When you’re teen is sick, especially if you think they have a mental health condition, one of the most important things to remembers is: ALWAYS make sure they get a second opinion.

Or a third. Or forth. Really. Get as many as you can for them. The more you get, the more expert evidence you can collect as to what is the real issue.  

As the parent, it’s your responsibility to make sure your teen gets the diagnosis and support they need. Part of that means always being aware and taking an active role in helping them seek support and during recovery.

In the end, you’ve watched your teen grow and develop. You likely know better than any doctor what is normal behavior for them. You likely witness their symptoms firsthand.

Don’t believe what your family doctor says because they have the “almighty powers” that come with the allowance to put the letters M.D. after their name. While they are more knowledgeable than you on the topic of medicine, they are still human.

And humans make mistakes. Even doctors. They have bad days and can miss important aspects of your teen’s diagnosis. They also have different life experiences, which may make give them different ideas about diagnosis.

Why you should always get a second opinion

The problem with mental health diagnosis and perception:

If you break your leg your doctor will take an x ray, show you the evidence, and put your leg in a cast. That’s not like mental health diagnosis. The evidence medical professionals have to go on is a set of behaviors that can’t be represented physically. Their evaluations are based on symptoms that your teen exhibits or expresses to them that they have.

Some doctors will be smart enough to take the problem of perception into account. Some won’t. It can be a problem. So, what you need to do is be aware of how humans frame stories. This includes yourself.