As a counsellor, I experience a wide range of clients with a wide range of concerns. As mental health becomes an open conversation, self diagnosis, misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding behaviours are sometimes inaccurate and harmful. I thought it might be helpful to discuss some of the most popular misused or misunderstood behaviours for each of the above mentioned categories. I could write a book on this topic, but this is the most common that I see come up in popular Instagram posts and everyday conversation.
Self Diagnosis
ANXIETY DISORDERS are one of the most popular self diagnosis. Anxiety in itself is not "bad". In fact, anxiety can be very helpful. Anxiety is what kept us as a human race alive. It is that push that causes us to create action. Anxiety and stress can be proactive and can help lead you to perform or make decisions that actually contribute to your happiness. Anxiety encouraged me to study as a student and as a result I received higher marks! Anxiety isn't all bad. In a world driven by feel good culture, we receive messages of toxic positivity and the overwhelming feeling that develops a lack of distress tolerance. EVERYONE experiences anxiety and stress. How we internalize it and how we USE our stress and anxiety is what determines whether or not there is a larger concern. Anxiety becomes a problem when it prevents us from living our life: when fear and worry become debilitating. Anxiety disorders are very different than having moments are situations that are anxiety provoking.
Misconception
OCD is one of the most misused clinical terms that I see popularized through instagram and personal posts. Obsessive compulsive disorder is defined as frequent, intrusive thoughts which cause significant distress. OCD is often paired with urges to engage in fear based activities and management of compulsions. The type of compulsions is specific to the individual. Common compulsions include rituals, checking, rumination, and continually seeking reassurance. To be clear, simply having intrusive thoughts, being organized or needing to be clean is not OCD. There are variations of OCD but simply cleaning and contamination related obsessions do not mean you are OCD. OCD can be debilitating and it can have serious impacts on the social, physical, financial, and mental health of individuals. It is ok if you are organized, if you check the cleanliness of hotel rooms, if you love a color coded system in your linen closet! That does not mean that you have OCD.
Misunderstanding
SELF CARE became a buzz word a few years ago and I've heard it used as an excuse, justification and explanation for a lot of behaviours. I think the term "Self care" is largely misunderstood. Self care is different than self soothing. Self care is focused on connection, building resilience and restoration. Self care doesn't always feel good. Self soothing is a practice of feeling good. For example, while I enjoy snuggling in bed to binge watch Netflix, it does not actually move me closer to well being. In fact its the opposite. Self soothing provides comfort and distracts, self care is activities that support personal growth. It is important to have both present in your life, and to recognize the need and differences in both. Being mindful of this distinction will help you to develop a personal balance.
Try to use empathy and consideration when using these terms, or any mental health terms being popularized. The journey to diagnosis can be extremely difficult and the misuse of these popular terms can leave those with an actual clinical diagnosis with a social media stigma. If you feel like you are challenged with understanding the above mentioned, please reach out to a mental health professional!
