CASE STUDY
Margaret spends hours a day washing and disinfecting everything she or her family might touch. She knows it’s excessive but says if she doesn’t, her children could get sick — and it would be her fault. Her rituals bring brief relief before the fear returns, trapping her in a cycle of anxiety and responsibility.
What is...Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Social media “mental health tips” often lack this, which makes them unreliable.
What is...Scientific evidence?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one and five US adults live with this specific type of illness
What is...Mental illness?
16th President of the United States. Suffered from depression and anxiety attacks before being assassinated.
Who is... Abraham Lincoln?
The facials exercise is often practiced to enhance one's ability to “mog” their inferiors
What is....mew/mewing
I left home seven weeks ago, chasing a business idea that came to me in a rush of inspiration. I barely sleep — who has time, when brilliance strikes? I talk fast because my mind moves faster, and everyone needs to hear my plan. Yesterday I felt invincible, sure I’d make millions. Today I can’t stop crying. One moment I’m pacing with excitement, the next I collapse, hollow.
What is...Bipolar I Disorder?
Self-diagnosing from TikTok or Google can be harmful because it skips this key step.
What is...professional evaluation?
Approximately 25-40% of US students struggle with this specific feeling related to exams. Physical symptoms can include rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, and headache
What is...Test anxiety?
American swimmer with ADHD. Most decorated Olympian with 28 medals, 23 of which being gold.
Who is...Michael Phelps?
The term is used to describe one’s intimidating presence or distinctive atmosphere around someone
What is... aura?
A 32-year-old survivor of a car accident describes feeling as if “part of me is still in the crash.” She startles easily, avoids driving, and sometimes feels detached from her surroundings. Loud noises make her body tense; at night, she relives the event vividly in dreams. She knows she’s safe but can’t convince her body to believe it.
What is...Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Sharing oversimplified mental health content online can lead to this dangerous effect.
What is...spreading misinformation?
An estimated 4% of the population experience this disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, bursts of anger, and/or lethargy
What is...Depression?
Former 90s boy band member with a successful solo career. Lives with ODC and ADD (now not recognized as a medical diagnosis) Also was a voice actor in Trolls.
Who is...Justin Timberlake?
This song grew in popularity earlier this year after it was associated with a famous NBA player
What is...'You Are My Sunshine'?
A bright, creative adult complains that her mind “feels like a dozen browser tabs open at once.” She loses track of appointments, misplaces items, and forgets steps in multi-tasking tasks. She was described as “spacey but smart” in school and admits deadlines only get met “when panic kicks in.” There’s no history of trauma, mood disorder, or substance use.
What is...Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Mental health misinformation can spread faster online due to this social media algorithm feature.
What is...engagement-based promotion (likes and shares)?
Around 1% of Americans are affected by this mental disorder commonly linked to hallucinations as well as disorganized thinking and speech
What is...Schizophrenia
Dutch Post Impressionist Painter. Get your ears ready for Starry Night, which was painted while in asylum. Reported to have suffered from an array of mental illnesses including bipolar.
Who is...Vincent Van Gogh?
This question is usually posed in the form of an AI Squidward voice
What is... "What the sigma?"
A 30-year-old man becomes socially withdrawn, convinced his coworkers are sending coded messages through the office playlist. He reports hearing a low male voice commenting on his actions when he’s alone. Over time, his speech grows disorganized and his emotional tone flat. When asked about the voice, he says, “It’s not in my head — it’s him.”
What is...Schizophrenia
The best way to verify a mental health claim online is to check for these types of sources.
What is...peer-reviewed studies/credible health organizations (like the CDC or WHO)?
About 1-2% of the general population have lifetime experiences of feeling disconnected or detached to one’s self. These experiences are directly associated with this disorder… depersonalization
What is...Derealization?
Former Champion Boxer. Considered the greatest of all time and suspected of having a personality disorder. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984 at the age of 42.
Who is...Muhammed Ali?
At the Tik Tok Rizz party, this man gained fame after standing up to the “group leader”
What is...Turkish quandale dingle?