How do you know if you've got an mental illness? I am convinced I have some sort of mental instability but I've read about mental illness, I did an A level in psychology so I'm not completely ignorant on the subject but the more illness's I read about the more the symptoms seem vauge and how do you know what you' think is wrong with you may be just as ill as any other other person who just happens deal with it better.
I had a seriously wild moodswing a few months ago, I absolutly lost it I can rarely control my emotions and as I get older it seems to be getting more out of hand. I am normaly a shy person, I have a few close friends, I don't like being the centre of attention and I think this is what is stopping me from asking for help. I've had a few 'episodes' I just lose it, its over stupid things aswell. The worst one I ever had was just before Christmas I had a fall out with someone and I smacked the side of my arm against a wall in a fit of rage, breaking the bone in the process and I needed an operation to get plates, another time I punched a window at Uni shattering the glass.
I am doing a fine art degree but it seems the only way I express my emotions is by injuring myself or losing it and lashing out throwing things, breaking things, crying, screaming. It sounds quite ridiculous now I'm writing about it.
I lost some people who I thought were my friends because they got scared and think I am a psycho but I know I would never ever hurt a person.
Maybe you reading this will think "god you ARE a psycho" but I can't even explain to you or anyone I can hardly remember how I feel when I *do* lose it its like I get possessed or consumed by these emotions. I think I need help but I don't know whats up with me or what I'm supposed to do. advice, suggestions would be appriciated
xx

there is this psychologist on tv called dr. keith and he talks about the "anger illness."

http://drkeith.warnerbros.com/angerillness/

there might be some other underlying issue. check out the website.

Do you masturbate?

Maybe you should start a poll, listing out the most likely diagnoses to account for your behaviors. Then let KR decide. So far they've solved a few other cases in this area...or so I'm told.

A lot of the symptoms of mental illness are normal behaviours/mental occurences, but these symptoms are indicative of illness if you experience them in the extreme. That's the problem with self diagnosis, anyone can read up on mental illness and conclude that they've got about 20 of them when actually what they're experiencing fits completely within the parameters of 'normality', it's not at the debilitating illness level.

Saying that, if you're concerned then go to the doctor. Keep a diary of what you're experiencing for about a month then go show the doctor.