Google has become our stop solution to all our information needs. And naturally, most of us, whenever we have any health issue, end up googling it. Same with mental health issues. The moment you type your symptom, voila, a host of websites offering diagnoses, treatments pop up. And you read on and on until you feel that yes, you have amassed all the knowledge on this particular topic. Then you may feel the need to share this mastery with friends and family at the next gathering.
So what’s wrong with this? Medical knowledge should be freely available to everyone right? Why should it be limited to a select few? Why should doctors be the only ones making diagnoses? And aren’t sites like this very one giving information of various mental disorders?
Yes I do agree that everyone has a right to medical information. But where I draw the line is
(a)Making a diagnosis on the basis of reading unverifiable material
(b) Feeling a false sense of mastery and misleading others.
Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t turn to google search for diagnosing your mental health conditions:
1. Mental disorders are very close to normal issues on paper
It can be difficult to distinguish between a normal state of panic and anxiety, which anyone can have, and an anxiety disorder. This stands true for a lot psychiatric diagnosis. Unless you are a Psychiatrist, who has BEEN trained in this very skill of diagnosing for years, it can be dangerous because you may end up overestimating or underestimating the problem.
2. Some terms have different meanings in Psychiatric terminologies and common English language.
The meanings of words like obsession, depression, euphoria, ecstasy, anxiety, panic etc have a completely different meaning when used in Psychiatric terms.
3. The severity of a condition can be hard to judge by reading about it.
Even if someone has correctly diagnosed a Psychiatric condition, the management of that condition may depend on a number of factors unique to the person, disorder variants, severity etc. Some people with the same diagnosis may require only counselling, some may require medications, and some may require admission in a Psychiatric care facility. This distinguishing power comes with years of residency and training after seeing hundreds of cases of a particular Psychiatric disorder.
4. Self management may be dangerous.
Trying to manage Psychiatric disorders by yourself may actually be dangerous. You may be delaying getting actual treatment and your disorder could grow more severe. In some disorders, longer duration of untreated illness could negatively affect your treatment outcome.
Having talked about the negative consequences, there is no denying that overall Google search is a boon for any industry. Similarly, for health issues, I am not saying that you should forego searching up your symptoms entirely. Only, you need to know what you should search for and what you shouldn’t. Here are some better ways of googling your health issues:
- Google search can help you with which type of Healthcare Specialist you should consult regarding your symptoms.
- You could find available tests, hospitals, specialists in your area.
- If a doctor has suggested some procedure or test, you could compare various options and their prices.
So if you are suffering from any mental health issues, don’t hesitate to visit a Psychiatrist. You may be experiencing something normal, or you might be having a disorder, whatever it is, let them make the diagnosis.