Diagnosing yourself with a mental health issue may bring comfort, but it can be dangerous | Ashwini Padhi

What seems like a shortcut to understanding can lead you down a path of confusion and despair. There's no substitute for professional help

• The modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their work

In the age of information overload, where a world of knowledge lies just a click away, the temptation to self-diagnose mental health conditions has become an all-too-common trend for many people. There is an allure in online quizzes and symptom checklists that promise a diagnosis within minutes as they can offer a sense of control over your psychological wellbeing. But beneath this there can be a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation and conflicting advice.

When I first met Emily* she was a bright and ambitious finance student at university navigating the tumultuous waters of young adulthood. I asked her why she was here and she informed me she had anxiety, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In her pursuit of self-understanding, she recounted stumbling upon a trove of articles and online discussions exploring various mental health conditions. This discovery sparked her curiosity, propelling her into a quest to unravel the mysteries of her own mind.