Have We Turned Personality Into Diagnosis?

Influencers on social media are sharing content that claims to help followers self-diagnose complex medical conditions ranging from A.D.H.D. to autism. And the data reveals that the effect of self-diagnosis is far-reaching. But what happens when large portions of the population believe they have a condition that medical data doesn’t back up? On “The Opinions,” the culture editor Nadja Spiegelman speaks with the columnist and sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom and the author Mary H.K. Choi — who has written about her own A.D.H.D. and autism — about the phenomenon of self diagnosis, the need for people to label themselves and whether such labels can help or limit us. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Annie Galvin. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Video editing by Steph Khoury and Kristen Williamson. The postproduction manager is Mike Puretz. Original music by Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. The director of Opinion Video is Jonah M. Kessel. The deputy director of Opinion Shows is Alison Bruzek. The director of Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.