Self-diagnosis is not valid. By definition. Not even a psychiatrist can diagnose themselves. What you're talking about is either 1) advocating for your own diagnosis or 2) self-treatment.

Both of these things are valid.

Advocate for yourself for a diagnosis from a health professional if it will unlock new treatment options. But also just look into how others with similar problems have successfully managed their problems. Consider how you could implement similar things. That's what's at the heart of therapy for ADHD anyway.

But diagnosis itself is only useful as a tool for describing symptoms and informing treatment. If a collection of symptoms speaks to your experience, then the only point in putting a diagnostic label on it is to say "Maybe these things that helped others with similar symptoms will also help you." But in order to do that effectively, there also needs to be a differential diagnosis to ascertain what it is not. This is why healthcare providers need to be involved in the process. Two different things can look very similar but have very different etiologies and different treatments.

Social media needs to quit putting so much emphasis on diagnosis and more emphasis on treatment. This post should be removed for medical misinfo, but I hope people at least read the comments to see why this person seems to be such a snakeoil influencer.

[–] ByteJunk@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I agree with most of what you're saying, but the way you're presenting it is almost confrontational.

True, self-diagnostic in a strict sense isn't a thing, but as you point out after, a collection of symptoms can speak to one's experience. Finding this insight, in my case, was an eye opening moment because so many things in my past and in my day to day suddenly started to make sense.

Coming to terms with this realization is especially useful for people who have strong negative views on mental health issues, and driving people to "self-diagnostic", as in recognizing that they may be neuro divergent, is a worthy effort.

It doesn't replace actual professional help and diagnosis, but it's a first step that needs to be encouraged.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Damn right I'm confrontational because this is literally medical misinfo being peddled by a grifter and you're eating it right out of her hand.

The differential is what matters. We go to a professional to figure out what it's NOT.

I think it's ego. People probably can't handle the fact that they aren't as smart as they think they are and don't want to admit that maybe they're wrong about their """diagnosis""". But that's just a generalization. Go to a doctor. Fuck OP.

[–] ByteJunk@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago

Suppose someone was on the fence here, and willing to hear you out instead of believing OP.

Because, as I said, while I agree with most of what you said, you're doing a big disservice to spreading your message.

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