With an almost limitless amount of information available to us 24/7, it has become common to self-diagnosing mental illness through the web.
However, while in theory learning more about potential symptoms may help ease a person’s mind, the risk of self-diagnosing looms large.
A Statista survey found that 68% of British adults diagnose themselves through the web at least every few months – if not more regularly.
The issue with self-diagnosis is that it may deter people from visiting a doctor.
Without medical expertise, self-diagnosing can often become misdiagnosed. Together, with Jonjo Hancock-Fell at private health cover provider Westfield Health, we look at the critical issues with self-diagnosing using the web.
- Inaccurate information from self-diagnosing
One of the most significant problems with self-diagnosing is that it can often be based on inaccurate information.
In the case of online searches, unregulated sources of medical information on the web can be highly unreliable. With limited medical knowledge, it’s not always easy for a patient to determine the information’s credibility.
This is why it’s crucial to ask for professional help when something’s not right. A doctor will spot what is causing an issue and give safety advice.
With years of training, qualifications, and experience under their belt, they should always be the first port of call.
What’s more, physicians have access to a patient’s medical history, which provides them with a clearer picture and a better understanding of the potential causes of symptoms.
This also means that they can prescribe safe medications and solutions, considering existing conditions and whatever other medication the patient is taking
2: Overlapping symptoms of self diagnosing
It is fair to say that many conditions have similar symptoms. Weakness, pain, and fatigue are generally the most predominant, and they can be linked to an extensive range of possible health issues.
Therefore, it is often tricky to formulate a diagnosis alone based on these common symptoms.
Doctors have the knowledge and equipment to rule out possible illnesses and identify the actual cause of discomfort.
A quick and accurate diagnosis is vital, as some conditions will need further treatment – a door that self-diagnosis cannot open.
Occasionally surgery may be required to treat your condition correctly. For faster access to surgical treatment, you can get private health insurance, helping you avoid lengthy waiting lists for surgery and getting you on the road to recovery quicker
3:Over or under-diagnosis
Of course, another risk with self-diagnosing is overestimating or minimising symptoms.
Confusing a headache for a much more severe condition can lead to unnecessary distress, but in the same way, dismissing a pain with reassurance from the internet could cost a patient their critical early diagnosis window
4:Self-diagnosing can cause stress
There is no denying that self-diagnosis can be anxiety-inducing. Based on online information, a person may start to feel worried and anxious, believing that their health is worse than it is.
This is particularly true for people suffering from cyberchondria, a condition that induces a person to both seek medical information online and feel very nervous about the intimidating diagnoses they find.
Self-diagnosing can hide an array of potential risks and dangers.
There are many downsides to trying to self-diagnose, from inaccurate sourcing information to miscalculating the gravity of symptoms.
Therefore, we hope this article shines a light on the importance of seeking medical help and advice, which can instead provide founded answers and – hopefully – some much-needed peace of mind.