How to Tell if You Meet Clinical Mental Health Criteria

If you’ve been on social media you’ve probably seen some content about mental health. You may have even seen content about a specific mental health diagnosis and what symptoms you might experience if you have it. That phrase is currently being used to spread information that is becoming misinterpreted on the receivers’ end. Our goal is to help clear up any misinterpretations and keep the messaging clear about those informative social media posts. 

The Phrase in Question

When a post is claiming “you might experience these symptoms, if you have this diagnosis” what it is saying is true. Someone with a specific diagnosis will have the symptoms of said diagnosis. The key words in the phrase are overlooked; “you might experience, if you have it.” Those key words help clear up some of the confusion we’ll discuss later. “You might experience,” means you have a chance of not experiencing a specific symptom listed. “*if* you have it,” signals that the symptom alone isn't enough — the diagnosis has to be reviewed for accuracy.  

What the Phrase Means

People are generally getting the messaging from this phrasing. For some others, the clear message isn’t getting through. Having a symptom doesn't automatically mean you have the diagnosis, even when the symptom is straight from the Diagnostic and  Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Version 5 (DSM-5). There are a few main reasons this is true; some diagnoses have similar criteria, you may not meet additional criteria for the diagnoses, or the symptom can be better explained by another diagnosis. Teaching about mental health diagnosis, means sharing the additional considerations that go into deciding on a diagnosis for a patient. 

Arriving at a Diagnosis

Like previously mentioned, there is more that goes into diagnosis than keeping track of symptoms. It’s true you can experience the feeling of anxiety without meeting clinical criteria for an anxiety disorder. Not all anxiety is diagnosable; the same is true for other diagnoses like depression, bipolar, or OCD. A huge part that clues a counselor in, is going to the DSM-5 and reviewing all criteria for a diagnosis. There are criteria around the timeline of your symptoms, what areas of your life are impacted by the symptoms, and if you perceive the experience to be distressing. 

How to Get Diagnosed 

Working with a licensed professional to receive a mental health diagnosis is an essential part of the mental health journey. With counselors working virtually and working nontraditional hours, becoming connected with a professional is no longer a barrier to mental health care. Find a provider who you trust (it’s okay if you have to try a few) and take the first step to confirming if those social media posts are onto something.