OT - Kids are self-diagnosing to explain their failures
Interesting article (one of many out there) on the hottest new trend among Gen Z. Apparently it's now fashionable to diagnose yourself with any number of mental illnesses including (but not limited to): Autism, ADHD, Tourette's, BPD, Anxiety etc. based on what they're seeing on social media (notably TikTok) Why? Because it explains away any troubles they are having in their life (ie. No accountability) and it makes them "unique".
https://overcomewithus.com/autism/factitious-disorder-by-tiktok-how-it-i...
Some of my favorite highlights:
"This is the side of TikTok where people share disabilities and various medical and mental diagnoses.
I have seen a slew of children and teens self-diagnosing themselves with a variety of ailments. Essentially, coming to their psychological intake assessment already ready to 'be' what they think they have."
"All of our kids and teens want to be unique, and this is the budding new trend in 'uniqueness."
"Difficulty focusing? Must be ADHD.
Struggling with confidence in social circles? Must be Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Sometimes losing focus while you drive? Must be Disassociative Identity Disorder."
"Over the course of my career, I have seen a lot of people envelop themselves in their diagnosis as a core part of their identity.
It serves as a means to explain everything they do, feel, see, and perceive. While this can be helpful for some, it can also be harmful to others."
"There seems to be a huge movement in self-identifying with being neurologically diverse among teenagers and young adults.
Whether a diagnosis is received by a trained mental health professional or one self-diagnoses through TikTok, it seems to almost be trending.
I have seen numerous Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, and TikTok users who all use different language around a self-proclaimed ASD diagnosis or one given to them by a trained mental health professional.
Some post helpful tips and videos for navigating the world socially and emotionally, others post scathing critiques of various therapies intended for assisting and empowering those with ASD.
The biggest and most common thread I have seen in these folks however is that the diagnosis provides a sense of closure or comfort for things they have struggled with, whether pertaining to ASD or just some of the more common things a lot of folks struggle with, especially young adults. (Career, education, romantic relationships, etc.)"
....... and my absolute favorite:
"For others, TikTok mental health provides them with a label that keeps them from being accountable and instead helps them blame others or blame a diagnosis."
- AlmostGone834's blog
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Lol my daughter thinks both
Lol my daughter thinks both she and i have autism and bpd after watching TikTok.
The reality is that "normal"
The reality is that "normal" is relative.. and all of these disorders? at what point do you really draw the line at normal vs abnormal behavior.. because it is not black and white.. more of a sliding scale of sorts. I would probably say that someone with introvert tendencies coudl be that way potentially due to some form of social anxiety disorders.. I sometimes think that yeah.. I could be a bit autistic in some of my "habits".. but it does seem that it is much more popular now to "lean into" your quirks... someone who might have mild sensory issues.. really hypes it up like it's more than just not liking the seam of your socks wrong.. then they start using the issues as reasons why they aren't behaving socially appropriately.
When I was younger.. a child/teen.. we were not encouraged to embrace our oddities.. we were encouraged to act socially appropriately.. (sometimes through peer pressure/bullying.. ). we figured out how to compensate for minor variations in our personal mental makeup.. and only the more extreme cases were really subject to much intervening treatment.. now kids with fairly minor issues.. end up having much more focus on them..
IDK... as an elder genx.. I think we often refer to it as kids being too "soft" these days..lol.
Right. I think the main issue
Right. I think the main issue is that some kids use a self diagnosis as an excuse for bad behavior. For example, don't want to go to the family reunion? "Dad! You know that I have social anxiety!" Did bad on the test? "Dad! It's my autism they need to give me accommodations!" Raging at step mom? "I can't help it I have BPD!"
on a sidenote, growing up there was no way as kids we would've been caught dead being labeled as any one of these.
Your examples are spot on. It
Your examples are spot on. It's also an excuse to do what they want.
Ahh Tik Tok
Where kiddos love their tide pods.
Its the no accountability thingy. I cant do this or that cause i have XYZ .
Yep
Yep. SD19 diagnosed herself with ADHD, and got her quack doctor to prescribe adhd meds. She has bipolar, which is now untreated - so yeah. That's fun. She still can't work or drive or leave the house.
SD17 is diagnosing her dad with Autism - nope. He just has bipolar. No one apparently wants to be bipolar. It must not be as cool at all the other labels.
SD16 Power Sulk
Yep. BEcause of her mother, who has become such an expert at getting the right diagnosis that she got a pile of cash from it.
All you have to do is play the long game and hire a lawyer.
SD claimed she had an
SD claimed she had an "anxiety moment" recently while at a friends birthday. She specially used the term though. She does NOT have anxiety... I may not be a medical doctor but..... she doesn't have anxiety... This girl (who she recently got in to a fight with and is no longer friends with) I'm pretty sure is one of those I have everything wrong with me types... I think between the social media and this girl SD fed off it.
I also didn't notice how my cousin (31) definitely has social disorders and possibly could be on the spectrum for autism. He is successful(ish) was in the Air Force BUT... my aunt and my uncle have always helped him... he still is unsure where he wants to live etc.
I didn't notice it much before until he moved to my state (to live with my aunt...his mom..) last year and I started seeing him more...he grew up in FL and I'm in CT so we weren't around each other much. My brothers were closer with him because they all game together.. and they have said yeah he's always been off with stuff. I always think he was coddled immensely by my aunt so not sure if that's the reason too...
Yes on over coddling!
I do think part of the issues a lot of people have are due to this grave parental error.
My niece tried telling me she
My niece19 tried telling me she thought she had ADHD. She's got ZERO of the symptoms. I told her so (my DH is ADD formally diagnosed so I know a little about it). She tried saying it explained her ambivilance to do things. I said it may have more to do with her marijuana habit and talk to me more when you get a diagnosis...and are you looking for a therapist? Not heard a peep from her about it since.
Add anything LGTBQ to that also
Apparently there are no heterosexual people that identify with the gender they were born with at our local high school. Amazing statistical anomaly wouldn't you say? The school held a drag show after hours for a non-sponsered school event. I mean.....WTH?????
Oh yes, that's the other '
Oh yes, that's the other ';new' thing, the 'percentage' of gender confused people, it's all just stupid.
Ss18
Showed me a tiktok post that listed off some traits he says he has and he self diagnosed himself with autism. I do think he has ADD and he might have something else. He has a hard time making and keeping friends, stays holed up in his room and doesn't seem to like authority. He has yet to have a real gf though I think he wants one. So not sure what else he has, maybe Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Asperger's?
I'm almost sure the older ss, ss23 is a narcissist.
Accountability avoidant excuse hunters.
Basically, these are products if idiot parents who told them throughout their childhoods they were specrial when there isn't much about them that is special.
This is absolutely correct!
This is absolutely correct! It's not just ticktok- you look at reddit, and the 'percentage' of young people with these disorders absolutely does NOT coincide with reality. And yeah, it's a 'thing' now to be neurodivergent. I'm Gen x too, it's a bunch of hogwash attention seeking nonsense- and it is to escape accoutability while feeling 'important'.
It's idiotic is what it is!
We are doomed by this making decisons with feels instead of
brains.
Measuring feels instead of performance.
Valuing delusion rather than reality.
Rewarding fantasy rather than accomplishment.
All the fault of failed parents and naive all kids are spe-cial perspectives.
IMHO of course.
And that will work really well
In industries such as air travel, surgery, etc.
I'm glad I'm old enough to be dead before the culmination of lowering the bar comes to fruition.