How to Identify What Works and What Doesn’t

Mental health has become a prominent and widely discussed topic since the pandemic, and there is currently more information on the subject than ever before. This change has benefits like de-stigmatizing mental illness and helping people feel more comfortable accessing services. However, the sheer amount of information and the multiple platforms to consume it can be overwhelming. In this article I provide some helpful tips on how to manage your consumption of mental health information and discuss the importance of sharing information with thoughtful intention.

How to Cope With Mental Health Information Overload

1. Know Your Source

Always investigate the credibility of the source behind the content that you consume. Whether it’s a blog article, a self-help book, a podcast, or a TikTok video, it’s important to understand the background of the creators you engage with. If you’re researching information about a psychology concept, diagnosis, theory, or type of treatment, look for an author with professional training in mental health, and preferably with an advanced degree.

There are several different types of mental health providers, and it’s important to know the difference. An author may refer to themselves as a therapist and may not have any formal training or professional experience. Mental health professionals fall into three categories: 1) Psychiatrists (M.D. or D.O.); 2) Psychologists (Ph.D. or Psy.D.); and 3) Marriage and family therapists (M.F.T.), clinical counselors (L.P.C.C.), and clinical social workers (M.S.W.).

Psychiatrists are the only providers on this list who prescribe medication. If you are exploring the role of medication for mental health disorders, it’s important to know that most psychiatrists provide medication management, and very few also provide therapy. Psychologists have advanced training in therapy, assessment, and psychological testing.

When a video starts out by saying the person is a therapist, check their credentials. Avoid consuming content from sources who are misrepresenting their educational background.

Sometimes the source of information is a person sharing about their personal mental health journey. There is merit in learning about another person’s lived experience, but keep in mind that this is one person’s perspective. This does not represent the mental health field or a particular diagnosis. For instance, if it took someone 5 years to get an accurate diagnosis or a helpful treatment plan, this may not be your experience. By recognizing credible sources, you are more likely to get more accurate information.

2. Watch Your Consumption

Slow down! It can be exciting and relieving to read about a psychology term, theory, or diagnosis that really resonates with you. You might feel tempted to binge every video on a YouTube channel or read through several self-help books on a topic. This type of information overload can lead to emotional overburdening. For example, reading about trauma, postpartum depression or narcissistic abuse might be triggering for you. There are strategies that you can use to cope with the negative effects of negative media overload and avoid falling into the trap of doomscrolling.

Too much consumption, too quickly feels overwhelming, and your ability to retain the information can be compromised. Finding a moderate pace takes practice and will vary based on the subject and what you want to learn from it. If you are genuinely trying to understand a topic, retain it, and reflect on how it relates to your life, then less is more. For a self-help book, try reading a chapter per week. For a video or podcast about a mental illness or treatment, consider consuming about an hour per week. For mindfulness meditation, try an exercise that is 5 minutes or less once a day.

3. Avoid Self-Diagnosis

Self-diagnosis is tempting but not always helpful. You should be aware of the risks associated with tik tok and self-diagnosing. During my first clinical diagnosis course, the professor cautioned us from self-diagnosing on the first day of class. She told us that when you read enough about symptoms, you will find some that fit for you. This does not necessarily mean you have the diagnosis. There are also many diagnoses that have overlapping symptoms. If you wonder whether you have a certain diagnosis or experience distressing symptoms that impact your life negatively, schedule an appointment with a professional San Diego psychologist to be properly assessed.

4. Protect Your Privacy

Up until this point, I have been addressing the consumption of mental health information. The flip side of this is the production of mental health content. This might look like personal sharing on a social media account, writing on a personal blog, or professional content creators who self-disclose as a part of their work. Whatever the reason for your self-disclosure, be mindful of what you are sharing and with whom online. While community sharing can make people feel less alone and more connected to one another, it can also lead to awkward encounters or negative feelings. For instance, if you run into an acquaintance at the store, and they check in with you about your mental health or ask personal questions based on a recent post, you may feel uncomfortable. Alternatively, if no one responds to a social media post, you might feel rejected.

Before you share personal information about yourself online, ask yourself these questions:

• What am I trying to communicate?
• How personal is this information to me?
• Would I tell anyone this information (e.g., my grandma, my boss, my neighbor)?
• Would I be comfortable if someone had a screenshot of this post on their personal device?
• What’s the least amount of information I need to share to get my point across?

I am not suggesting that you don’t share; I’m encouraging you to share with intention and with an awareness of the potential impact. Consider also reviewing your privacy settings on social media apps, if you haven’t already, to make sure you’re comfortable with your current settings. 

Conclusion

In an era where mental health awareness is more prevalent than ever, navigating the sheer volume of information available online can be daunting. With countless articles, videos, and social media posts offering guidance, it’s crucial to know how to identify reliable and valid mental health resources. If you find yourself continuously reading about a certain diagnosis or treatment tips, please remember that informational videos and blogs online should never be misconstrued as therapy. There is no substitute for professional therapy provided by a mental health professional with an advanced degree and training in evidence-based practices that are based on a widely respected base of research.

There are many benefits of working with a private practice therapist, such as building a personal, trusting relationship and creating a treatment plan tailored for you. Contact us today to learn how therapy works and what to expect and schedule an appointment with a talented member of our team.

I hope this article helps provide helpful tips on how to navigate mental health information overload and make intentional decisions about the information you share.

Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash