You Probably Don't Have ADHD

Self-diagnosing your mental health may send you down a rabbit hole. But perhaps, we are NOT all mad here!

- Niraj Kakade

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."