Just Google it!
The worldwide web has opened the door to searching the Internet for just about everything and anything, including self-diagnosing a medical condition. However, there are some pros and cons that need to be considered regarding self-diagnosis. Can you trust all the information you find on the Internet? Or, should you go to the doctor?
The availability of information online and the long wait for a doctor’s appointment lead many people to self-diagnose a health issue they are experiencing. And let’s be honest: who hasn’t looked up their “symptoms” online? While sometimes seeking information online is the best way to ease your worries when you find out that the symptoms are common, they can also present themselves as extremely worrisome.
Here are some of the pros and cons of self-diagnosis provided by medium.com. As a general rule, it is recommended to consult a doctor after your online search if the symptoms persist.
Pros
- Internet diagnoses are much quicker than making a doctor’s appointment and waiting to be seen. Most of the time, the symptoms disappear before your appointment date comes up, meaning that looking up your symptoms might suggest you simply sleep it off and wait for it to pass.
- Self-diagnosing can ease your mind, as you might realize your symptoms are pretty common and will pass in no time, without necessarily consulting a doctor.
- When certain symptoms are particularly embarrassing to talk about with a doctor, it might save you from an awkward encounter. In this case, although looking up symptoms first might be good for your peace of mind, we recommend consulting a doctor or an online doctor, as well. They are trained professionals and are there to help, not to judge.
While researching the Internet may relieve your fears, never think that what you read online is more valuable than what the doctor has learned over years of study and practice. Always trust the doctor over your Internet research, as many people tend to be hypochondriacs!
Cons
- Self-diagnosis, most of the time, means misdiagnosis. Looking up symptoms online means that you might miss some other related signs of a specific condition and dismiss your unwellness as something temporary. Only your doctor has the knowledge and experience to detect connections between symptoms, so make sure you consult the experts.
- Finding that your symptoms match those of a serious illness (which you do not suffer from) can lead to unnecessary stress and worry that could be avoided by consulting a specialist who can calm you down and treat your symptoms for what they actually are.
- Not all websites are trustworthy. When you look up symptoms online, make sure the website you consult is run by medical professionals who can advise you and put your mind at ease, not just listing symptoms and conditions! This way, you will have a professional opinion in the privacy and comfort of your own home before you determine whether visiting a doctor is the best option.
The worldwide web can be amazingly useful, but at times, it can be a dangerous place. You should not believe everything you find online, especially if your health depends on it. Make sure that you research your symptoms in a smart and efficient way. If you feel like the opinion of an expert should be considered, consult them right away with an open mind.
Source: medium.com/@pharmacydirectgb123/pros-and-cons-of-self-diagnosis
While sometimes seeking information online is the best way to ease your worries when you find out that the symptoms are common, they can also present themselves as extremely worrisome.
Dangers of Self-diagnosing Psychological Disorders
According to Psychology Today, when you self-diagnose, you are essentially assuming you know the subtleties that diagnosis constitutes. This can be very dangerous, as people who assume they can surmise what is going on with their health may miss the nuances of diagnosis.
As an example, people with mood swings often think that they have manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder. However, mood swings are a symptom that can be a part of many different clinical scenarios, such as borderline personality disorder or major depression. A clinician can help you discern whether you swing from normal to down, or down to up, and by considering how long the mood swings last, the clinician can make the appropriate diagnosis. Here, the danger is that you may misdirect the clinician, or even yourself.
One of the greatest dangers of self-diagnosis in psychological syndromes, is that you may miss a medical disease that masquerades as a psychiatric syndrome. Thus, if you have panic disorder, you may miss the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or an irregular heartbeat. Even more serious is the fact that some brain tumors may present with changes in personality or psychosis or even depression. If you assume you have depression and treat it with an over-the-counter preparation, you may completely miss a medical syndrome. Even if you do not want conventional treatment for depression, you may want conventional treatment for a brain tumor.
Then, there is the fact that we can know and see ourselves, but sometimes, we need a mirror to see ourselves more clearly. The doctor is that mirror. By self-diagnosing, you may be missing something that you cannot see.
Self-diagnosis is also a problem when you are in a state of denial about your symptoms. You may think that you have generalized body aches that started when your mood got worse, but a doctor may elect to do an EKG for chest pain that reveals possible coronary artery disease. You may have been trying to avoid the chest pain or you may have minimized this.
Self-diagnosis can have tremendous negative repercussions. For this reason, while reading is helpful and informative, it is always best to discuss your impressions with a doctor to decide on the treatment you need.
Source: psychologytoday.com
