When we start to feel that something is wrong an immediate reaction is to try and figure out what is wrong and why it?s going wrong. This can lead us to looking up information and finding out as much as we can. While this is a good thing, going a little too far and diagnosing yourself with a particular ailment or mental illness can be very harmful.
The purpose of being having so many sites, books, people to talk to and everything in between is for us to get the best information. Sometimes all this information isn?t for the best and can be extremely confusing.
When doing a research assignment for school, teachers are now adding, ?do not cite Wikipedia as a reference?, not that I blame them it?s the worst site ever for accurate information.
Self-diagnosis is like going to Wikipedia and only getting one point of reference. If you believe the first thing you read and write a report or essay using the information from that one site, it?s highly likely you?re going to be marked poorly.
Believe it or not, it?s the same principle for self-diagnosis.
It is important that you research, read and explore how you feel. There are some great websites, books and programs in local areas (depending where you are in the world) that can be a starting place to learning more. Just don?t take the first thing you read, or are told, to be gospel.
Being human we all share some traits, differ in others and while we?re all unique we?re all still made of the same matter. Our chemicals and hormones affect us all differently due to the science of genetics and other such scary stuff that is far beyond my humble brain to understand. It is due to these differences that make diagnosing and treating illnesses (mental and otherwise) rather difficult. That?s why there are specialists in every medical field imaginable. These people spend their lives researching, testing, comparing and learning about that specific area.
So when you think about that, it doesn?t really make sense for us to read the first thing about an illness and think ?well that must be what I have? because the symptoms or experiences are the same as yours. Isn?t it better to ask your GP or other medical professional for more information and their professional observation before demanding a specific treatment or course of action?
There are many reasons why self-diagnosing is so bad. I couldn?t even begin to write about them all without putting everyone to sleep in the process. However, I do believe there is one huge(in my opinion) drawback to self-diagnosing. When a person self-diagnoses they tend to become ?stuck? in the belief of what they believe they have. The person can be so relieved to find their ?place? that they neglect other factors in their life which could also cause the reasons behind why they feel the way they do.
This belief becomes ingrained and when they go to see their medical professional they are not receptive of other ideas, treatments or diagnosis. Effectively this means that the person is worse off because they are so adamant they know what is wrong with them that they are unable to consider other things that may help them.
I?ve been down the road of self-diagnosis myself. It?s a very fine line between being aware and self-diagnosing. My mental health progressively got worse as I tried to fight every other suggestion made to me, because I was absolutely not going to be wrong. This mistake (and it was a mistake) very nearly cost me my life as I made some very dangerous decisions.
So now I tell everyone, no matter if they suffer a mental illness or any kind of illness, to learn about the illness, learn about how you feel but do not diagnose yourself. Doctor?s really do spend their lives learning about their chosen field, they?re the best to diagnose you.
Don?t get me wrong, Psych?s will most likely not find the diagnosis immediately either, but that?s because of the chemicals in our bodies and our history. It takes time to build a rapport with them and it takes time for them to discern all the factors that lead to one or more diagnosis.
Be patient if you can. You will still get help and you will still be able to talk to someone, anyone, about how you feel. Sometimes it?s not important to be labeled, it?s more important to treat the symptoms. The labels can come later.
If you want to read more about self-diagnosis check out these two links:
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/diagnosis/self.htm
This site contains a brief over view of what self-diagnosis is and why it?s bad.
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=9661&cn=353
This website is brilliant. There is SO MUCH information if you have the time to read it. Basically, this is a very in depth look at why self-diagnosis is detrimental to your health. It is really a brilliant read.
Please feel free to share your stories and experiences, privately or on the site. I would love to hear how other people have dealt with their diagnosis, lack of diagnosis as well as any hurdles you?ve had to overcome.
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