Introduction
Some people struggle with mental illness for many years before their condition is recognized by the medical community. Even then, the symptoms may be diverse and lack a set pattern. Yet, there are some key traits that can help you determine if someone suffers from a mental illness or not.
Your intuition also plays a key role in recognizing these signs and symptoms. These tips will help you to recognize the symptoms of mental illness in yourself and others as well as how to treat them.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes the person to have persistent intrusive and unwanted thoughts, ideas, or images. The thoughts are called obsessions, and they can be disturbing or terrifying. People with OCD often feel compelled to do things or say things over and over again. The repetitive behaviors make people feel better for a short time, but in the long run, lead to greater problems.
In addition to being bothered by intrusive thoughts, some people with OCD experience extreme fear at the thought of losing control of their behavior or having a "bad thought" (obsession). This fear leads to an intense need for reassurance that it's not going to happen and that their obsessions are not real. Once this feeling subsides, the compulsion returns and must be repeated until it feels safe again.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental illness that causes people to experience intrusive thoughts, such as fear of contamination or germs, and to engage in repeated behaviors that may be excessive.
People who have OCD often feel like they are being watched by outside forces and that their thoughts are being controlled by them. They may feel as if others can hear their thoughts or see what they're thinking about, and they may try to stop themselves from thinking certain things.
They also may believe there's something wrong with them and that other people will think poorly of them because of it. People with OCD may have some unwanted physical symptoms, such as repetitive handwashing or counting things repeatedly until they reach a certain number.
Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing trauma,
such as:
a natural disaster or violent attack
a car accident or medical procedure
The symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts. People with PTSD often feel emotionally numb, which makes it difficult to cope with everyday life. The symptoms may last for weeks or months after the event that triggered them has ended.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that develops after a person experiences or witnesses an event that threatens life or physical integrity. The symptoms of PTSD include recurrent and intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional numbing.
It's a common misconception that people with PTSD are "crazy" or going through some sort of mental illness. In fact, many people who have been through traumatic experiences develop this type of disorder as a result of the stress they experience.
Bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness in which moods, including mania and depression, go up and down.
The signs of bipolar disorder may include:
Depression.
Crying spells without an obvious reason.
Easily distracted, fidgety, or restless.
Problems sleeping.
Impulsiveness.
Irritability or anger outbursts that seem out of proportion to the situation. If you have bipolar disorder, these symptoms may occur regularly enough that you seek help for them from your doctor or other health care provider.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes changes in mood, energy, and behavior. People with bipolar disorder have episodes of depression and mania (highs and lows). The symptoms can be very serious and lead to problems in your life. If you are worried about someone who has bipolar disorder, talk to them about it.
Depression
People with depression may have low moods for weeks or months and lose interest in their usual activities. They may feel sad, hopeless, or empty most of the time. They may have trouble sleeping or concentrating and eat more or less than usual.
Depression can affect your ability to function at home, work, or school. Sometimes people with depression don't know what's wrong with them until they start feeling better after treatment or talking with someone who cares about them.
Generalized anxiety disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a type of anxiety disorder that disrupts your ability to function in everyday life. It’s characterized by excessive worry and nervousness, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle tension and headaches.
While GAD can affect anyone, it often develops in people who have experienced an event or series of events that were frightening and life-changing. For example, someone who has just lost a loved one might experience GAD after experiencing an unexpected funeral or the death of their own parent.
People with GAD often feel like they are constantly under attack from outside forces, even though they have no idea what is causing the anxiety. They may feel that they are unable to control their emotions or thoughts, and may feel paralyzed by fear.
While GAD typically causes significant distress to sufferers, it's possible to experience milder forms of the disorder. These less severe types include generalized anxiety disorder with associated phobia (GAD-A), which is characterized by excessive concern about health-related problems; social anxiety disorder (SAD), which includes certain types of interpersonal fear; specific phobia; and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Major depressive disorder.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health condition that can be serious and debilitating. If you have it, you may experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness, loss of interest in usual activities, poor appetite or overeating, low energy, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, poor concentration, changes in weight and/or body image, irritability or agitation, new or increased symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks.
If you're feeling depressed for more than two weeks and have had at least two other episodes since age 16 (or any one episode since age 12), talk to your doctor. It's important to get treatment as soon as possible so that you can regain your emotional health.
For many people, depression is a normal part of life. But if you're struggling with depression, you may find yourself feeling like your problems are getting worse rather than better. It's possible that your symptoms could be signs of a more serious mental illness.
