Sorry if this has been talked about already and I know this could go outside of specifically SzA/Sz but I was reading up on some things and wondering…
With enough research, could someone accurately self diagnose themselves with a mental illness(es)?
I know that a lot of people are turning to self diagnosis due to the cost of healthcare in the USA and how not all professionals are actually…professionals regarding certain mental illnesses. Even professionals can be biased and have their judgements clouded by things society believes to be false. It just feels like the current system fails a lot of people and can just generally be unhelpful.
But on the other hand it seems like with certain mental illnesses it would be hard to research it yourself because you’re prone to not look at the big picture, requires specific training to notice,etc. Like some symptoms may be due to a physical health problem and not mental health.
For example I thought I was Autistic and probably had Depression + Anxiety at first. After getting professionally looked at they said I was Schizo atypical which I think is an outdated term for SchizoAffective Disorder now?
But after that and reading up on some experiences I’m kind of questioning my diagnosis. I know African Americans and mental illness go together like oil and water in our society. and the history of schizophrenia and black people isn’t exactly nice.
I do feel that a lot of the symptoms of SzA apply to me (suspicion,over analyzing,seeing some things that aren’t there,etc.) but I’m concerned that these symptoms could be explained by some other mental illness. Especially after reading a few threads on here and seeing that the line between Autism and Schizophrenia can be a bit wishy washy.
Am I just being overly paranoid? It just feels like this whole self diagnosis is a large can of worms…
Also I’m new here and apparently can’t use hyperlinks yet so I’ll post the links I’m referencing here.
everydayhealth(.)com/bipolar/webcasts/african-americans-and-the-stigma-of-mental-illness.aspx
psychologytoday(.)com/us/blog/side-effects/201005/how-schizophrenia-became-black-disease-interview-jonathan-metzl yesthattoo.blogspot.com/2012/08/yes-self-diagnosis-can-be-valid(.)html?m=1
tal9000.tumblr(.)com/post/19390697970/labels-community-and-self-diagnosis (Note: I’m aware tumblr is as educational as a $10 used textbook from 2005 but I think they make a good point here)
Welcome to the forum! I think with psychosis you can’t diagnose it yourself because the whole concept of psychosis is that you’re out of touch with reality and you don’t know it. If you do know your thoughts are false then it’s not psychosis. But I think some of the other mental illnesses could possibly be self diagnosed.
That’s what I was thinking if someone’s perception of reality isn’t great I’m not sure how we can expect them to self dx themselves and there are people with really severe illnesses or disabilities who can’t advocate for themselves…
I’m aware some of the things I think are false but not everything (like suspicions). It feels like mine isn’t “bad enough” to be a valid dx and I might have something else but now I’m too paranoid to ask for a re-diagnosis because what if they get that wrong too??
A psychiatrist? I haven’t talked to her at all since my intake appointment because she came off as really insensitive and my clinic only has one and they won’t schedule me out to another one or something like that…
Ive self diagnosed myself a few times in 20 years of having a mental illness. In my honest opinion right now i think we could do withoout any diagnoses of any mental illness like people in florida did without ac 100 years ago, but we need the medicine, so maybe your answer lies in that question, what medications do i need. Its best to be sure, right? Idk
You would need a diagnosis to get medication or to apply for welfare, otherwise , if you can get by without them, it might be wiser to not get yourself officially " Labelled". Actually, you could still get welfare if you had to, just apply as a regular unemployed person.
I’m currently working and I’m not sure how “legal” my dx is. I’m recognized as SMI and I did see a psychiatrist to get my original diagnosis and I have a letter from them saying they dx’d me but that was years ago and my clinic has changed it over time.
I don’t know; I don’t want to find a doctor and then only see them for a month or so once the clinic change goes through. As when my clinic changes they’ll probably want me to see the resident psychiatrist.
