Thoughts on self-diagnosis

[Nebulous]

I'm talking about self diagnosing yourself with, say, a personality disorder.
Which a lot of INTPs on here seem to have done; they'll research a disorder and see if they fit the criteria for a diagnosis.

I've definitely done this.
And I was sort of surprised to find out that a lot of people say that self diagnosis is a terrible thing to do... (*cough cough tumblr*)

I dunno.

What are your thoughts?
Do you think self diagnosising yourself is 'bad'or potentially dangerous?
What's the worst that could happen as result of self diagnosis?

 

[PaulMaster]

For just about anything, I'll attempt to self diagnose first. I've self diagnosed (and successfully self treated) a handful of injuries. Results indicate I was accurate. There was this one time I couldnt figure it out so I went to a doctor.

I think it could be dangerous in some cases. Under diagnosing, perhaps. Misdiagnosing and subsequently incorrectly treating.

I told that doctor about how I was trying to figure it out but couldnt. He told me about his daily stream of cancer patients whose cancer is only a minor infection.

 

[bvanevery]

It's hard to say. When I was at my worst in the dot.com bust, I wondered if I was clinically depressed, or bipolar. The wonderments were certainly self-diagnosis. But then I approached it rationally: do professionals think I actually have a problem? I went to a free bipolar screening clinic at a local hospital. It took a little research to find out that such a thing exists, as I didn't have a doctor or health care, but the info was discoverable on the internet. I talked to the screener for maybe 20 minutes, about what things were like. Became pretty convinced by her, that I didn't have a medical malady. I had very predictable life stress from my circumstances, and what I really needed was job counseling, not medical interventions or pills.

I did reorient my problem towards "what is my !#$## career now, what is it going to be, how shall I pay the bills?" I got through it, mostly taking pragmatic survivalist courses of action. Didn't solve anything long term, I'm living out of my car with my dog. But I think I'll get the great computer game done someday and it'll all be better. Anyways I avoided going down a wrong path of doctors and pills. It wasn't my problem.

Sometimes people will try to tell you "mental stuff" is your problem, and that you should be seeing professionals and taking psychoactive medications blah blah blah. Family members who are worried about your behavior may push this kind of stuff at you. Well, frankly, quite often in life you don't need a shrink or a pill, you need to take action on something. That's not true in every case, but I bet it's more true in a lot of cases than not.

Another thing I did back then, was attend 1 session of a depression / bipolar support group. I got to see what I'm like by comparison with people sharing their actual depression / bipolar stories. I didn't exactly fit. But watch out, some people in such a group will inevitably project their impulses on to you, and tell you you're undiagnosed OCD or something like that. Don't fall for it. It's ok to have doubts about yourself, but someone who's actually bipolar or OCD isn't the person who should be prognosticating your actual condition.

Like I said, the screener at the clinic helped me figure out that what I really needed was job counseling and not pills.

 

[crippli]

I think in general an INTP will self diagnose more accurate then a psychologist. As long as you keep in mind that a diagnose is not how you feel, but how they see you in comparison to the current standards at time of diagnose.

 

[Nebulous]

I think in general an INTP will self diagnose more accurate then a psychologist. As long as you keep in mind that a diagnose is not how you feel, but how they see you in comparison to the current standards at time of diagnose.

Haha yes I agree

 

[Minuend]

Depends on the individual, some people have better understanding and ability to observe themselves than others. But ofc, you could fall victim to bias either way, or have a poor understanding of the thing you're trying to diagnose yourself as. I guess for most people (?) self diagnosing is inaccurate. They tend to rely on the symptoms themselves, not the cause behind it, the root of which the symptoms manifest. There's a distinct difference, and the former tend to give inaccurate assessments.

As for dangerous, I think that's mostly relevant to people who are unstable or neurotic in some way. I think it would be rare for a normally sane person to get carried away harmfully by self diagnosing themselves wrongly, but it can happen.

 

[Yellow]

I don't see the harm in self-diagnosis, if there is an actual understanding of the illness/disorder, and what symptoms qualify.

The danger lies in creating an inaccurate label for yourself, and then either using it to scapegoat correctable behavior, or exacerbating your symptoms to better fit your self-appointed label.

We see this practiced regularly here on the forum regarding MBTI type, so it's possible that similarly suseptible people will do this with real or imagined DSM criterion.

 

[420MuNkEy]

I think self-diagnosis is useful in the limited capacity of initial investigation of something that's bothering you and a second opinion should be sought out if it's anything serious or not easily treated.

For example,
Problem: I feel hungry
Initial investigation: I probably just need food, let's eat some
Result: Problem resolved, no need to consult anyone further

If, however, the problem remained unresolved beyond a reasonable level of attempting to fix it myself, I'd seek out a professional. Same kind of situation feeling pain and noticing you have an obvious wound. The sensible diagnosis is you're wounded and that's why you're feeling pain. Deal with the wound and let it heal. If you still have a problem, seek help.