Depression is common in teens and young adults — about one-third of those ages 15 to 25 experience the disorder at some point in their lives. In addition to being uncomfortable and upsetting, depression can interfere with daily activities and relationships. If you suspect that you or someone else might be depressed, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental illness that makes it hard for people to pay attention, sit still and control themselves. It can cause problems at home, in school, or at work.
People with ADHD may act out of control by fidgeting, getting angry, or even hitting others. They might also have trouble concentrating on instructions and following through with tasks.
In addition to the physical symptoms of ADHD, people with this condition often have:
Inattention: They can't focus on what they're supposed to be doing or in class.
Impulsivity: They don't think through their actions ahead of time, making them more likely to get into trouble or act out physically when they're upset or stressed out.
Hyperactivity: This is not the same as being "hyper" — it's about having an inability to sit still for long periods of time.
Schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by disturbances in thinking and perception, while also displaying hallucinations and delusions.
People with schizophrenia are often socially withdrawn and may find it difficult to communicate effectively with others. They may also have difficulty maintaining personal hygiene. Schizophrenia can affect different aspects of your life — from your ability to work and function at home to your relationships with family members, friends, and colleagues.
The symptoms of schizophrenia are similar to those of other mental illnesses, but they are different enough to make the diagnosis difficult.
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech and behavior.
The most common symptoms include:
Delusions - Delusions are false beliefs that are not shared by others, such as believing that you or someone close to you is being harmed or has been replaced by an imposter.
Hallucinations - Hallucinations include hearing voices or seeing things that aren't there, such as seeing people or objects move when there's no one else in the room.
Disorganized speech - Disorganized speech is characterized by a lack of coherence, bizarre word choice, and difficulty with simple grammar. It can include long rambles about inconsequential topics or tangential conversations that don't seem related to the topic at hand.
Borderline personality disorder.
A borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that causes people to have unstable moods, impulsive behaviors, and difficulties in relationships. People with a borderline personality disorder may react strongly to any perceived threat or perceived insult and can be extremely sensitive to being criticized or having their feelings hurt.
People with a borderline personality disorder often experience intense emotions such as anger and sadness without knowing why they are feeling these strong emotions. They are also likely to have difficulty controlling their behavior and thinking in order to cope with life's stresses.
A borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that is characterized by unstable moods, impulsive behavior, and identity issues. People with this condition have a hard time understanding the intentions of others and often act on their emotions rather than their thoughts. They may also be very angry or even violent at times.
Borderline personality disorder causes intense fear, anger, and sadness in people who have it. Even though these symptoms can be seen in anyone, they tend to appear more frequently in those who have a history of abuse or neglect as children, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This can cause significant problems for people with this disorder because they don't know how to handle their feelings without hurting themselves or others around them.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
An obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by obsessions, compulsions, and a variety of symptoms.
These symptoms may include:
Obsessive thoughts that you cannot control. These thoughts may be intrusive or they may be recurring thoughts that you have no control over.
Compulsions — repetitive behaviors or mental acts (such as hand washing) that are done in response to an obsession.
The presence of at least two of the following: Obsessions, compulsions, and/or significant distress when performing the compulsions.
Inability to function socially because of obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors.
Social phobia and social anxiety disorder.
Social phobia and social anxiety disorder can be difficult to recognize at first. Both are characterized by intense fear or anxiety around social situations, and both can have a huge impact on your life.
Social phobia is an anxiety disorder that makes you panicky when you're around people. You may feel nervous or uncomfortable, even if you know the situation will be enjoyable or beneficial for you.
You may avoid social situations altogether because of your fears, or seek out situations where others won't be able to see how nervous you are. Social anxiety disorder is not just about avoiding socializing; it's about avoiding any stressful situations that make you anxious.
If you think you might have these conditions,
there are some warning signs that should alert your doctor to take action:
You avoid going to parties, meetings, or events where other people might be present (even if they're not there).
You don't like group activities because they make your palms sweat and your heart race.
You feel extremely uncomfortable in crowded areas such as movie theaters, restaurants, and shopping malls.
You avoid being alone because of the fear that something bad will happen while no one else is around.
Conclusion
The unfortunate reality is that people with mental illness do not always receive the care they need or deserve. And while people may be unwilling to seek help, this is often due to a lack of awareness that a mental illness diagnosis even exists. It's helpful to keep in mind that like physical ailments, mental illnesses can occur in anyone.
By learning more about the warning signs of mental illness, you can increase your chances of identifying and treating its onset before it gets worse. It's ultimately about being proactive and getting the help you or your loved ones need as soon as possible.
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