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Self-diagnosis: The newest mental illness of our generation
I remember a time not long ago when there weren't as many disorders as just crazy people. New discoveries are being made every day as technology and pharmaceutical companies become more sophisticated, and as important as these findings are, it seems that people are starting to lose responsibility for giving everything a name. For example, I got terrible grades in high school and can't read an entire book on a nice summer day. I must have ADD because it is a thing and I show symptoms. In order not to question the existence of these disorders...
Self-diagnosis: The newest mental illness of our generation
I remember a time not long ago when there weren't as many disorders as just crazy people. New discoveries are being made every day as technology and pharmaceutical companies become more sophisticated, and as important as these findings are, it seems that people are starting to lose responsibility for giving everything a name. For example, I got terrible grades in high school and can't read an entire book on a nice summer day. I must have ADD because it is a thing and I show symptoms. Not to question the existence of these disorders, as I've seen what they can do to people, but I feel like we as humans are becoming desensitized to the word "disorder." Claiming a disorder without seeing a doctor is not only dangerous to yourself and everyone around you, but it also shows the world that you are trying to excuse yourself from your past rather than being willing to accept and correct it. The one I want to make everyone aware of is eating disorders.
Almost every day I come across someone posting about their eating disorder on social media, and to me that's a dead giveaway of self-diagnosis and makes me cringe every time. After someone very close to me had to go through the nightmare, I would say the hardest part of the whole experience was the fact that I and no one else could protect them from it. Not just because the victim blatantly denies the illness, but because you usually don't even know it's happening until it's too late. Eating disorders don't want attention. In fact, they require the exact opposite to fester and rewire your brain without interference from others. Falsely claiming that you have an eating disorder, for whatever reason, is actually conditioning us to believe that an eating disorder is not as serious as any other illness. If anything, eating disorders should be viewed with increased caution because they have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. As a hypochondriac, self-diagnosis is tempting, but extremely unhealthy and causes unnecessary stress. It will always be worth it in the end to ask a doctor while sitting in that horrible paper covered hot seat.
A big part of self-confidence is showing ownership of your life choices and letting go of all excuses for yourself. Think critically. If you want to become healthier, analyze your diet and exercise program and see what needs to change. If you're having trouble concentrating, look around to see if your surroundings are distracting you. If you experience mood swings, consider your sleep schedule and workload. After this, if you feel that you are really unable to function properly, show responsibility and respect for those you love and seek medical attention. Let's stop confusing habit with disorder. To learn more about building trust, visit Adamymind.com!
Until next time, stop taking life so seriously and don't forget to breathe!
Inspired by Adam Adcock