EMBRACING THE JOURNEY

Acknowledging your goal to improve your wellbeing and seeking help for your mental health is an essential and courageous step towards healing. Seeking help for mental health is a deeply personal and significant step. 

Establishing care and obtaining a mental health diagnosis can evoke many different emotions, and it’s crucial to acknowledge that everyone’s experience is unique, as well as the overall process of obtaining a diagnosis being both enlightening and intimidating. Think about it, on one hand, it can bring clarity and understanding, offering a path forward to greater understanding, person centered care and strategies for improvement. On the other, it can feel overwhelming as it confronts us with difficult truths or challenges. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way to feel about this.

What is a Mental Health Diagnosis?

A mental health diagnosis is made by a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist, based on a thorough evaluation of your symptoms, history, and behaviors. This diagnosis helps to identify any mental health conditions you may be facing, guiding person centered treatment plans and supporting forward movement on your journey. Simply stated, it provides a framework for understanding your experiences and can be key in finding effective coping strategies or treatment options for you in the now, as well as when discussing sustainment/maintenance for your plan of care.

Sneak Peek: The Process of Getting a Diagnosis

1. Seeking Help: The first step is deciding to seek help!

2. Assessment and Evaluation: A mental health professional will typically start by asking questions about your symptoms, personal history, and any family history of mental health conditions. This conversation may be accompanied by questionnaires or standardized tests, as well as anything else the professional deems appropriate during assessment/information gathering.

3. Diagnosis: Once the assessment is complete, the mental health professional will use established criteria, often from diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), to determine if your symptoms meet the criteria for a specific mental health condition. This diagnosis may be a label, such as depression or generalized anxiety disorder, but it’s important to remember that it’s not a reflection of your identity—it’s simply a tool to guide treatment. Remember, your mental health diagnosis and presenting needs can change at any time during your care experience.

4. Treatment Plan: After a diagnosis, a treatment plan is established. I often call this the “blueprint” of our time together. This plan may include specific therapy techniques, lifestyle changes, medication compliance, care coordination with other doctors involved in your care, or a combination of these options. The goal is to help you manage or reduce symptoms and improve your overall well-being, so your treatment plan will focus on whatever you determine as deserving for your effort and attention!

Your journey

Remember, seeking support, obtaining a diagnosis, and establishing a treatment plan helps you understand what’s happening, which can reduce feelings of confusion or helplessness. It provides a language to describe what you’re going through. Although it may initially feel like a heavy weight, it can also be a catalyst for positive change, a clearer path towards understanding and beginning your journey to wellness.

Kindly,

Julie