Let’s Talk About Self Diagnosing Online
If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram or TikTok and thought, “Wait… do I have that too?”, you’re not alone. The algorithm is smart. It picks up on your searches, your watch time, your likes, and it delivers a steady stream of mental health content that’s often eerily relatable. Videos about anxiety, ADHD, autism, depression, trauma responses, they rack up millions of views. And many of them offer something incredibly valuable: language.
For people who’ve been struggling silently for years, finally hearing someone describe their exact experience can be life-changing. Social media can give people words for what they’ve felt all along. That’s not something to dismiss. But while these videos can start an important conversation, they aren’t the whole conversation.
The Double-Edged Sword of Relatable Content
We live in a time where mental health language is finally becoming mainstream, and that’s a beautiful thing. More people are recognizing symptoms, breaking stigma, and seeking help. But there’s also a downside:
Algorithms are designed for engagement, not accuracy. Many videos simplify complex conditions into short, emotionally charged clips. They blur the lines between personality traits, trauma responses, and diagnosable conditions. The result? It’s easy to think, “This must be me,” and harder to know what’s actually going on underneath.
Here’s the truth: Relating to a symptom ≠ having a diagnosis.
You can struggle with focus and not have ADHD.
You can dislike small talk and not be autistic.
You can shut down during conflict and not have a trauma disorder.
When Self-Diagnosis Becomes a Stuck Point
Self-diagnosing isn’t always wrong, it can be the first step toward insight. But when it becomes the last step, it can lead to:
Over-identifying with a label that might not fit
Using a diagnosis as a fixed identity instead of a starting point for healing
Missing other factors at play (like trauma, environment, or co-occurring conditions)
Feeling more stuck, confused, or anxious
Sometimes, what people need isn’t a diagnosis, they need a safe place to explore what they’re feeling, with curiosity instead of certainty.
How Therapy Can Help You Sort It Out
If you’ve been thinking, “I think I have [X],” or “This content describes me exactly,”—bring that into therapy. Seriously. Therapists aren’t here to judge or shame you for what you saw online. In fact, many of us love that people are arriving to sessions with more self-awareness and questions.
Here’s what therapy can offer instead of (or in addition to) the algorithm:
Clarification, not just confirmation
Therapy provides space to explore your experiences in context—not just symptoms in isolation. We can hold space for “both/and” thinking: maybe those videos resonated and there’s more to your story.
Trauma-informed perspective
A lot of what gets labeled online as a “disorder” might actually be a protective response to past experiences. Through modalities like IFS, EMDR, and ACT, we can explore those patterns without jumping to pathologize them.
Help connecting with formal evaluation (if needed)
If your symptoms are interfering with your functioning, we can explore whether a formal assessment is appropriate—and help connect you with trusted professionals who can do it.
Final Thoughts
You’re not wrong for looking for answers. In fact, that instinct is wise. But healing is more than finding the “right” label, it’s about finding the right support, the right tools, and the right path for you. So if a diagnosis you saw online resonates, bring it into therapy. Let’s unpack it together. Let’s explore not just what you’re struggling with, but what’s possible beyond the scroll.
If you are interested in therapy and discussing a diagnosis further reach out below.
