Scroll up, it's ADHD; scroll down, it's anxiety; swipe left, and a few conversations will give you PTSD. Today's discourse on mental health isn't about medical conditions. Mental health today is a verb. Phone calls make people anxious; seeing old faces might trigger trauma. The news is depressing. With medical terms thrown around like Tic-Tacs on social media, why are we relying on social media to self-diagnose our mental health?
The internet and social media have transformed how we access and share information. What once required visiting multiple libraries can now be found through Alexa. Information traditionally discerned through books is now shared as memes. People are more aware of their mental health than ever before, but is this heightened awareness beneficial?
“Social media is like a coin that can flip either way,” says Divya Mohindroo, a Delhi-based counselling psychologist and founder of Embrace Imperfections. Adding, “Whether you're a mental health professional or someone self-diagnosing through social media, it's crucial to remember that what you see or read is partial information.”
Kamya Aggarwal, a counselling therapist in Pune, echoes this sentiment. “Self-diagnosing has become increasingly common. While it may seem reassuring, it can lead to unnecessary anxiety and panic if we encounter something alarming. We often view things through a biased lens, lacking a holistic perspective.” Aggarwal also highlights how the internet can exaggerate feelings: “I may not have full-blown anxiety, just palpitations or shortness of breath when I can't cope. But the internet might suggest I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or panic attacks. My agitated mind might gloss over the ‘might have’ and fixate on having GAD.”
Similarly, a reel might educate you on symptoms of ADHD, depression, or trauma, but are they qualified to do that? Both Mohindroo and Aggarwal caution against this, advising a journalistic approach: Verify your sources and dig deeper, as “everything on the internet cannot be trusted,” says Mohindroo.
Indians have long shied away from conversations about mental health. No one in the family is anxious; they are just “worrying too much.” None are depressed; they are just “feeling low.” While social media has raised awareness, the pendulum might have swung too far. Casually using phrases like “meeting new people makes me anxious” can manifest into physical symptoms. As a 27-year-old Goa-based marketer shares, “It feels like the more I read about anxiety, the more severe my symptoms get. My job involves talking to people. While I used to experience a rapid heartbeat and heavy breathing, now I also notice my lip quivering and stammering, just because I know those are symptoms of anxiety.”
The temptation to self-diagnose isn’t wholly about curing or managing your condition. It’s also about finding a sense of belonging, a feeling that “I am not alone in this.” Humans are empathetic, communal beings. As Aggarwal puts it, “The type of mental health content does help people identify with and share mental health issues, spreading awareness and normalising these conversations. But there also lies the responsibility to approach such content carefully.”
Humans are curious, and sometimes that hubris might lead you down the path of trying to cure something you do not have the training for. “When you incorrectly self-diagnose symptoms, you may attempt to treat your condition based on unreliable sources, potentially complicating what you have,” shares Mohindroo, “For instance, mistaking trauma for depression, and trying to treat it through diet or medication can worsen the situation.”
Why do we do this? Why has mental health become a ‘trend’? As per Aggarwal, “The field of psychology is fascinating, with constant breakthroughs. Today, internet quizzes and posts cater to our need to discuss mental health. This brings self-awareness but can also plant seeds of doubt if consumed mindlessly. On the plus side, we're openly discussing mental health more than ever. However, it also creates a dissonance between our real selves and our ideal selves, especially in the age of social media.” Both mental health professionals urge the need for a game plan when exploring your issues. “As a psychologist, I can provide comprehensive information to my clients, but even in our sessions, I can't convey my entire knowledge from years of experience in just a half-hour or one-hour session,” says Mohindroo.
Many mental health videos online are misleading, often based on individual experiences rather than verified sources. Self-diagnosis can hinder effective treatment by delaying proper assessment and leading to a mix-up of mental health issues. So, how does one discern credible information? Mohindroo advises, “Consider the reliability of the information source. Whether it's an association, university, NGO, or personal blog, understanding the author's expertise is essential. Verify claims by tracing them back to their source to avoid misinformation.”
In her practice, Mohindroo has seen the harms of self-diagnosing. Rumours about celebrities' personal lives can trigger intense reactions in fans, leading individuals to assume false narratives about their own lives, fueling more self-pity. While this may not necessarily result in diagnosable mental health conditions, it can manifest as lifestyle issues, health problems, or relationship challenges. This can even confound mental health professionals, who might then have to navigate through layers of misinformation and casual diagnoses created by individuals.
The crux of it is, “Take what helps and leave the rest. Think of information [available on the Internet] on mental health as helpful for awareness, but not as a full diagnosis,” warns Mohindroo. “Finding the right balance and timely intervention are crucial.”
