Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 6 - Through the Jungle Online: Mental Health Labels and Social Media Influence with Doc Ryan

About this episode

The episode discusses the complexities of self-diagnosing and labeling in mental health influenced by social media.

In this episode, your host Elizabeth is joined by Dr. Ryan Hildebrand to continue navigating the jungle of mental health. This week, they explore a growing and complex phenomenon: the rise of self-diagnosing and labeling in the age of social media.From TikTok trends to Instagram infographics, mental health language is more visible—and more accessible—than ever. But what happens when awareness blurs into overidentification? We unpack the psychological impact of adopting labels, the appeal of self-diagnosis, and how online content can both empower and mislead.Together, we explore questions like: When does self-awareness become self-diagnosis? How do labels shape identity—for better or worse? What role should social media play in mental health education? What are some of the nuances of ethical diagnosing? Whether you’re someone exploring your own mental health, a clinician, or simply trying to make sense of what you see online, this conversation brings thoughtful perspective to a nuanced and often misunderstood topic. Tune in for an honest discussion about mental health awareness, self-diagnosis, social media psychology, identity and labels, misinformation, and navigating the mental…

People in this episode

Host: Elizabeth

Guest: Dr. Ryan Hildebrand

Topics covered

• mental health
• self-diagnosis
• social media influence
• identity and labels
• psychological impact
• mental health education

Keywords

• mental health
• self-diagnosis
• social media
• identity
• labels
• psychology
• misinformation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TikTok, Instagram, prismaticcounseling

More episodes of Shrinking Heads

• Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 9 - Forgiveness for Me, Reconciliation For You. · May 3, 2026 · 43 min
• Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 8 - Relationship Repair & Apologies: Finding Your Way Through the Jungle of Conflict · April 19, 2026 · 47 min
• Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 7 - Through the Jungle of Sports Social Work with Cody Smith, LCSW-BACS · April 5, 2026 · 57 min
• Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 5 - Lost in the Jungle: Finding Yourself After Stepping Back from the Sport You Love · March 8, 2026 · 60 min
• hrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 4 - Thorns in the Jungle: A Conversation About Self-Harm · February 22, 2026 · 35 min
• Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 3 - Machetes Optional: WeHelpNOLA Navigates the Hospitality Mental Health Jungle · February 8, 2026 · 50 min