Are You Crazy?
By Najla Zaidi | 19 Aug, 2025

Some mental health conditions can be more reliably identified through self-assessment, but Asian Americans can benefit from being open-minded about seeking professional help.

In recent years, social media has become a rich source of mental health information and some out-there pseudo-information.  If you have ever gone down a Google or WebMD rabbit hole trying to figure out what is wrong with you, you are in the majority of people who think that their, “Google MD,” is all they need to get an accurate diagnosis. 

Although health care professionals strongly disagree with making any kind of mental health self-diagnosis, there is some evidence which suggests that for the most common types of mental disorders, your personal assessment is accurate and needs to be further looked at. 

A recent National Institute of Health (NIH) study indicated that self-reported diagnoses correspond well with symptom severity and can be trusted as clinical indicators, especially in common disorders such as depression and generalized anxiety disorder.  Furthermore, the study stated, “Researchers can put more faith into patient self-reports, including those in web-based experiments such as social media posts, when individuals report diagnoses of depression and anxiety disorders.”   

First, let’s look at what is considered a mental disorder. 

A mental health disorder, also known as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a condition that affects the way you think and behave.  It also influences your emotions and how you regulate them.  There are more than 200 types of mental health disorders, and many factors may contribute to the development of a psychiatric disorder.  These can range from genetics to brain chemistry to life experiences and environment. 

Mental health conditions are common and nothing to be ashamed of.  You might have one yourself or know someone who does.  These disorders aren’t character flaws or signs of weakness.  They can have many causes and are often more complex than they seem.

In 2019, 1 in every 8 people, or 970 million people around the world were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depressive disorders the most common.  In 2020, the number of people living with anxiety and depressive disorders rose significantly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  There are a few illnesses that are the most common and their symptoms easier to self-diagnose.

Anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia and generalized anxiety disorders usually have symptoms like excessive worry, panic attacks or phobias.  In 2019 301 million people were living with an anxiety disorder including 58 million children and adolescents, according to the WHO.  Symptoms can be severe enough to result in significant distress or significant impairment in functioning.  OCD signs include intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. 

PTSD may develop following exposure to a threatening or horrific event or series of events.  It is also characterized by intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares; avoidance of thoughts and memories of the event(s), or avoidance of activities, situations, or people reminiscent of the event(s); and persistent perceptions of heightened current threat.  These symptoms persist for at least several weeks and cause significant impairment in functioning, according to the WHO.

Mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder (manic depression) are characterized with behaviors such as prolonged period of sadness, loss of interest in activities, and changes in sleep or appetite.  In 2019 280 million people were living with depression, including 23 million children and adolescents.  Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life.  

Several other symptoms are also present, which may include poor concentration, feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth, hopelessness about the future, thoughts about dying or suicide, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite or weight, and feeling especially tired or low in energy.  People with depression are at an increased risk of suicide, studies show. 

In addition, 40 million people experienced bipolar disorder.  People with bipolar disorder have alternating depressive episodes with periods of manic symptoms.  Manic symptoms may include euphoria or irritability, increased activity or energy, and other symptoms such as increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and impulsive reckless behavior.  

Neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism are also easy to spot.  These are behavioral and cognitive disorders, that arise during the developmental period and involve significant difficulties in the acquisition and execution of specific intellectual, motor, language, or social functions.  ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning.  

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constitutes a diverse group of conditions characterized by some degree of difficulty with social communication and reciprocal social interaction, as well as persistent restricted, repetitive, and inflexible patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

Then 14 million people experienced eating disorders including almost 3 million children and adolescents according to the WHO.  Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, involve abnormal eating and preoccupation with food as well as prominent body weight and shape concerns.  The symptoms result in risk or damage to health, distress, or impairment of functioning.  Anorexia nervosa often has its onset during adolescence or early adulthood and is associated with premature death due to medical complications or suicide.  Individuals with bulimia nervosa are at a significantly increased risk for substance use, suicidality, and health complications.

Schizophrenia affects approximately 24 million people or 1 in 300 people worldwide.  People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 10-20 years below that of the general population.   Schizophrenia is characterized by significant impairments in perception and changes in behavior.  Symptoms may include persistent delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, highly disorganized behavior, or extreme agitation.  People with schizophrenia may experience persistent difficulties with their cognitive functioning.  

ASIAN AMERICAN MENTAL HEALTH

Although overall Asian Americans report lower rates of mental health disorders compared to other groups, they are not immune.

Studies show that Asian Americans experience depression at similar or even higher rates than non-Hispanic whites in some community samples, particularly among specific subgroups like recent Chinese immigrants and Asian American girls.  In fact, 33% of Korean American adults experience symptoms of depression, while 16% of Chinese Americans experience similar symptoms. 

Anti-Asian rhetoric and incidents have been on the rise in recent years, spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic.  “People's reports of discrimination and unfair treatment have been linked to major depressive disorders, clinical anxiety disorders and mood disorders,” says Dr. Gilbert Gee, PhD, professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.  

“It takes a pretty large toll on people's mental health.” And physically, he adds, “even those mundane everyday experiences of microaggressions can contribute to stress and allosteric load, wear and tear on the body.”  In some cases, Dr. Gee says, racism and discrimination faced by older Chinese Americans has been shown to increase the odds of suicidal ideation.  

The model minority stereotype which presents Asian Americans as the quiet success story of all other racial minority groups, is also a cause of mental distress.  Research shows the model minority myth can drive resentment from non-AAPI peers.  This leads to isolation and bullying of AAPI individuals, who then experience depression and anxiety.  The myth is cited as one of the strongest sources of stress for Asian American youth.  

Recent data collected from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) found that Asian Americans have a 17.3% overall lifetime rate of any psychiatric disorder and a 9.19% 12-month rate, yet Asian Americans are three times less likely to seek mental health services than Whites.

Asian Americans are 50% less likely than other racial groups to seek mental health services, says Dr. Brandon Ito, MD, MPH.  In some Asian cultures, mental health challenges are viewed as an individual problem or weakness and talking openly about sadness, disappointment or depression is rarely encouraged.

“We know that within the Asian American populations, the stigma around mental health is really significant.  Asian Americans are more likely to be fearful about a diagnosis or accessing mental health,” Dr. Ito says.  “They worry about it affecting their jobs or their ability to maintain employment, and also the perception among their peers.”

If you’re experiencing any ongoing symptoms that are disruptive to your daily life, a good first step is talking with a primary care physician.  They may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist, depending on your needs.  In some cases, a social worker can help. 

If you’re in a crisis or need immediate help, contact 911 or your local emergency services number.  There are a range of treatments available, but you must take the first step by making your mental health a priority and asking for help.