Self Diagnosis - The tendency explored
Self Diagnosis - The tendency explored
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We might have heard from a number of professionals guiding us to refrain from self diagnosis, since it isn't the right course of action. Let's explore the reasons for this tendency, in detail.
Curiosity - when we ask ourselves the reason behind indulging in self diagnosis, probably the immediate reason would be ‘curiosity’, as it's human nature that we want to know about our condition.
Pattern Recognition - It can just be due to some kind of a pattern that we have recognized in ourselves which we want to probe into.
Urge to solve the problem - Our instinct to solve a problem that we are facing, ourselves in an immediate manner.
Inaccessibility to professional help - Sometimes this can also be due to the inability to access the right Health Care professional, or also the lack of faith developed in the professional.
Role of Internet and media
In all the above cases cited, it can be said that the major support for self diagnosis has been the internet and social media. The availability of information on everyone's fingertips has led to the huge scope for self-diagnosis.
Limitations of internet and media
There might be a question arising that if the internet and social media give us all the information, then why do professionals advise us to refrain from self diagnosis. Let us analyse the various instances
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing: In the first instance, let's remind ourselves of the famous idiom ‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing’. Even though we find that the internet gives us an array of information, we might misinterpret the condition due to the lack of expert knowledge in the subject.
Role of fellow professional: Even professionals who have the requisite knowledge, still sometimes need another fellow expert for diagnosis. Hence when it comes to self diagnosis there is a further possibility of misjudging the situation.
Confirmation Bias: Next, there is also a possibility of a fact called ‘Confirmation Bias’ which can play up while making self diagnosis. Confirmation bias here might strengthen our belief about the condition we are going through, given the influence of social media, since the information that the user is consuming cannot be authentically testified.
Conclusion
Despite the above pit falls, still many go for self-diagnosis as they want to clear their mist and empower themselves with the requisite knowledge. But it also has a peril, which when not confirmed by a professional, the information can be deleterious.
Hence, it is essential to have a professional opinion before getting into any sort of conclusion about the symptoms.
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