Adults Diagnosed with Mental Health Disorders

Nearly 60 million adults are diagnosed with mental health disorders, where 40 to 60 percent of adults were late diagnosed or received a diagnosis in adulthood. It is not uncommon to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder later in life, nor to be struggling with symptoms of a mental health disorder since childhood. 

I get it, a mental health diagnosis can be spooky!

Particularly considering the gruesome history of psychiatric care and the alarming portrayal of some mental health disorders, the grotesque representation of mental health issues in the media along with the chilling depictions of those who are affected by them can lead us to believe having a mental health diagnosis is like a paranormal encounter. 

It is important to remember that the absence of a mental health diagnosis does not mean that you do not have a mental health disorder. There are a range of factors that inhibit someone’s ability to receive mental health diagnoses including access to services, quality of care, or phase of life conditions. For example, it is not uncommon for people who do not have access to health insurance to be unable see a doctor or visit a specialist. Further, I have had a handful of clients who come from families that used specific religious and spiritual practices including priests, gurus, healers, spirits, symbols, or rituals to cure mental health ailments rather than counseling or psychotherapy.  As a result, many people may not know that the things they are experiencing are because of a mental health disorder.  

Mental health issues don’t “magically turn up,” something wicked may have been brewing the entire time. ​

In most case, there are several experiences toiling or issues boiling that lead you to what you are dealing with today (triggering incidents or prodromal symptoms). This even applies to people who may feel the “sudden onset” of a mental health issue. Generally, there are a range of precursor signs that may be indicative of a more pervasive mental health issue.  For example, while the onset of schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses is typically closer to adulthood, they are often lead by prolonged periods of depression or anxiety where diminishing activity or impaired behaviors can clue us in to impending doom. 

Do you ever feel like you’re possessed? Do you need an emotional exorcism? A licensed psychotherapist could do the trick!

Mental health conditions can sometimes feel like you’re under a spell, where some of my clients say that their depression and anxiety feels like an out of body experience. In fact, many of my clients have described their mental health like being the main character in a horror movie.  As a  psychotherapist for the last 12 years, I’ve seen that nightmares aren’t exclusive to Elm Street. 

In my experience, most of my patients are dealing with the skeletons in their closet or a relationship ghost. ​

In other cases, some individuals with undiagnosed mental health issues may present with sub-clinical levels of disorders and are higher functioning, or have lower dependency increasing the chances for more progressive illnesses and later onset disorders. It is not uncommon for people who are diagnosed with mental health conditions in adulthood to feel like they have been walking around like a zombie for years. In fact, many people who are later diagnosed have multiple or co-occuring illnesses due to years of experimenting with their problems like Dr. Frankenstein.

What if I waved a magic wand and all of your mental health trouble went away? What if you rubbed a magic lamp with mental health genie inside, when he appeared what would your 3 wishes be? 

There are a few mental health diagnosis that must be evident since childhood in order to receive the diagnosis. These diagnosis include: Autism Spectrum Conditions, Attention Deficit- Hyper Activity Disorder, and other pervasive developmental disorders.  

However, one of the most prevalent mental health diagnoses affecting adults that can be traced back to childhood is Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD).  Trauma researchers have identified that adversity in early life including the experience of toxic stress in childhood can create a range of psychological and emotional burdens increasing the likelihood and presence of specific physical and mental health conditions. Shockingly, nearly 65% of individuals struggling with psychotic disorders report exposure to trauma or adversity in their childhood. In addition, individuals who experience violence, abuse, or trauma in their childhood are more likely to suffer with substance use disorders, mood disorders, or personality disorders. 

In terms of C-PTSD diagnosed in adulthood, a licensed therapist may use events or experiences from phases of your life to assess the presences of symptoms including your exposure to trauma or toxic stress as a child in order to make a diagnosis. While I often feel like a fortuneteller and joke about being a psychic, the study of psychology is an evidence based science leading to an understanding that human behavior is predictable and how it is influenced by specific factors.  In as such one can understand how mental health struggles present since childhood can be triggering a disorder in the present day. 

The most important facet to consider is the latent element of PTSD where it often manifests after or upon conclusion of an adverse experience or traumatic event. Specifically, many individuals will develop symptoms of PTSD weeks, months, or years after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event and are more likely to encounter poly-victimization or struggle with reoccurring episodes of PTSD through their lifespan. 

In the end, individuals experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition (despite the age of onset or diagnosis) would benefit greatly from accepting their mental diagnosis and receiving treatment to manage triggers in the present day.  

If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of a mental health disorder, please visit www.TherapywithRaquel.com for more information. Raquel Buchanan is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Southern California.