Mental health awareness has come a long way. Just a few years ago, it was rare to see people talking openly about therapy, anxiety, or trauma. Now, platforms like TikTok and Instagram are full of people sharing their experiences, normalising difficult emotions, and encouraging others to seek help. That’s a wonderful shift. But the rise in mental health content online has come with a catch—much of it oversimplifies or misuses important psychological concepts.
Take OCD, for example. It’s often portrayed online as a love for neatness or a quirky obsession with order. But OCD—Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder—is a serious mental health condition that involves distressing, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviours done to feel less anxious. When someone casually says, “I’m so OCD about my desk,” it can make it harder for people who truly struggle with the condition to feel seen and understood.
The same thing happens with words like “gaslighting,” “trauma,” or “bipolar.” These terms have real clinical meaning, but on social media, they’re often used in ways that don’t quite fit. Someone might say they’re “traumatised” because a friend cancelled plans. Or call someone “toxic” when what really happened was a tough but necessary conversation. While these things may feel upsetting, using clinical language to describe everyday discomfort can blur the line between real mental illness and the normal struggles of life.
Another issue is what people call “TikTok diagnoses.” More and more, therapists are hearing clients say, “I think I have ADHD,” or “Maybe I have dissociative identity disorder,” based solely on a list of symptoms from a video. While it’s completely valid to be curious about your mental health—and many people do go undiagnosed for years—it’s also important to remember that diagnosis is complex. It’s not just about ticking off symptoms from a checklist. It takes time, care, and professional insight to understand what’s really going on.
That doesn’t mean you should ignore mental health content online. In fact, some creators share thoughtful, helpful, and accurate information. But it’s a good idea to pause and ask: “Who is this person? Are they a trained professional, or sharing a personal story?” Both have value—but they aren’t the same thing.
The truth is, mental health is nuanced. It's not something that can be captured in a single video or meme. While social media can start the conversation, it often doesn’t show the whole picture. What you’re feeling might be anxiety, or grief, or burnout—or it might just be the stress of being a human in a messy world. That’s why talking to a psychologist or mental health professional can be so helpful. They can help you explore what’s underneath the surface, and work with you to find strategies that actually fit your life.
So next time you see a viral video that seems to describe you perfectly, take a breath. Be curious, not quick to label. And if it resonates deeply, let it be an invitation to explore, not a final diagnosis.
Our highly trained psychologists can help. Please call our team on 9882-8874 to book in with one of our team members today. Alternatively fill in our contact form here to get in touch.
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