Start with observations, not labels. For each concern, record the symptom in your own words, the approximate start date, frequency, intensity, duration, and whether it appears before opioid use, during use, when a dose is late, or after stopping. Examples of neutral descriptions include “awake most of the night three times this week,” “panic-like feeling after missing a dose,” or “stopped answering friends.” Do not use the timing to diagnose yourself. Similar experiences can have different causes, and a qualified professional must interpret them.
Add functional details: missed work or school, trouble caring for children, skipped meals, isolation, conflict, risky behavior, or difficulty keeping appointments. Include prior mental health evaluations, counseling, hospital visits, crisis contacts, diagnoses previously given by a clinician, and what seemed helpful or unhelpful. If you do not know an exact date, mark it as approximate rather than leaving it out. Also note relevant substance history, including prescription source when known, changes in amount or frequency, attempts to stop, and use of alcohol or other substances. Share honestly, including substances not prescribed to you. This is information for assessment, not a confession or a test you must pass.
- Symptoms described in everyday language, with timing and frequency
- Effects on sleep, eating, work, school, relationships, and self-care
- Past diagnoses or evaluations, clearly attributed to the professional who gave them whenever known and not presented as self-diagnosises understood current diagnoses and provides a