Finding one’s self dealing with mental health issues can become be a daunting task. In the age of information, it’s reasonable to assume one might turn to the internet for information. However, there is a lot of mental health information out there to be found. and using that information requires caution and responsibility. It is important for us to recognize the dangers of self-diagnosing mental health.
If you do a quick internet search for “why do I feel sad”, you’ll be met with more than one billion results, from ads to counseling centers to personal blogs. Looking up “I’m seeing things” yields even more results, from health agencies in other countries to medical pages and more.
It’s completely understandable that you may feel the impulse to self-diagnose if something is challenging your mental health. It’s easy to try searching your symptoms online, while it can be daunting to search for a mental health care provider, find one you connect with, and get an appointment.
You may also not have easy access to a mental health professional, whether because it’s expensive, because local providers are booked up, because you don’t have technology or transportation needed to get to appointments, or similar obstacles.
Despite that, there are many challenges and risks that come with self-diagnosing mental health.
The Harm in Diagnosing Yourself
Most mental health conditions have lots of nuances and may have overlapping symptoms, which can make it difficult for you to determine any specific diagnosis yourself. There are more than 200 forms of mental illness, so getting a diagnosis right on your own is more than challenging.
Some mental health problems may have physical health symptoms that underlie them, and self-diagnosing the mental health component may mean that physical illness goes untreated.
People also have a tendency to seek out information that confirms their beliefs, meaning once you arrive at a tentative diagnosis for yourself, your further research will likely seek to uphold that, and you may ignore information that challenges what you believe. You may also be in denial about some of the symptoms you’re experiencing, or not be able to see those symptoms clearly. It’s also difficult to know whether the information you’ve found online is accurate, or written by someone with no education or expertise in the subject matter.
In addition to all of this, you may decide to pursue a treatment plan based off the diagnosis you’ve come up with. Some ideas you find online may provide a degree of help- for example, focusing on self-care, exercising, and eating healthy will generally help you feel better in some ways- but those steps can only help so much.
And even if you engage with a mental health professional, the temptation may arise to take your treatment into your own hands. If you’re prescribed medication to manage your mental illness, for example, maybe you decide to stop taking it when you start feeling better. Stopping your meds without professional guidance can lead to a relapse in symptoms, withdrawal or other physical challenges, and setback in your treatment plan overall.
Mental Health: Finding Help
This all doesn’t mean you should ignore your instincts. If you find yourself turning to an internet search for something that’s been bothering you, then your gut is telling you that you need help. The best thing to do is channel that instinct to finding professional support. That can feel like far from a simple thing to do, so take it one step at a time.
If you have a primary care physician, ask them for a referral or recommendation. You can also try searching Jax Therapy Network’s database of local, licensed therapists and counselors, to see if you can find someone that feels right.
If the idea of speaking face-to-face with someone is too overwhelming, consider reaching out to a hotline. For example, if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Or if you know something is wrong but you’re not quite sure what, you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline.
It also may be helpful to identify someone who can be a personal source of support. You are not in this alone. A parent, sibling, friend, or other ally can be someone you can talk to, someone to help you keep track of appointments, someone who helps you with self-care steps, and more.
Ready to find your therapist? Search the Jax Therapy Network and find help diagnosing mental health issues through counseling services near you with therapy from professional therapists and mental health counseling support.
