signs and symptoms can bring relief to some; having a label or information that seems to explain why you feel the way you do. But this relief or knowledge doesn’t resolve the issue. It’s like watching a YouTube video to learn how to fix a toilet and believing you can now handle all plumbing repairs in your home. Basic information is often not enough.
It's okay to want to know about an issue that you face by searching for similar symptoms. Start with WELL-RESEARCHED information. Research is not found in a mini online quiz, a celebrity personal story or in a social media questionnaire. Follow it up by visiting a professional – someone who will help you keep track of symptoms, learn family history and explore effects on your life and others around you. Then, the two of you can discuss a variety of best approaches to help you improve.
Mental health does not always fit into a formula. There are a range of signs, symptoms, diagnoses, treatments and outcomes. Don’t put yourself in a box with a generic label. Create a network of friends, family and professional support. If you want to add occasional supplementary reading or online searches, that’s fine. Just be careful that those are not your only resources.