Mythbusting REEL from Real Diagnosis

The Shrink Down

In this episode, “Mythbusting Reel from Real Diagnosis” we explore the complex and often problematic relationship between social media and self-diagnosis. As platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter give us access to endless information on mental health, they can also be a double-edged sword. While some of this content can be empowering and educational, much of it falls into the realm of misinformation. We discuss how popular online content about mental health diagnoses can mislead, oversimplify, or even completely misrepresent the conditions it seeks to explain. In this episode, we dive into some of the most talked-about mental health conditions on social media. We break down the actual diagnostic criteria, prevalence rates, and symptoms to provide clear, accurate insights. And we look at how the trend of self-diagnosing through social media impacts the work clinicians do, making it harder to provide precise diagnoses and care. Stay tuned for a nuanced look at what social media may be getting wrong about mental health—and how to be a more informed consumer of online content around self-diagnosis.