Common Sightings

Self diagnosis is the process of diagnosing medical conditions in oneself, regardless of medical knowledge or a medical license . It may be assisted by medical dictionaries, books or resources on the Internet ( cyberchondria ), and is sometimes prompted by encountering the condition in question in others.

Healthcare professionals warn that self diagnosis in the absence of professional advice is prone to error and may be potentially dangerous if inappropriate medication is taken.

Example conditions could be:

Morgellons

" Morgellons " or " Morgellons disease " is a controversial medical condition, described as a multiple- symptom syndrome , characterized by skin lesions , a sensation that insects are crawling on or under the skin, fibers and granules coming out of the skin, and fatigue . Reported mental symptoms may include short-term memory loss and impaired thinking, described as "brain fog". The cause is unknown, and no diagnostic criteria have been established.

Cyberchondria

Another example is cyberchondria.