Fitri Azeez on Self-Diagnosis: Why M’sians Should Stop Using Mental Illness as an Excuse

By Ben Liew • 17 Oct 2025 in Features

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In Malaysia, conversations about mental health awareness are growing louder but so is the trend of self-diagnosis on social media. A quick scroll through TikTok can make anyone feel seen: short clips about ADHD, OCD, or anxiety rack up millions of views, and it’s easy to think, “That sounds like me.”

But for Fitri Azeez, a Malaysian TikTok creator living with schizophrenia, this trend is both worrying and personal. Known for his viral videos reenacting what his hallucinations feel like, Fitri uses his platform to show what living with a serious mental disorder actually means—beyond buzzwords and filters.

@fitri_azeez⚠️FAKE SITUATION⚠️ Di dalam video ini saya menceritakan pengalaman saya berhalusinasi sepanjang saya menghidap skitzofrenia. Video basikal tu anggap je itu orang lain sebab saya takda pelakon extra haha. Di dalam sketsa ini saya sedang menonton video review tentang basikal. Ketika orang itu sedang review pasal basikal, tiba-tiba dia memandang tepat ke arah saya dan memberikan senyuman yg menyeramkan dan keluarkan pisau. Sedangkan scene tu tiada langsung di dalam video. Tahun 2023 ketika schizophrenia sedang rancak mengawal hidup saya, saya pernah berhalusinasi ketika menonton berita di television bersama keluarga. Sedang khusyuk menonton tiba² pembaca berita tu senyap. Kemudian dia senyum tepat ke arah saya dengan senyuman yg menyeramkan. Saya terdiam dan saya memandang ke arah ahli keluarga yg ada di depan television. Semua tak bergerak jadi patung. Bila terjadi begitu, saya bangun dan mundar mandir di seluruh rumah sebab saya percaya(delusion) kalau saya banyak bergerak, ahli keluarga saya akan bergerak semula seperti biasa. Dan ya! Mereka bergerak semula seperti biasa dan macam takda apa² yg berlaku. Perkara begini berlaku dalam keadaan yg jelas dan nyata. Mungkin ketika tu saya lambat makan ubat dan tak boleh tidur. Kepada yg sihat/normal, kalau perkara begini berlaku kepada anda ketika anda rasa mengantuk,baru bangun tidur atau tiba² terjaga dari tidur, itu tandanya anda sedang mamai,mimpi,mengigau.. Bye Semua. Jaga diri dan jaga kesihatan ya. Jumpa lagi di masa akan datang.♬ original sound – Fitri Fitrenia

A single symptom doesn’t make a diagnosis… or an excuse.

In one video, Fitri speaks directly about the dangers of self-diagnosing mental disorders. He explains how some people label themselves based on a single symptom, for example, saying they have OCD just because they wash their hands often—when mental illness is far more complex than that.

He urges viewers to seek help from professional mental-health practitioners instead of relying on what they see online. Mental health conditions share overlapping symptoms, and only trained clinicians can tell the difference between temporary stress, anxiety, or an underlying psychiatric condition.

But his message goes further than accuracy—it’s also about accountability. Fitri calls out those who use mental-health labels as excuses for poor performance or laziness. According to him, when people self-diagnose and then use that label to justify unprofessional behaviour, it reflects badly on individuals who are genuinely struggling with disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression.

This kind of misuse, he argues, harms the credibility of real mental-health advocacy. It makes employers and peers less likely to take mental illness seriously, deepening stigma instead of reducing it.

Watch the video below:

@fitri_azeez Replying to @mdnoraidil ♬ original sound – Fitri Fitrenia

Fitri’s point isn’t to shame anyone. His empathy runs deep—he knows how hard it is to live with a condition that rewires your sense of reality. But his take is clear: self-awareness should lead to action, not excuses. If you think you might have a mental-health condition, talk to a therapist, counsellor, or psychiatrist. Don’t let TikTok be your doctor.

For Malaysians navigating an under-resourced mental-health system, it’s tempting to rely on online content for guidance. Yet Fitri’s story is a reminder that mental health is serious work—not a personality trait or an aesthetic.

Awareness is important, but responsibility is what gives it meaning.