Why are girls leaning on therapy speak? In an opinion essay for The New York Times, psychiatrist Suzanne Garfinkle-Crowell reports that young female clients are coming in with a diagnosis for themselves at the ready. Online, especially on their feeds, they’re served up content about which mental illness they may have based on their feelings. Garfinkle-Crowell says young women may be more exposed to or interested in attaching themselves to therapy language because it feels validating—it gives them a clear idea of “what’s wrong” that is easier to label than to dig deeper into. And while they may not all end up being correct, Garfinkle-Crowell says it can be a useful tool to signal what these girls are feeling, whether stressed, scattered, lonely, or more. Ultimately, she says, “translating” the self-diagnoses they’re clinging to can be a useful tool for professionals and parents to help. (NYT)
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