Mental Health Red Flags That Get Misdiagnosed as 'Stress'
Have a headache? Take a pill. Feeling faint? Drink water. For every ailment, there's a probable remedy that at the time appears to help. But it's only a band-aid covering the ache and not the source of the pain.
The same can be said for stress. The American Psychological Association (APA) says that stress in the U.S. is at a crisis level. The Harris Poll revealed that 62% of participants reported societal division as a significant source of stress in their lives.
Dig deeper, and you'll notice stress could be a symptom, not the actual illness. Misdiagnosis is a possibility, hiding mental health red flags in plain sight.
Inaccurate Previous Psychiatric Diagnosis
Juvenile court evaluator Professor Anthony Smith has more than 20 years of experience in assessments for the juvenile courts.
Writing for Psychology Today, he notes that one case in particular has stayed with him. Jacques (12) was accused of threatening a teacher. He had trouble focusing, struggled with irritability, and was easily distracted.
During this time, Jacques was treated for ADHD and was already seeing his 8th therapist. Smith questioned the original diagnosis, claiming that the variables didn't add up. On closer inspection and following sessions with the child, he found that stress was the one variable on which the diagnosis was based.
However, the stress wasn't the root cause. The separation of Jacques's parents caused him intense trauma, anger, and irritation. Smith later rediagnosed him with Adjustment Disorder With Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct.
Improving Diagnostic Accuracy
By his own admission, Professor Smith says that a misdiagnosis is a regular occurrence. Many times, professionals don't review the findings or consult for a second opinion.
There is a workaround. Integrated medical and psychiatric training improves diagnostic accuracy. Registered nurses (RNs) who qualify as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner are some of the most qualified in this respect. A dual FNP and psych NP program is the fastest study pathway to combining two specialized nursing practice disciplines into one degree.
Students learn to support the health of diverse populations, from children to older adults. They also build skills to provide mental health services for individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disorders.
Rockhurst University explains that collegiate nursing education prepares advanced practice nurses through rigorous academics and varied clinical placement processes. By the end of their studies, they are ready to take the national certification examinations.
'It's All In Your Head'
Those five words are medical gaslighting, 101. Unfortunately, using stress as the cause of a deeper issue can mask a proper diagnosis.
A feeling of helplessness overcomes you when you know there's something very wrong with your body and your doctor writes it off as psychosomatic.
Public health researcher Melanie Sloan recently published her findings in the journal Rheumatology. Her team studied 3,000 people with autoimmune disease. They found the effects lasted longer when a mental health or psychosomatic label was used.
More than 70% of the cohorts reporting a psychosomatic misdiagnosis said that it still upset them. Over 80% felt that it had damaged their self-worth.
One of the participants said a doctor told her she was making herself feel pain. It made her very anxious and depressed.
Delaying Diagnosis and Treatment
Hollywood director Rob Weiner's death came as a shock to thousands. Days following the tragedy, his son Nick Reiner was sought as the main suspect.
What followed was a tale of violent outbursts, paranoia, and drug abuse. Nick was outspoken about his addictions and collaborated with his dad on semi-autobiographical flick Being Charlie.
No one could have predicted what came next. Tabloids were quick to dig up his mental health struggles, reporting that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. What many failed to do was to make the possible connection between mental illness and substance abuse.
While experts are not in a position to comment on Nick's case, they noted that substance use can delay diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. These conditions often overlap, specifically with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and schizophrenia.
FAQs
Why can persistent fatigue be more than "stress"? Chronic fatigue may be a sign of depression or anxiety. It can signal a deeper mental health issue rather than just everyday stress.
When is panic more than a stress reaction? Intense fear with physical symptoms may be a sign of panic or anxiety.
Can irritability be a mental health red flag? Yes. Irritability and mood changes are common in mood and trauma-related disorders.
Why isn't stress always the best explanation? Many mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, PTSD) have symptoms similar to stress reactions. Misdiagnosis is common. Rough estimates suggest a significant proportion of mental health cases are initially misclassified.