Wait, Is this F*ck*ng play about us?!
by: Dale Francis Alfelor

In a world where every emotional nuance is broadcasted through filters, and hashtags it's no surprise that our mind has become a stage for self-diagnosis. Similar to the portrayal of teenage angst in HBO's "Euphoria," our social media feeds are filled with psychological jargon, where every mood swings and sadness is now associated with the weight of clinical labels while trying to fit with diagnostic criteria. This editorial is not just a critique of how we all seem to be living out our own version of "Euphoria," but rather, a deeper examination of how social media has transformed normal behavior into something diagnosable. As our online personas become increasingly dramatic, are we at risk of overpathologizing everyday struggles and turning our lives into a series of mental diagnoses? Let's dive into this PSYNAPSE and question whether the script is written by us or for us. 

Have you ever come across a short video that tells you to put a finger down if you experience one of these behaviors? “Put a finger down if you often procrastinate on tasks or struggle with time management, Put a finger down if you experience occasional trouble sleeping or staying awake at night, Put a finger down if you find it hard to focus or get distracted easily during particularly busy or stressful times… If you happen to put 5 or more fingers down, you might have an ADHD” The troubling thing is, the creators of such content often lack the credibility or necessary knowledge to accurately determine whether these behaviors are considered deviant or atypical. But since most of us are immersed in the world of social media, this type of content usually leads us to believe that there might be something wrong with us.

Overpathologizing Behavior: The impact of validation seeking

Overpathologizing in psychology refers to representing someone's "typical" behavior as associated with a serious disorder that may not be present, or an exaggeration of a behavior that falls into a diagnostic criteria. This can lead to overdiagnosis and the false acceptance of a condition that may not be accurate. And this term has increasingly become concerning, with the rise of social media, and the rampant use of these platforms to raise awareness, merely referencing situations someone believes to be signs of a disorder without proper validation. 

According to an article, titled "Social Media and Self-Diagnosis," Dr. Katzenstein explains that this phenomenon is partly due to adolescents seeking validation and a sense of belonging during their identity formation. Social media provides relatable content and a platform for shared experiences, which can help reduce feelings of isolation.

However, Dr. Katzenstein also emphasizes a significant downside to this dynamic. The exposure of an individual to a wide range of mental health information on social media can cause confusion and misinterpretation of typical developmental patterns as signs of mental illness. Adolescents might latch onto these labels, without proper context and appropriate guidance from professionals, leading to overpathologizing behaviors that are actually part of normal growth and development. This particular trend raises more concerns about the potential for self-diagnosis based on incomplete or misleading information, which can contribute to a false perception of mental health.

READ MORE: Social Media and Self-diagnosis

Social media and its Influence on overpathologizing of behavior

And this has often been the case, especially during the pandemic, when TikTok feeds were flooded with "Psychology 101" or “Psychology Says” content. With people confined and restricted in their physical interactions, many turned to social media for comfort, immersing themselves in its relatable content. However, creators like OnlyJayus have contributed to this problem by spreading misleading information about psychology, which can misguide young individuals about how it truly operates. Additionally, dark humor memes dominated other social media platforms as well, making fun of atypical and deviant behaviors which causes these behaviors to not be taken seriously and has lessened its magnitude, making it “relatable” or “normalized” to people rather than acknowledging them as issues that require attention and intervention. 

READ MORE: Does the digital age create hypochondriacs around mental illness?

This has been an ongoing problem with different health professionals who encounter various patients who memorize their symptoms but are not congruent with how they behave in real life. The exaggeration of normal behaviors makes it difficult for professionals to properly diagnose and assess the patients due to cognitive bias and the influence of social media on their self-assessment. A study by Starcevic & Berle (2013) has shown that the spread of inaccurate information on social media can lead to a phenomenon known as "cyberchondria," where individuals develop excessive anxiety about their health due to self-diagnosis online. This not only complicates the diagnostic process but also contributes to the overpathologizing of behaviors that may otherwise be considered typical.

A posing problem in advancing psychological interventions

So why is this a problem in Psychology? According to Eysenck & Keane (2015) Human psychology is highly intricate, and influenced by a multitude of internal and external factors affecting our behavior. The growing trend of over-pathologizing typical behaviors through social media poses a serious problem, not only in addressing psychological concerns but also in alleviating stigma around it. By blurring the lines between “typical” and “atypical” responses and genuine mental health disorders we risk trivializing the seriousness of the actual conditions and promoting a culture of misdiagnosis where everyone has their own “trophy” of mental illnesses. The attraction of instant validation and oversimplification of complex and intricate studies and research of psychological illnesses on these platforms can lead to a distorted understanding of mental health and psychology, in general. 

READ MORE: Overpathologising: Finding Disorder in Order

Addressing the problem 

The prevalent influence of social media on how we perceive mental health cannot be overstated. While these platforms have indeed opened up crucial discussions and raised awareness about mental health, we must also acknowledge its paradoxical effect. As social media consumers, it is not only the responsibility of content creators to examine the content they produce, but it is also our responsibility how we will utilize these platforms effectively. We should not allow ourselves to be passively immersed in the flood of information presented to us. Instead, we must learn how to discern and critically evaluate the contents we encounter. That is why it is crucial that we develop the skills to differentiate reliable, well-informed content from that which might be educational, or misleading. 

As we immerse ourselves in the digital world, it is imperative to emphasize the importance of both accurate information and professional guidance ensuring that we are protected from the dangers of self-diagnosis and overpathologizing. When facing psychological distress, rather than turning to platforms like TikTok to identify symptoms, it is strongly recommended to seek professional help. This can be done through local mental health service providers, school guidance counselors, or licensed mental health professionals who are equipped to offer the appropriate support and care.