Psychologists warn against believing TikTok videos on how to self-diagnose mental disorders
Fox News
Nearly everyone has had that moment when you’re feeling unwell and look up your symptoms online, only to panic a few minutes later when you notice the symptoms sound similar to a more serious ailment. Something similar is happening on social media websites like TikTok, but instead of naming physical symptoms, people are listing signs of rare mental disorders.
"People can easily be convinced that they have a rare disorder based only on what they see on social media," said John Delatorre, a licensed psychologist who practices in Arizona and Texas. "Similar to those who strictly adhere to comments about astrological signs, the general nature of describing the symptoms of a mental disorder can make it so that people will apply that generality to their own behaviors."
Delatorre went on to note that people tend to feel more comfortable getting their information from sources they deem "credible" – which can range from age, appearance and other physical aspects.