Symptoms

Most people notice an experience long before they have a name for it. A chest that tightens for no clear reason, a thought that won't leave, a flatness where feeling used to be. This part of Shrinkopedia starts from that experience. Each entry takes one symptom and explains what it actually is, why it happens, what it can point to, and when it's worth talking to someone. It's for anyone who knows something feels off but isn't sure what to call it yet.

Every symptom entry is researched from primary sources, including the DSM-5-TR, the ICD-11, NICE guidance, the National Institute of Mental Health, and Cochrane systematic reviews. We write it in plain language, and the editorial team led by Dr. Shariq Refai reviews each entry before it's published. Each entry carries an evidence-strength rating of Strong, Mixed, or Limited, so you can see how settled the science is behind what a symptom means and what tends to help.

Browse the list below or use the filter to find what you're looking for. If you'd rather start from how something feels, the Mental Health Atlas groups these same symptoms by the body, the thoughts, the emotions, and the behavior patterns that bring people here. Either way, each symptom entry links out to the conditions it can be part of, the treatments that address it, and the related terms, so a single experience leads you to the fuller context.