What’s Wrong With Me Mentally

What’s Wrong With Me Mentally?

Distinguishing between regular and what is often called abnormal reactions is often a key indicator of mental illness. However, it's necessary to be able to tell the difference between them to know whether you likely suffer from mental health conditions or are experiencing a normal reaction. If you're wondering what's wrong with me mentally, this article can help you learn more about mental health.

There's a common misconception that everyone should feel happy all the time. However, that's not true. Certain variations in mental health are considered normal. For example, having more energy for a few days may be due to a change in your diet or better sleep quality. On the other hand, you also may be experiencing a manic episode associated with Bipolar Disorder. The same applies to feeling shy, progressively becoming social anxiety.

Understanding how mental health disorders are identified can help you learn how to address mental health issues effectively. You can determine if you need help from a mental health professional or if your feelings may fall within what is considered a normal range. In this article, we’ll review what you need to know about mental health.

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health focuses on the general mental well-being of a person. It involves cognitive functioning, various patterns of behavior, and emotional regulation. It's common for people to experience variations in mental functioning. For example, it may be hard to focus on certain days, but this doesn't necessarily mean you have a mental illness. Mental illness often involves distinct patterns in behavioral changes regarding behavior, emotions, or thinking that make daily life difficult or impossible. While this is common, it's essential to remember that only a mental health professional can diagnose a mental illness.

Defining Mental Health Disorders

Diagnosing mental health conditions involves several key steps. Even if you have several symptoms of common mental illnesses, it's essential not to self-diagnose yourself. Instead, understand the process of proper diagnosis and seek professional help. These are the most critical components of diagnosing mental health disorders.

Clinical Assessment

First, a mental health professional will conduct a clinical assessment. This often involves meeting with a professional and discussing current symptoms. The professional will also discuss your mental health history. It's essential to be honest regarding substance abuse and any previous diagnosis, such as a personality disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Duration And Severity

During the assessment, a professional will consider how long the symptoms have persisted and how severe they are. This will involve asking you several questions regarding your symptoms. Some professionals may have you fill out a questionnaire to help them determine the severity of your symptoms.

Cultural Considerations

If you have a mental health concern, a professional will consider your culture when evaluating your mental health symptoms. Some cultures tend to encourage certain behaviors, which may lead to behaviors other cultures view as mental health disorders. Discussing your culture with a professional openly and honestly is essential to avoid an inaccurate diagnosis.

Other Considerations

Finally, a professional will consider several other things during an evaluation. They'll ask about your physical health, including your diet and nutrition. Certain vitamin deficiencies can cause symptoms of mental illness. For example, an iron deficiency may cause insomnia. They will ask about your current quality of life to determine how the symptoms impact you, such as whether you still enjoy participating in social activities. Your family history is another essential thing to consider. If you have family members with mental disorders like affective disorder or dissociative disorders, you're more likely to develop them.

Diagnostic Criteria

When seeking mental health services, a professional will evaluate your symptoms and how they impact you. Then, they will consider any current mental illness. Sometimes, one sign of a mental illness can be mistaken for another. For example, it's common for individuals with PTSD to dissociate. However, this may be misdiagnosed as a dissociative disorder if PTSD is not considered. After considering other illnesses, including any physical health condition, a professional will refer to the DSM to determine if you meet the diagnostic criteria for a specific illness.

Diagnosis

Finally, a professional will provide you with a diagnosis. This person will also explain the diagnosis to you. They will review things like if you have a brain disorder that impacts brain chemistry and other things that may contribute to your mental health issues. A diagnosis will help you and the professional you're working with develop a treatment plan to help you live a productive life.

Treatment Plans

A treatment plan will involve addressing current symptoms, like brain fog. A mental health professional will develop a comprehensive program that may include medication, alternative remedies, or a combination. As a patient, you'll take part in helping create a treatment plan. Several things may be included in this plan.

Medication

It's common for mental health professionals to prescribe medication if your mental illness makes it challenging to complete daily activities. For example, if you suffer from Bipolar Disorder, prescription medication may be necessary to ensure your brain has the chemicals required for emotional regulation. This medication can help anyone with extreme mood disorders decrease the shifts in mood they experience.

Physical Activity

Your therapist may discuss an increase in physical activity as a part of your treatment plan. This is because exercising regularly has been proven to boost your mood. Daily activity can help your brain produce the chemicals necessary to handle life's stressors.

Alternative Therapies

Many therapists work with patients to find alternative therapies to help address symptoms of mental illness. The HICAT course at Mind Bloom is designed to help patients develop the skills to handle everyday stress, minimize anxiety symptoms, and help them discover their best selves. Yoga and meditation often have a soothing effect to help individuals practice mindfulness.

In Conclusion

Here at Mind Bloom, we understand mental illness's devastating impact on life. It can be hard to enjoy your usual activities when you suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses. That's why we offer a safe space for everyone. Connect with like-minded individuals through the Mind Bloom community. Develop coping skills via our HICAT course. Explore our blogs to learn tips and tricks to help you become the best version of yourself. We're here to help you bloom into a beautiful version of yourself.

- Mind Bloom Team