If you think you want to get a psychiatric evaluation, try talking to someone you trust. This may be a family member, friend, coworker, doctor, teacher, or religious leader. Having support from someone you trust can help you decide.  For example, you may say, "I haven't been feeling the best. I think I may have a mental illness and want to get evaluated. What do you think about that?" If you believe you should get tested, don’t let people discourage you. Your mental health and well-being comes first. General practitioners cannot perform psychiatric assessments or tests. You need to see a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed social worker, licensed professional counselor (LPC), or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC).  You can get a referral to a mental health professional from your physician. You may also want to look up mental health professionals in your area. Your insurance company can help you locate a professional in your area that is covered by your insurance. Thinking that you need mental health care can make you feel like something is wrong or that you are broken. You may think that you're the only one who has this sickness, and that you will be considered strange and different. This is not true. You shouldn’t feel upset about needing help. Getting help is important so you that you can receive the treatment you need.  Many common problems, such as depression, are made worse by the feeling of being alone. Many problems like this are very common, so you are not alone.  People who have suffered the same problem can help you understand it and cope with it. 1 in 25 adults living in the United States experiences a severe mental illness that interferes with their ability to function. 1 in 6 adults in the United States takes some form of psychiatric medication. Professional psychiatric assessments and tests aren’t intended to have right and wrong answers. There isn’t a way to study for them. To ensure that you’re diagnosed properly, only take an assessment that’s administered by a mental health professional. Then the mental health professional can accurately determine your condition and create a treatment plan. Many nonprofessional tests that aren’t scientifically sound are available online, but you should not look at them. They can skew your results and either cause you to be misdiagnosed or make you think that you have more problems than you do. Though the words “psychiatric assessment” may sound scary, it is nothing to fear. Psychiatric assessment and testing can help get you a proper diagnosis so you can receive treatment and alleviate any negative symptoms or complications related to your condition. If you think you may have a mental illness, you may want to learn more about them. This may help you get an idea about what your problem could potentially be. You can check out books about different conditions from your local library, or you can search online. There are many reputable websites about mental illness, but try not to diagnose yourself. Remember, you need a mental health professional to diagnose you.  A good rule of thumb is to make sure the condition in question is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Otherwise, the condition may not be legitimate. People with emotional conditions respond to situations in such extreme ways that they make things worse. Developmental disorders deal with handicaps that prevent normal mental growth. Physiological problems occur when there is a problem with the brain that is caused by physical problems with the nerves or muscles.
Discuss your decision with someone you trust. See a licensed mental health professional for assessment. Stop feeling like something is wrong with you. Avoid trying to read about tests or assessments online. Avoid being scared of psychiatric assessment. Learn about different mental conditions.