Psychiatric self-diagnosis is a bit different in the sense that you often need the diagnosis to legally obtain the treatment. Unless you're able and willing to obtain and self-administer drugs or if something like CBT is a relatively undisruptive thing to add to your life just to try it, you should probably get a second opinion.

If you're not really going to do anything to resolve the issues you're basing the diagnosis on, like if you think you probably have mild social anxiety or psychopathy, then the only thing I'd take issue with (in relation to self-diagnosis) is if the person describes themselves as definitely having that thing. I'd prefer the individual to say "I'm probably a psychopath" or "I'm probably on the autistic spectrum". Also things that are not generally accepted as real should not be self-diagnosed. You're not a dragon trapped in a human body, you're an undiagnosed and untreated mental case.

 

[Reluctantly]

I guess it depends on how seriously a self-diagnosis is taken. It won't tell you why you are the way you are, how you got that way, or even what to do about it, if it's even considered a problem to begin with.

So really it doesn't mean much by itself; using it as a label leads to Forer Bias. I think for anyone that wants to be honest with themselves, being influenced by a Forer Effect is harmful to that aim.

 

[Silent Sage]

Self-diagnosis is okay as long as you propose said diagnosis to others for confirmation I think...eliminates bias....or maybe it adds even more bias, hmm...
I
once described what I thought to be paranoia, but it was more along the lines of social anxiety.

I noticed I'm can be very literal and egocentric, though I'm aware of it...maybe a very slight form of autism.

The past while I've been seeing these spots and distortions and my vision (more noticeable when my oxygen circulation is cut off) now and then...some night I'll have some mild hallucination, usually something floating in the air...it started with real objects like lamps but the last one was like some kind of web-like thing almost...anyways, I'll swat or kick at 'em and they'll disappear after maybe 10 or so seconds. I'm definitely away when this happens, my initial hope was that they were just bad dreams, but nope...

Actually, I haven't really looked into that last one. Should I be worried?
I get really freaked out in the moment of it...

 

[Pyropyro]

i prefer getting help from professionals rather than engage in self-diagnosis when it comes to personality issues. I did review the potential disorders that I may have but I never labeled myself as such. It's only when I was diagnosed by a professional, whose findings was also based from evidence given by my relatives, that I labelled myself as someone with high functioning autism.

By the way, there seems to be a lot of people who use autism/ Aspergers as a way to explain away their behaviour but sometimes I just see them as having a bad case of asshole syndrome

 

[kora]

as long as you're not a hypocondriac. Unless you self diagnose the hypocondria and...uuuh...

 

[TBerg]

I try to take responsibility for my actions and don't want to be different. But the fact is that I am different. I know that a lot of that is due to my inability to acquire adaptive qualities early in life to the extent required by a great many socially productive enterprises. It is also due to the fact that my attempts to escape that reality were not good enough and came at a tremendous price. Every time I envision really trying hard again to escape my place, it engenders a lot of anxiety within me, the kind of anxiety that ruins everything it touches. I don't get very excited anymore.

So I try to find as many simple things as possible to do to help the people around me. I try to make up for the lack of excitement by listening to conversations about topics that interest me, the kinds of topics that fascinated me in college. But it is hard because it feels like I am listening to a life that could have been possibly mine if I had managed break though something. It feels like my passions are dying before my eyes. It is calming and depressing at the same time.

I think I am on the autistic spectrum. Since I was unable to find a real outlet for my interests, I think my character is more maladaptive. I know it might seem foolish, but I really have an aversion to experiencing anything outside my routine interests. Other things seem quite confusing, and I don't trust my emotions to carry me through confusion anymore. It always seems like a fucking struggle, and I am left more hollow at the end of it. Is this unreasonable? Is my desire for routine and obsession in some ways wrong?

Also, I have a bad habit of not wanting to own up to mistakes I make throughout the day. One, it reminds me of my greater failures. Two, I find criticism threatening to the flimsy shell I have developed to keep my nihilism from setting in. And three, I have trouble not seeing criticism in harsh black-and-white terms. I like clear lines for everything.

I do try to do better everyday, but it is still easy for me to be blown off-course for a while. Since my foolishness continues to manifest, I have self-diagnosed as ASD. Granted I have a bad homelife, but it seems like I fall into similar traps when I try to become emotionally intimate with others as well. I know logically what I should be doing, but my dumb feelings won't cooperate. It is like I am dead inside when I go without anger. Is my self-diagnosis obviously problematic?

 

[Sly-fy]

I don`t trust my medical diagnoses any further than I can throw... myself... or jump, I guess. So I go see a doctor every time if it`s something weird or if I`ve been sick for a while and I can comfortably say that it`s not just a cold. As for psychological stuff, I`m an avid learner in the field so I`m guilty of self-diagnosis there, but I take it all with a grain of salt.

