is it possible for a patient to have a serious mental health problem and for it to not be detected at all?

Question

is it possible for a person experiencing severe mental difficulties to talk normal and look normal when they need to but feels they are going crazy but cannot get it across to the doctors, cause they look normal and talk normal, and come across as natural and aware of things going on.

this is whats happening with me, or sometimes it feels like i imaging it all

Answer 1

You're seeing the wrong doctors. Make an appointment with a counselor and/or psychiatrist who will know which questions to ask and who will take your concerns seriously. Doctors who brush you off because you don't fit a certain pattern aren't taking the time necessary to treat you. They may not have the skills necessary to help you. Millions and millions of people have mental health issues and function perfectly well in society. If you feel you need help, find it.

Answer 2

It is possible to have a serious mental problem, and for it to not be detected. However, it is more likely that a mental problem can be detected, but not correctly diagnosed.
A condition one of my children has, the books say it takes an average of 7 years before the patient is correctly diagnosed. That is because the symptoms appear and disappear.
Another family member was so dysfunctional, he was unable to hold any job, with memory loss, and got lost often in his home-town. Yet, after a 3 week observation stay in a VA psych hospital ward, the head psychiatrist said, "He is as normal as the people who work here." At two other hospitals, however his mental and homicidal issues were taken seriously, and he was placed into long term care.

You will find that psychiatrists have their own areas of expertise. Some specialize in certain mental or brain problem areas, yet on the other hand, don't deal at all with some types of problems, and from my experience may not believe some issues even exist. Diagnosis can be fairly straight forward with some mental problems, and it may be very difficult and confusing for other disorders.

If at first you don't succeed...do try again...the help you receive can be worth it.

Answer 3

You're going to have to communicate with your doctor and tell exactly what you are feeling that makes you think you might have a mental illness. The doctor can't read your mind. Try going to a psychiatrist (medical doctor specializing in mental health). I personally don't have a lot of faith in psychologists, but that might be an option too, maybe a psychologist could narrow down some of what is going on and later pass it along to a psychiatrist (if necessary).
Of course, it's possible that you don't have a problem, or that its not severe enough to need any kind of treatment. I really can't tell anything from what you say because you don't give any information about specific symptoms.

Answer 4

BIG-One time I worked for this Doctor and he would rush around from patient to the other speedily tyring to get them out, the patients would come out alot and come straight to me and say I really didn't get the chance to tell him my problem. Find a Doctor that will take the time with you! Then before you go Write Down all that you feel and how it makes you feel and hand it over to him and see what they do. If they keep dismissing you and don't send you for further examination or try to take the time to help you, then leave and go until you find someone who will-I know it may get tiring-but get some help-you know yourself better than anyone else does-If they are not doing a thing or taking quality time with you and I pray you have insurance- write to your insurance company and tell them how you are Not being treated and they can help you. Mine will- I pray yours will too! Good Luck-God Bless and don't give up!

Answer 5

Yes of course it is, the doctors can`t detect everything. Also, when you go to the doctor, you are on your`best behaviour`. you were probably bought up to not show your feelings so even when visiting the doctor, it is difficult to rant and rage or to cry and feel you are letting yourself down, consequently you try to behave as normally as possible. If you feel your doctor isn`t taking you seriously, you must see another doctor. You sound as though you are very stressed and are obviously worried. Go back to the doctor, this time REALLY tell him how you feel. Good luck.

Answer 6

Its very unlikely a doctor would not be able to detect a serious mental illness. If someone is in the midst of a serius mental illness they wouldn't talk or behave entirely normally. Doctors are professionals and pick up on very small clues - including doc's not necessarily trained specifically in psychiatry.

Answer 7

People with mental health problems do look normal, they don't have any physical signs to show for their illness, try talking to the doctor again, take someone with you for support, they could help getting your point across.

Good luck

Answer 8

It took ten years for me to be diagnosed with a mental illness. I was at the end of my rope, things weren`t going right and I was booked in. Yep, it is possible.

Answer 9

It is unlikely that a trained practitioner would fail to pick up signs of classical mental illness in a consultation. The classical conditions being, endogenous depression,manic-depression and schizo-affective disorders including schizophrenia itself. These are also sometimes considered to be organic and due to brain chemistry disorders, which is why they often respond well to specific medication.

However the neurosis or the psychopathic disorders, which are disorders of personality, and don't respond well to medication can be much more difficult as they are extremes of the norm. It is said for example that to be a captain of industry you may need an element of psychopathy or you will not be ruthless enough to succeed.

Answer 10

Sorry that you are feeling this way but you must learn to open up, how can anyone help you if you don't explain how you are feeling, try to find a way.