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Mental Health Diagnosis If your mental health concerns are persistent or severe it's a good idea to get an official diagnosis. This can help you and your health care provider determine what's causing your symptoms, so you can manage them. It is important to determine insurance coverage and eligibility for support services. Diagnosis Mental health is a combination of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It affects how someone reacts to stress, as well as how they function at work, in relationships and with their family. It also affects learning and resilience. Early intervention is key to treating a mental illness. The symptoms can worsen if you wait to seek treatment. It is also much easier to treat sooner a disorder is identified and treated. A physical exam can be performed to rule out other causes such as an illness or medication side effects. A lab test is not used to diagnose mental illness. It's the same as the case for thyroid problems or diabetes. Instead the doctor will listen to the person, observe them and ask questions. They will consult training manuals such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), to narrow down the diagnosis. It is possible that an individual's diagnosis may change over time, as the mental health professional becomes more familiar with their symptoms and how they affect their lives. After a diagnosis has been confirmed, the next thing to do is decide on a plan of treatment. This may include talk therapy (psychotherapy), and possibly medications. It is also essential to address lifestyle factors that can aid in the treatment of a mental disorder, such getting enough sleep eating a balanced diet and being physically active. If someone you know is struggling, encourage them to seek out a mental health professional. It can be helpful to have a supportive person, such as an individual from your family or a friend take them to an appointment. Everyone can benefit from an open and honest discussion. If someone is showing suicidal behavior, contact 911 immediately. Other options to help them include recommending self-help resources or wellness activities, as well as joining the support group. It is crucial to encourage and so is reminding the person asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Symptoms Mental illness can be diagnosed when the symptoms of changes in behavior and emotions get more frequent or get worse over time. It is crucial to be aware of these signs and seek out help from a mental health professional or physician. A medical doctor or a psychologist will ask about your symptoms, their duration and if there are any events in your life that could be the cause of them. They'll also consult a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to guide them as they determine the appropriate diagnosis. The book provides the primary characteristics and symptoms of each disorder, as as lists specific criteria like what should be present to be able to identify a specific disorder, so it's important that doctors or psychologists follow the guidelines exactly. Once a mental disorder is diagnosed, it may be treated with therapy or medication (also called talk therapy). Certain people can also benefit from other measures of self-care like exercise eating a healthy diet and sleeping enough. Additionally, some people require a change in their lifestyles to ensure that they can manage their symptoms, like not taking on too many responsibilities or reducing their work hours when they're suffering from severe symptoms. The primary goal of treatment is to ease symptoms and their impact on an individual's quality of living. The longer someone waits to seek treatment, the more difficult it is to overcome symptoms. Mental health symptoms can be addressed by speaking to a doctor or calling a hotline. People who are in a danger of hurting themselves or others should dial 911. The health professional will likely do a physical exam to rule out any physical ailments that could be causing the symptoms before sending them to a mental health professional or psychiatrist. Treatment It's important to consult an expert in the event that you or someone you love is experiencing signs of mental illness, like being depressed or anxious or experiencing mood swings. First, you should consult your family physician, who can recommend you to a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker counselor. Your mental health professional may begin with a physical exam to rule out any other medical reasons for your symptoms, like thyroid problems. Then they'll use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5) from the American Psychiatric Association to make a diagnosis. The process might take weeks or even months. Your diagnosis may alter if you experience an improvement or worsening of your symptoms. Your doctor will create a treatment plan for you, which could include counseling, medication or lifestyle adjustments. Your treatment team will closely follow your progress. You may need to attend sessions with a group or an individual such as family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy or reprocessing trauma with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. You can also consider natural healing methods, like acupuncture and meditation. After receiving a diagnosis, you might feel relieved. It provides a name for the issue you've been struggling with. But it's also possible you'll be uncomfortable with the label, or worried that people will treat you differently. A mental health diagnosis can be an effective instrument to help you overcome your illness and feel better. You may also qualify for disability benefits, enjoy job protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or keep your health insurance coverage. Mental illness can trigger a number of issues however, the majority can be treated. Some of these treatments include medications such as antidepressants and sedatives. Other talk therapies include psychotherapy (also known as “talking cure”) which includes relaxation training, the reworking of negative thoughts and behaviors, and other strategies. If the symptoms are severe, some people may need to be treated in a hospital or a residential program. Recovery If you've been diagnosed, the next step is to continue with treatment. This may include psychotherapy such as family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy as well as dialectical behavior therapy group therapy and/or natural healing therapies such as meditation, breathing and art therapy. These methods are typically used in conjunction with medication to manage symptoms. Your mental health professional will collaborate with you to create an appropriate treatment plan that meets your requirements. Recovery isn't linear, and you may experience some setbacks. But over time you'll likely see improvements in your symptoms – they becoming easier to manage and a decrease in their severity. In fact, it's important to be proud of these achievements even the smallest of them. These are all steps in the right directions to help you get back on track to a life of recovery. As you go through the process of recovery, it's beneficial to have an established support system. listen to this podcast could include your closest friends, family members, professionals in mental health, or someone from your support network who is knowledgeable about the condition. It's also important to understand what resources are available for you, so make sure to ask your doctor or therapist about the services they recommend. You can also find out what your insurance covers and the mental health professionals who are in network. You may also inquire about Employee Assistance Programs in your workplace, or contact your local mental health service for more information about programs and activities. Mental illnesses are not curable, but they can be managed. With a clear diagnosis and treatment, you can live the life you want – not one defined by your illness. So keep learning about your illness, talk to your doctors about the symptoms you're experiencing, and take it day by day. You'll soon realize that your diagnosis doesn't mean you're bound to die, but it can make your life more difficult. It's worth it to go through the process.