Introduction
Mental illness is something you should never be afraid to talk about. It's common, it can affect anyone and everyone, and treatment is available. If you're concerned that you or someone close to you might have a mental illness, it's important to know the signs and symptoms of these conditions so that you can get help if needed. So what are some signs that may indicate a problem?
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed, such as hobbies and socializing.
Feeling of sadness, emptiness, tearfulness or irritability for most of the day.
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt (e.g., self-reproach for having "a good life" when others do not).
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
If you've lost or gained more than five percent of your body weight in a month, it's time to talk to your doctor. If you're having trouble keeping your food down, or if eating makes you feel sick, this could be an indication of a mental illness.
If someone has an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (a type of binge-eating disorder), their weight will be low for their height and age--which means that they have an abnormally low amount of fat tissue compared with muscle mass. They may also have some physical symptoms such as brittle bones from calcium deficiency; electrolyte imbalances such as low sodium levels (hyponatremia); slowed heart rate; dry skin; thinning hair; weakness in muscles due to malnutrition; osteoporosis (thinning bones) caused by vitamin D deficiency and other nutrients needed for bone growth being unavailable because they were excreted through vomiting or using laxatives so often that normal nutrition was not being absorbed into the bloodstream via digestion processes
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Hypersomnia is excessive sleepiness. Both can be symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses, so it's important for you to talk with a doctor about any problems you're having with your sleep patterns.
Other signs of depression include fatigue and loss of energy; feelings of hopelessness; changes in appetite (either increased or decreased); difficulty concentrating; feelings of guilt; irritability or restlessness; weight gain or loss; thoughts about death or suicide
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (for example, excessive restlessness or need to keep moving).
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (for example, excessive restlessness or need to keep moving).
This is a feeling of inner tension and restlessness, or the opposite--a feeling of inner slowness and fatigue. This can be expressed through a variety of physical actions like pacing, fidgeting with objects, tapping fingers on surfaces, running fingers through hair repeatedly or making other repetitive movements without realizing it (i.e., drumming your fingers). If you notice that your loved one has trouble sitting still for more than 10 minutes at a time without getting up from their seat even when there's nothing else going on around them, this could indicate psychomotor agitation.
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
You may feel fatigued if you are depressed or have another mental health condition. Fatigue can also be caused by other health problems, medications, or substances (such as alcohol). It's important to see your doctor if you are experiencing fatigue that isn't relieved by rest and makes it hard for you to carry out daily tasks.
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and may be indicated by thoughts such as "I am a good person," "I have failed," "I am bad."
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Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (although attention and concentration may fluctuate during depressive episodes).
- Difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness.
- Difficulties making decisions, often due to a lack of interest in the decision at hand.
- Difficulty thinking clearly, consistently and logically; may be slow in doing so.
- Difficulty remembering things (e.g., names, dates). This can also include difficulty recalling recent events that you would normally remember easily (e.g., yesterday's lunch). There may be lapses in memory for words/phrases which are easily recalled by others without any problem but which cause you great distress when trying to retrieve them yourself--this is called anomia (an-o-me-ah). This symptom is common when first diagnosed with depression and typically improves over time as treatment progresses; however if it persists then seek medical advice immediately!
There are many signs and symptoms of mental illness
The signs and symptoms of mental illness can be hard to recognize. Mental health problems can affect your thinking, mood, and behavior. They may make it difficult for you to socialize or work as usual.
If you're concerned about your own or someone else's mental health, it's important that you get help right away. One way to tell if someone might be having a problem is by looking at their actions and how they're behaving differently from before--or even from day-to-day.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has been helpful in providing you with a better understanding of mental illness. If you or someone you know is suffering from depression or another mental illness, please seek help from a professional immediately.
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