Today, it is easier than ever to find information about mental health online, and conversations about mental health on the internet and social media have fostered extensive awareness, understanding, and acceptance for people struggling with mental health issues.
Social media platforms like TikTok have become increasingly popular platforms for teens and young adults to share their mental health experiences. However, this abundance of information and conversation around conditions like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) on TikTok may lead young people to self-diagnose themselves without accurate diagnoses.
While self-diagnosing mental illness can be beneficial in some cases, mental health conditions are incredibly complex, and individuals should not solely rely on social media, peers, or unverified sources of information in place of professional healthcare advice.
What is Self-Diagnosis?
TikTok is full of content with users and influencers posting about mental health, whether it be personal anecdotes, symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, or coping strategies. Often, these posts are intended to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health, as social media provides an open forum for people to discuss their struggles and support one another.
These experiences often resonate with younger users, like teens and young adults, who begin identifying with and self-diagnosing mental health conditions. However, as social media algorithms promote content based on user activity, teenagers engaging with mental health content may find themselves in an echo chamber of information related to their suspected diagnosis, leading them to misunderstand or “over-pathologize” their symptoms.
Young people look to social media for information about mental health disorders for a handful of reasons. Adolescence is a period of self-discovery when teens develop their sense of identity, often turning to social media for validation and understanding.
Participating in conversations about mental health on social media may help adolescents feel a sense of community and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Young people may also turn to the internet and social media to learn about mental and physical health conditions because they do not have access to healthcare or are unable to receive an official diagnosis.
Users self-diagnosing themselves with autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other psychiatric, mental, and cognitive conditions have been common since the pandemic.
On the other hand, many TikToks have addressed how frequently teens and young people post about having a self-diagnosed disorder without appearing to meet sufficient diagnostic criteria for their condition.
“People self-diagnosing [borderline personality disorder] after relating to one symptom,” one user said.
“When that friend self-diagnoses themselves with yet another mental illness,” another user posted.
The Dangers of Self-Diagnosing Mental Illness
Learning about others’ symptoms and diagnoses online can provide validation and normalization for people who have sought treatment for medical conditions but were not correctly diagnosed or effectively treated. While this is one of the main benefits of self-diagnosis, self-diagnosing mental health conditions also can be harmful due to how easily misinformation occurs online.
Social media users and influencers often use medical and diagnostic terms in ways that do not align with how healthcare providers use them, confusing users learning about mental health or who are in the process of self-diagnosis.
Because of how easy it is to access and spread information on the internet and social media, teens and young people are at higher risk of misinterpreting or misunderstanding information about mental health problems. Young people may be more likely to rely on anecdotal evidence from social media content over more accurate, evidence-based sources of information online, falling victim to misdiagnosis.
Because conversations around mental and behavioral health are both common and nuanced, self-diagnosis may result in problematic or unhealthy behaviors. Some individuals may spend more time focused on the nature of their self-diagnosed condition instead of seeking solutions and focusing on their well-being.
Self-diagnosis may also cause problems when self-diagnosed people use their conditions to excuse harmful behavior or avoid taking responsibility for their health. Some individuals may develop unhealthy coping skills or self-medicate using drugs or alcohol.
The Role of Professional Diagnosis
Mental health professionals are trained to use a comprehensive approach to diagnosis. They rely on the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which outlines diagnostic criteria for various mental health conditions, along with patient interviews, questionnaires, and psychological assessments to evaluate an individual accurately.
Receiving an official diagnosis for your mental health symptoms can be far more beneficial than self-diagnosing yourself for a handful of reasons. Perhaps the most significant benefit of seeking professional help over self-diagnosing is the increased likelihood of receiving an accurate diagnosis.
Healthcare professionals can help you identify potential comorbidities, rule out suspected diagnoses, and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Plus, a diagnosis from a licensed clinician enables you to receive prescription drugs and treatments that would be otherwise inaccessible.
