Diagnosing anxiety and depressive disorders can be challenging for therapists due to several factors, including:
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Symptoms may also be normal reactions to everyday life events: Many symptoms of anxiety and depression can be common reactions to stress, loss, or significant life changes. This overlap can make it difficult for therapists to determine whether a person's experiences exceed normal fluctuations in mood and stress levels, leading to a potential misdiagnosis or an underappreciation of the severity of the condition.
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Symptoms are suppressed when in the presence of a therapist: Some individuals might feel nervous or uncomfortable discussing their feelings and may suppress or minimize their symptoms during therapy sessions. This can lead to a lack of complete information for the therapist, hindering an accurate diagnosis.
The other options, "Symptoms are seen only by people they have close relationships with" and "Symptoms are usually exaggerated in the presence of a therapist," can also play a role, but they are not as universally applicable as the two mentioned above. Overall, the nuanced nature of human emotions and the context in which symptoms present themselves complicate accurate diagnosis of anxiety and depressive disorders.
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