 

[bvanevery]

Since my foolishness continues to manifest, I have self-diagnosed as ASD. Granted I have a bad homelife,

Is there some logistical reason you haven't involved a medical professional in your problems?

I honestly don't know how healthcare currently works in the USA. I don't have any. The new Obamacare stuff, you have to actually be working or making money or something. I am surely eligible for Medicaid but I haven't done the paperwork. I started on it last fall but then I left town for the winter, so probably I'll need to start over. Anyways I have no experience with what is covered in the psychological dept. or not, or if ASD is considered psychological or physical or paid for or not paid for or yadda. Besides, your problem may not be ASD anyways, so who knows what gets paid for or not.

I think the point I'm trying to make, is you should be dragging yourself to a doctor to begin a process. And not waiting on parental approval. I don't know how old you are, or how much in control of the household you are.

 

[LOLZ9000]

I don't recommend it for disorders. It's easy to find a lot of commonalities with a disorder that make perfect sense, but when you find out more about psychology you realize that you were overzealous to diagnose just because there were a few things that seemed to match. And self-diagnosing with a personality disorder can change your self-image and create a negative, unproductive cycle.

For example, I always knew I was different, that something was off compared to others, but I didn't know what. I began a period of deep introspection about 5 years ago. First I was positive I had Narcissistic Personality Disorder - I wasn't completely in line with all the traits but I was pretty close. I went to a shrink. She told me I don't have it and that I just have minor generalized anxiety. While doing some research on my own during this time, I diagnosed myself again as having Schizoid Personality Disorder, at least to a low level. For example, I think if INTPs read this description of Schizoids, they would see a lot of common ground.

But when I discovered INTP/MBTI, I realized I was "normal", that there was a type that was just like me, that I probably did not have any psychological disorders, unless INTP can be considered one.

I am objectively quite intelligent and more pre-disposed to self-exploration, analysis, and journaling than most people I know. And even in my case I had several "false diagnoses" that could have been dangerous to my self-image and growth had I not learned more about psychology.

So in conclusion, while I do not put undue respect or authority into the hands of licensed psychologists and so-called professionals, I do think we as INTPs have a tendency to want to diagnose because we feel different, and can tend to mis-diagnose as well, which can be counterproductive. Just my $.02.

 

[Nebulous]

Haha yes I agree

I've changed my mind on this.

I mean you could totally 'self diagnose' yourself with depression or anything else that's quite obvious but when it gets into things like personality disorders it's probably best to get a professional's opinion.

I'd say that it's fine to research things yourself, to try to find out what's wrong, and attempt to fix it using the resources available to you. I think that would be the reasonable thing to do.

But if you aren't able to "fix" the issues yourself, you could benefit from seeing a psych.

Plenty of psychs are terrible, clueless, and/or just trying to get as much money as possible out of you. 'You're too unconventional; time for med$ and the p$ych ward, whahaha!!'
But the right one can really help.

I used to hide from people in passing cars because my social anxiety was that bad.
And I didn't even believe that I had 'anxiety' until a psych had pointed that I definitely do.
I did CBT, and it helped SO MUCH.

 

[crippli]

Why change your mind? Why not expand instead? Self diagnose first, then professional diagnose. Compare. That should tell you if you could do it or not. A nice vintage glass of wine is appropriate upon success.

I'd say generally though. If you are unsure of your own expertise, you are not gong to be able to do it. Even a terrible psychologist have done som reading and passed a few exams on the relevant material.

 

[elliptoid]

Self-diagnosis.

Most armchair theorists, professionals, experts, ... most of the general population, would always dissuade someone from self-diagnosing any psychiatric disorder, regardless of their symptomatology.

Myself personally, I've been down that road. For many years I've carried with me some level of conviction that I too have 1 or 2 PDs. I've been to a psychologist once or twice but never requested a diagnosis or an assessment but she did make an offhand comment about BPD.

As a side note, a personality disorder diagnosis is extremely grave. It is not merely a collection of traits as defined by the specific disorder; one must also meet the general criteria for any Personality Disorder. I'm sure you have read about this but read it twice because the most important criterion of all is that the traits must be fixed and inflexible and likely to repeatedly cause the individual to behave in a dysfunctional manner and fail with relationships, work, and well-being.

It's serious stuff.

With all that being said, I have always reasoned if an individual is intelligent enough to at least try to be objective with it, then self-diagnosis is not "harmful" per se. I would recommend accessing the MMPI online and taking the 567questions and analyzing your scores. It's not easy and takes a full afternoon. When I did this a year ago, I was legitimately frightened with the results .. I took the time to interpret them as correctly as I could according to the online guides.

Beware and tread carefully