Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting

157: My Kid Has Diagnosed Herself on TikTok. What Should I Do?

02.13.2024 - By Dr. Lisa Damour/Good Trouble ProductionsPlay

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There’s a growing concern shared by many adults: How do we help teenagers make sense of mental health misinformation on social media? Dr. Lisa and Reena respond to a letter from a parent worried that content on TikTok has led her teenage daughter to diagnose herself with OCD and ADHD. This episode explores the potential benefits and risks of learning about mental health through social media, how self-diagnosing can - at times - be harmful to teens, and how talking in diagnostic terms plays out in peer interactions. Dr. Lisa explains what adults can do to have productive conversations with kids about the psychological information they find online.

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