Ask Jigsaw: How do I know if I have a mental disorder?

Monday, 11 January 2021

How do I know if I have actually have mental disorder? I don’t know what is real and what is not. Is it anxiety or am I just oversensitive about everything? Do I have depression even though I don’t have all the symptoms? How is a diagnosis given?

-Username

Hi there,

It’s healthy to feel a wide range of emotions in response to things that happen in your life. For example, you might feel sad after a bereavement, or anxious during exams. This does not mean that you have a problem with your mental health.

Linda

Jigsaw Clinician

Emotions can be good indications of how we really feel about a certain situation in our lives.

Understanding emotions

It sounds like you’re concerned about the emotions that you’re feeling. It’s natural to question things but generally, what you’re feeling is real. Emotions can be good indications of how we really feel about a certain situation in our lives. If these feelings start to affect what you do each day, it would be a good idea to explore what’s going on, and how to get the best help. It might be the case that you need some extra support for your mental health.

Check out this article to learn more about when you need to do this.

Linda

Jigsaw Clinician

A lot of people use internet searches to try and name their experience. However, it can be overwhelming to do this alone, and information on the internet is not always reliable.

Internet searches and mental health

A lot of people use internet searches to try and name their experience. It can be reassuring to tick off mental health symptoms and to try to find a name that captures your intense feelings. However, it can be overwhelming to do this alone, and information on the internet is not always reliable.

At Jigsaw we have some information about anxiety and low mood that might be helpful to read about. Speaking to a trusted adult about what you’re going through, will help you to figure out what the next step will be for you to feel better.

Getting support

A diagnosis for a mental health disorder or illness is usually provided by a GP or psychiatrist. A diagnosis is made after a full assessment of your mental health. This involves questions about how your mood affects your ability to participate in everyday life. A diagnosis is just one way to thing about mental health however and is not always needed to get the support you might be looking for.

Read more about Jigsaw’s approach to mental health here.

Take care,

Linda