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Mental Health Diagnosis If your mental health concerns are chronic or persistent it's recommended to seek an official diagnosis. This can help your health care team and you understand what is the cause of your symptoms so that you can take care of it. It's also crucial for determining insurance coverage and to determine if you are eligible for support services. Diagnosis Mental health is a combination of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It affects how a person reacts to stress, as well as how they perform at work and in relationships as well as with their family. It can also affect learning and resilience. Early intervention is essential to addressing mental illness. Waiting to seek treatment can make symptoms worse. The earlier a disorder is diagnosed and treated, the more straightforward it is to manage. A physical exam could be done to rule out other causes, like an underlying medical problem or a medication-related adverse effect. A lab test isn't required to diagnose mental illness. It's the same as thyroid problems or diabetes. Instead, the doctor will listen to the patient, observe them and ask questions. They will consult training manuals, like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), to narrow down a diagnosis. It is possible for a patient's diagnosis to change over time as the mental health professional gets more knowledgeable about the symptoms and their impact on their lives. After a diagnosis has been made, the next step is to determine a treatment plan. This could include talking therapy (psychotherapy) and perhaps medication. In addition, it is important to address lifestyle issues that can make a difference in the treatment of mental health issues for example, getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising regularly. If someone close to you is struggling, help them to visit a mental health professional. It can be helpful to have a person who is supportive such as a friend or family member, go along with them to an appointment. Everyone can benefit from an open and honest discussion. Make sure you call 911 immediately if a person is exhibiting suicidal behavior. Other methods to assist them include recommending self-help publications or wellness activities and joining an online support group. Encouragement is essential and should be accompanied by a reminder to the person that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Signs and symptoms While everyone experiences changes in their emotions and behavior from time to time, if those symptoms start to interfere with everyday life or become more severe over time, it could be a sign of mental illness. It is crucial to take the first step of recognizing these signs, and then contacting an expert in mental health or a medical professional for help. A medical doctor or psychologist will inquire about your symptoms as well as their duration and if there are any life events that could be the cause of the symptoms. They will also use a book referred to as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to help them determine the correct diagnosis. The book lists the symptoms and characteristics of every disorder. It also includes specific criteria, including what is required in order to qualify for that disorder. When a mental illness has been diagnosed, it can be treated by taking medication or therapy (also called therapy with a talk). Other self-care strategies like exercising, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can be beneficial to certain people. Certain people may also have to change their lifestyle to help manage their symptoms. For example, they might not take on too many responsibilities, or decrease their work load when they're suffering from severe symptoms. The main objective of treatment is to reduce symptoms and their impact on a person's quality of life. The longer someone is waiting to seek treatment the more difficult it will be to overcome symptoms and live a normal life. The symptoms of mental illness can be treated by speaking with an expert or calling an emergency hotline. Those who are in crisis or are at risk of harming themselves or others should call 911. The health care provider is likely to conduct a physical exam to rule out any physical ailments that could be causing the symptoms, before sending them to a mental health specialist or psychiatrist. Treatment If you or someone you know has warning signs of mental illness — like seeing or hearing things that aren't there, being anxious or depressed, or other mood swings — it's important to speak with an expert. The first step is to see your family physician who may recommend you to a mental health professional such as psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or counselor. Your psychiatrist will likely start with a physical exam to rule out other medical causes for your symptoms, such thyroid problems. They'll then refer to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, to identify a diagnosis. The process can take weeks or even months. Your diagnosis could alter if you experience an improvement or worsening of your symptoms. Your doctor may design a treatment program specifically for you, which may include medication, counseling or lifestyle modifications. Your treatment team will closely monitor you. You might be required to participate in either group or individual therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, or reprocessing traumatic experiences using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). You can also consider natural therapies such as acupuncture or meditation. After receiving an diagnosis, you may be relieved. It gives a name to the issue that you've had to face. You may feel uneasy about your diagnosis or worry that people will be treated differently. A mental health diagnosis can be an effective instrument to help you recover from 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. Having a mental illness can cause many different problems, but there are treatments for the majority. 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 methods. If the symptoms are severe, some people may need to be treated in a hospital or a residential program. Recovery The next step is to begin treatment following the diagnosis. This could involve psychotherapy or family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy as well as dialectical behavior therapy group therapy, or natural healing methods like meditation, breathing and art therapy. These methods are typically used together with medications to manage symptomatology. Your mental health professionals will collaborate with you to develop a treatment plan that best meets your requirements. Recovery isn't linear, and you may encounter some setbacks. Over time, you'll likely notice that your symptoms are becoming manageable. It is important to recognize and celebrate the small successes. These are all steps in the right direction that will help you get back on track to living a life of recovery. When you're going through the recovery process, it's helpful to have a support system in place. adult mental health assessment could include close family members, friends, a mental-health expert, or someone from your support group who knows about your particular situation. It's also important to understand what resources are available to you, so make sure to ask your therapist or doctor about this and the kinds of services they recommend. You can also determine what your insurance covers, and which mental health professionals you are able to access through the network. You may also want to look into Employee Assistance Programs at your workplace or contact your local mental health agency to learn about programs and activities that might be available to you. It's true that there isn't a way to cure mental illnesses however this doesn't mean that they aren't manageable. You can live a lifestyle that isn't defined by your illness with a proper diagnosis. So keep learning about your condition, talk with your doctor about the issues you're experiencing and go day by day. Eventually, you will see that, even though your diagnosis isn't a life sentence, it does make things more complicated, but it's still worth the effort.