Do you feel people tend to self diagnose mental issues and use them as fact over getting a professional diagnosis?

Question

I'm especially calling out autism on this one. I feel like too many people, who are just socially awkward, tend to claim they are autistic on their own rather than getting an official diagnosis. What do you think? Are there more people just self diagnosing mental issues rather than seeking a professional test to prove it than those who do?

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Accepted Answer

Do you know how difficult it is to get a professional diagnosis? I’m speaking as a person who does have one. It took AGES. My family suspected I had it as a child but for years doctors refused to give me that diagnosis based on nothing but the fact that I was a girl and, as a result, could mask better than your average boy. It wasn’t until I was 15, after years and years of talking to doctor after doctor, going through the same rounds of tests for kids, going through the same psychological interviews that they FINALLY gave me the medical diagnosis I needed to access the care I wanted that made my life leagues easier. Having the official diagnosis makes it easier to access certain things that can benefit you, but if you don’t feel you need it then I see no issue with self-diagnosis. I’m also personally of the belief that everyone is some kind of autistic anyway, as autism exists on a very wide spectrum. On one end, you have someone non-verbal with strict dietary needs who requires constant care and on the other end you have someone that’s just a little weird about tomatoes. We all have something “weird” about us, that’s autism in my opinion

DangerouslyCute · Accepted Answer

yes, a lot of people do it... and it's a problem... because they demand understanding but don't take any treatment like therapy or/and meds

Communicationisking · Accepted Answer

Self diagnosis via Dr. google is increasingly becoming worse for all sorts of issues. I have had conversations with all sorts of people about all sorts of health topics and if it is something I'm knowledgeable about and and am trying to help them with and they dismiss my suggestions of something to look into or try that has worked for me or someone I know completely then show me google stuff I quickly try change the subject.

ADD (or ADHD as the cool kids call it these days) is a common one for mental health that people self diagnose a lot these days and don't seek or rather can't afford to seek a professional opinion about. In this country there is a lot of expensive hoops to jump through to get properly diagnosed.

msc545 · Accepted Answer

I think that people try to find labels for how badly they're feeling quite frequently. I'm not sure if labeling themselves makes them feel better or worse, but it certainly enables their ability to refer to themselves as victims. In regard to autism which the op specifically mentioned here it is entirely possible particularly if you have an autistic child to get all sorts of benefits. Those benefits include money and free services and so there is a lot of pressure on professionals to label children as autistic even when they are not and this often leads to some pretty ugly confrontations between psychologists and parents and school officials.

Kaneki05 · Answer

Yes, but I don't see it as a negative that much. Of course you have the situation where someone uses to make themselves a victim or excuse.

But I feel most people claim to be autistic is just to give a head ups that they are Atypical in someway so don't expect them to be normal. Getting diagnosed is a pain and also if you don't want to change then what would be the point?

Though in my country it would be to a disadvantage not to get diagnosed. As if deemed so you can get money, like I do. But maybe you also just want to work and don't want it to get in the way of possibly being hired. Though again it could help.

So yeah I don't think self assessments are a problem within themselves.

jahaims · Answer

I'm Audhd. A lot of autistic people do not have the financial resources to go through being diagnosed. It's easy to self diagnose once you learn about it. A lot of other people are jumping on the "I'm autistic " train but doesn't take away from the people who actually deal with it.

exitseven · Answer

Yes, I agree, everyone wants to be special. This is what happens when you set up a system where there are so many different groups that demand special treatment.

WonderingManII · Answer

When I was on 7cups a mental heath site. And when I was on Social Anxiety Support Forums. I noticed that a lot of people seemed to be self diagnosed. I found it odd.

NathanDavis · Answer

nowadays, yes... and even capitalize and make money of it on socials...

DCVsMarvel2 · Answer

well, if medical bills werent so high, here in america, wed be more likely to go

Panthero80 · Answer

Yes, along with medical problems in general.

Anonymous · Answer

I believe some people actually do that.

TwoToTooTutu2 · Answer

Quite a few do this

Do you feel people tend to self diagnose mental issues and use them as fact over getting a professional diagnosis?

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Do you view people with mental health issues as lost causes or lesser than the average person? If so, why?

Do you feel people tend to self diagnose mental issues and use them as fact over getting a professional diagnosis?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Do you view people with mental health issues as lost causes or lesser than the average person? If so, why?

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