When someone experiences symptoms such as a fever, a cough, a runny nose, and even slight dizziness they begin to diagnose themselves. ‘Oh, I have the flu, no big deal,’ or ‘Oh, i have a cold, its okay I’ll get over it in about a week.’ Sure these seem to be symptoms of something so innocent, but it could be so much more.

Self-diagnosis is something many people attempt to due. It may either have to do with the fact that they don’t want to see a doctor or because they can’t see a doctor. Although self-diagnosis can be very innocent, and in some cases okay, you have to be careful. Just because something fits under one category doesn’t mean it can’t fit under another. The biggest problem with self-diagnosis comes when you have a mental illness. People that may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness might consider their symptoms to not be such a big deal. According to Srini Pillay, M.D., “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,” meaning that you may be missing some information that is below the surface.

As I continue to read the book, Brain On Fire by Susannah Calahan, Susannah’s behavior keeps getting more erratic. She’s trying to jump out of cars, refusing to take the prescribed medication that is supposed to regulate her seizures, and even accusing her loved ones of sabotaging her when in reality they are only trying to help. She finally self-diagnosed herself to be “Bipolar”. She thinks that she is able to handle it and doesn’t need help from her family, friend, nor a doctor. Susannah doesn’t see it as such a big deal but her family members know that there is more wrong with her than being just bipolar. Because she refuses to do what is recommended she is putting herself in bad situations. She has another seizure because she made herself puke after she took her pills. According to Rebecca Woolis, MFCC, people with mental illnesses refuse to take medication because they feel like they are being controlled by others and don’t have the power to control their own lives. Susannah’s behavior continues to get worse and worse as I keep reading; She becomes very demanding, uncooperative, and selfish.

Although there are plenty of websites that could help you diagnose your common cold symptoms, the best way to actually figure out what you’re really dealing with is visiting your local doctor. They have gone to college and know their stuff.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/debunking-myths-the-mind/201005/the-dangers-self-diagnosis

http://www.healthyplace.com/bipolar-disorder/medication-noncompliance/why-people-deny-mental-illness-and-resist-psychiatric-medication/