How to determine if you have a mental illness

To determine whether one has a mental illness, a comprehensive evaluation can be conducted through observing changes in emotional behavior, assessing social functioning, screening physical symptoms, using psychological assessment tools, and confirming professional diagnosis. Psychological disorders may be caused by factors such as genetic susceptibility, stress events, imbalance of brain chemicals, chronic diseases, or personality traits.

1. Emotional and behavioral changes

Attention should be paid to behavior changes such as low mood, irritability, anxiety, decreased interest, and social avoidance that persist for more than two weeks. Typical manifestations include crying without reason, excessive self blame, disrupted sleep and appetite, or suicidal thoughts. If accompanied by cognitive symptoms such as decreased attention and decision-making difficulties, it may be related to depression or anxiety.

2. Social functioning assessment [SEP]: Significant decline in work and learning efficiency, persistent conflicts in interpersonal relationships, and degradation of basic self-care abilities are all warning signals. Frequent tardiness and absenteeism, avoidance of contact with family and friends, and deterioration of personal hygiene may indicate early signs of adaptation disorders or schizophrenia. The degree of social functional impairment is one of the important criteria for diagnosis.

3. Physical symptom screening

If there are no organic causes of physical symptoms such as recurrent headaches, gastrointestinal discomfort, palpitations, etc., the possibility of somatic disorders should be considered. These symptoms are often related to psychological stress and are common in patients with anxiety or depression. When the physical examination report is normal but the symptoms persist, it is recommended to refer to a psychological department for evaluation.

4. Psychological assessment tools

can use standardized scales such as PHQ-9 Depression Screening Scale and GAD-7 Anxiety Scale for preliminary assessment. A score of moderate or above indicates the need for professional intervention, but self-assessment results cannot replace clinical diagnosis. Some hospital official websites provide formal evaluation channels to avoid using non professional platforms for testing.

5. Professional Diagnosis Confirmation

Psychiatrists will diagnose through interviews, medical history collection, psychiatric examinations, and necessary laboratory tests. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, specific types of psychological disorders can only be diagnosed after the duration and severity of symptoms, as well as the exclusion of factors such as substance abuse.

Daily emotional diary can be recorded to monitor changes in psychological status. Maintaining a regular schedule and moderate exercise can help with mental health. If there are multiple abnormal manifestations in self-assessment, or if the symptoms have affected normal life, it is recommended to seek medical attention at a psychiatric department as soon as possible. Early intervention can significantly improve prognosis, and psychological disorders, like other physical illnesses, require standardized treatment without the need for delayed medical treatment due to shame.