Diagnosing a mental health disorder is a multi-step process. At a first appointment, your doctor may perform a physical examination to look for signs of physical issues that could be contributing to your symptoms, and may order laboratory tests to screen for less obvious causes.
You may be asked to complete a mental health questionnaire, and may undergo a psychological evaluation. You might not have a diagnosis after the first appointment.
Because mental health is complex and symptoms vary from person to person, it can take a few appointments to reach a full diagnosis. A first appointment here is deliberately longer, so your history and background can be gone through properly before any medication is started.
It is worth saying plainly: you can have a full and happy life with a mental illness. Working with your doctor is how you learn healthy ways to manage the condition.
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