How to Approach Suspected Mental Health Issues
As the issue of self-diagnosis trends on TikTok has made headlines over the last year, many people on social media have expressed support for self-diagnosis when individuals encounter obstacles that prevent them from receiving an official diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
“I just want to say that self-diagnosis is completely valid,” one user said in a TikTok about people who have self-diagnosed themselves with autism.
“Most people that do self-diagnose go through years and years of research before they conclude that they are autistic,” she said.
“Being a black woman in this society and not a lot of medical professionals knowing what autism looks like in black women, it is tough to get a diagnosis. Some people cannot afford a diagnosis,” she said.
Research suggests autism in women and people of color is widely underdiagnosed and more challenging to identify due to a lack of research on autism spectrum disorder in these demographics.
When discussing the potential harms of self-diagnosis, it is essential to consider that millions of Americans lack access to quality, affordable healthcare and may not be able to afford a professional psychiatric assessment. For some people, self-diagnosing is their only option for managing and treating their symptoms.
Although relying on the internet to diagnose your mental health symptoms is not recommended, the internet and social media can benefit your mental health. For example, if you are struggling with a mental health concern and plan to seek help, you can research therapists and psychiatrists in your area to find a provider.
For many people dealing with chronic illnesses and various behavioral and mental health disorders, social media communities and online peer support groups help them connect with others who are experiencing similar struggles and feel less alone in whatever they’re going through.
While you should never take medical advice from someone who is not a licensed healthcare professional—on or offline—you can refer to online sources like the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (NIMH)and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for trustworthy research articles and evidence-backed tips to support your mental well-being.
Alternatives to Self-Diagnosis
If access to mental health care and treatment is not an option for you, recognize that you can still educate yourself about mental health. The key is to avoid falling victim to misinformation; be skeptical about mental health information you encounter on social media.
Instead, consider exploring some of the following resources, along with SAMHSA and NIMH:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers support groups, free education programs, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness.
- MentalHealth.gov is an online resource providing access to U.S. government mental health information and resources.
- Live Another Day is an online directory for individuals seeking treatment for addiction or mental illness. It provides resources and information on substance abuse and mental health recovery, focusing on helping those who need support in managing these challenges.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Mental Health offers resources for mental health support, including data, statistics, and tools for mental health promotion.
- Veterans Affairs Mental Health Services provides specialized mental health programs for veterans’ unique needs.
When researching mental health symptoms online, you will likely encounter free online mental health quizzes or assessments that may attempt to “diagnose” your condition. Understand that these assessments may not provide evidence-based results and should only be used as a preliminary tool in your decision to seek help.
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness and Education
Although the internet and social media can be valuable tools in creating awareness and eliminating the stigma around mental health, the abundance of information and discussion about mental illness online may lead individuals to self-diagnose. While sharing experiences can be helpful, self-diagnosis can lead to inaccurate conclusions, delay appropriate treatment, and create a false sense of understanding about a condition.
Ultimately, increased awareness and education help dispel misconceptions and provide factual information about mental illness. When you have a better understanding of various mental health conditions, symptoms, and treatments, you are less likely to jump to conclusions about your health based on social media content and more likely to seek professional help rather than self-diagnosing.
Workplace policies, educational curricula, and public campaigns that normalize discussions around mental health can also influence more Americans to seek mental health care proactively rather than resorting to self-diagnosis.
If you suspect you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health issue, the first step is to reach out to a licensed mental health professional, such as a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist. You can also consult your primary care physician, who can assist in the initial assessment and provide referrals to appropriate mental health services.
Reach out for Professional Guidance
For many people struggling with mental health conditions—whether self-diagnosed or undiagnosed—it’s common to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Over time, harmful coping skills such as substance abuse may lead to addiction and other co-occurring disorders.
At The Summit Wellness Group, we aim to heal the whole person when developing customized, holistic treatment plans for individuals struggling with addiction, mental illness, or other behavioral health conditions.
Seeking professional treatment for your mental well-being is critical to your overall health. Contact us anytime at (770) 766-0212 or ContactUs@TheSummitWellnessGroup.com.