In his new book, “All in Your Head: Illness as Identity, Trauma as Fashion, and the Desire to Be Disordered,” author Fredrik deBoer argues that mental illness is increasingly being adopted as an identity rather than recognized as a genuine impairment. He contends that social media trends have contributed to the trivialization of serious mental health conditions, particularly among young people.
DeBoer, who has been open about his own diagnosis of bipolar disorder at age 20, expresses concern about the trend of online self-diagnosis. He notes that a significant portion of individuals seeking health advice online report self-diagnosing mental health conditions based on their research. This phenomenon, he suggests, marginalizes those with severe conditions and leads some patients to center their entire lives around their illness.
Historical Context of Mental Health Treatment
The book traces the history of psychiatry, acknowledging its complex and often troubled past. DeBoer highlights that until the mid-20th century, effective treatments were scarce, and practices like lobotomies and institutionalization fueled public distrust. The closure of many state asylums in the 1960s and the subsequent push for community care, while intended to improve patient lives, had unintended consequences. DeBoer points out that adequate community support often failed to materialize, leaving many severely mentally ill individuals without necessary care.