Mental illness - self diagnosis possible?

[awg]

It is a good idea to learn something about mental health, as the chances it may effect you or your loved ones, friends, workmates etc,
over a lifetime is very high.

It is the leading cause of disability, by most terms of measurement.

However, it is a topic most people dont know a great deal about.

While I agree it is most unwise to "self diagnose"

I would encourage people to undertake detailed reading on the topic.

(just dont make the mistake of thinking you must be a nutter after skimming DSM...another poster mentioned this)

As with other health functions, it is a spectrum situation.

Just as some have superb hearts,livers, muscles, etc , most average and some poor, the same with psychological profiles.

so while some people are almost invulnerable to depression, for instance, most people have a "threshold", which makes them vulnerable to illness or dysfunction, there is a group who suffer chronic disease.

2nd link below with the stats + an excerpt

( and if you really want an insight into peculiar human behaviour,
consider this: "An estimated 20 percent of people in the general population have one or more personality disorders." )......(although I personally find that figure a bit on the high side of what is more commonly stated)

source:http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761589457






http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

Mental Disorders in America

Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older ”” about one in four adults ”” suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.1 When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people.2Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion ”” about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 ”” who suffer from a serious mental illness.1 In addition, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44.3 Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for 2 or more disorders, with severity strongly related to comorbidity.1

In the U.S., mental disorders are diagnosed based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV).4
Mood Disorders

Mood disorders include major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.

* Approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder.1
* The median age of onset for mood disorders is 30 years.5
* Depressive disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse.5

Major Depressive Disorder

* Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44.3
* Major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.1
* While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32.5
* Major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men.6

 

[Warren Greenspan]

Snake you haven't divulged any of your symptoms but from the general discussion it sounds like some form of depressive illness. I reckon most of us would have suffered some degree of this illness at some time.

If that is the case then yeah, it's probably self diagnosable, you seem self aware and discerning enough.

Your original question hints at a reluctance to discuss it with a health professional?...Have you tried other avenues where you can remain anon. such as phone help lines; Lifeline, Sane Australia, Beyond blue,etc.
Maybe you could visit a GP anonomously, pay cash.

BUT and its a big but

If any of your symptons include any sort of psychosis (eg voices, delusions, changed reality etc) you need to seek professional help and seek it immediately. These days you won't be carted off to the psych ward. Even if you require hospitalisation you can self admit and leave when you choose.

The consequences of these disorders, eg schizoprenia ,if left unchecked or medicated are too often tragic.

All the best .... (you're certainly not Robinson Carusoe)

 

[johnnyg]

Hmmm seems to be a bit of a coincidence but I'm pretty sure I self diagnosed myself yesterday. Seems I have OCD without Overt compulsions...

 

[Mr J]

I have bipolar, and ADHD, and aids, and pig flu. If diagnosis was simple enough to do ourselves, there wouldn't be so many doctors out there misdiagnosing their patients.

 

[It's Snake Pliskin]

Snake,

I believe you can diagnose yourself if you are self-aware and knowledgable. But serious mental health issues require professional assessment, for a second opinion if you like; followed by professional treatment.

Thirdly, serious mental health issues are a "disease" of the brain, just as heart disease is a disease of the heart. The concept of "snapping out of it" or "pulling yourself together" reflects a misunderstanding of the nature of serious mental illness. In such instances brain structure and function changes, beyond the point of will power being effective.

But just like a diseased heart, a diseased brain is either 1] treatable to the point of cure or 2] requiring ongoing management, or 3] in rare cases, untreatable.

JA


PS
What motivated the question in the first place?
if you dont mind my asking, otherwise just ignore.

Thanks for the response James. I think it is something that needs discussion and had not seen anything discussed. With regard to myself all is ok. I just hope the trend of de-stigmatising the topic continues.

Cheers...