The Danger of the “Self Diagnostics” Trend Who Suffered Most

The Danger of the “Self Diagnostics” Trend

Who Suffered Most

Currently there are many videos circulating on social media such as TikTok, Instagram, Youtube, and others, which show signs and symptoms of mental disorders. This turned out to be enough to influence many people who felt that they felt the signs and symptoms so that they diagnosed themselves with certain mental disorders or what is commonly called self-diagnosis.

Self-diagnosis is how we self-diagnose a disease based on the knowledge we have or after reading information on the internet related to the complaint. Even though the information available on the internet often cannot be accounted for medically or is not evidence-based medicine.

Everything is only armed with the information that is owned by yourself. This can be dangerous, because these assumptions can be wrong.

For example, we think we have bipolar disorder, because we often experience mood swings. Though mood swings can be a symptom of many different mental health disorders. Borderline personality disorder and major depression are two other examples of diagnoses.

Wrong diagnosis can be dangerous, because you tend to take the wrong treatment. The risk of experiencing a more severe health condition is even greater if you carelessly take drugs or undergo treatment methods that are not recommended by a doctor.

Misperceptions on Self Diagnosis

· Depression, not the same as sad because of a bad day

· ADHD, is not the same as being more active than usual and less focused

· PTSD, is not the same as feeling irritated, disappointed because of a certain unpleasant event

· Panic Disorder, not the same as a momentary feeling of fear

· OCD, not the same as people who are completely organized and according to procedures

· Bipolar, not the same as people who are moody

Reasons People Do Self Diagnosis

· Infodemics, lots of information, news on the internet that have no scientific basis

· Curiosity, curiosity that needs to be quickly fulfilled

· Fear of professionalism, fear of coming to mental health professionals because of stigma, costs, and others

· Trends, there is a romanticism about mental health that is trending and up to date

The Dangers of Doing Self Diagnosis

· Under diagnosis, ignoring a disease that is actually serious so that it is fatal

Over-diagnosis, being afraid and panicking because they feel that they have been exposed to a serious illness

· Misdiagnosis, an incorrect diagnosis that results in wrong treatment and seeking help in inappropriate places

· Wrong therapy, trying to find therapy alone that does not match what is needed

· Stigma and discrimination including self stigma

When two or more syndromes occur together in the same person, this is called comorbidity. Well, self-diagnosis causes someone to miss existing comorbidities. That's the danger of self-diagnosis to mental health.

So, it's best not to be a doctor yourself by doing a self-diagnosis. If you experience certain health symptoms, you should ask your doctor about the causes of the health symptoms you are experiencing.