Knowing the signs of mental illness helps play a crucial role in our ability to lead fulfilling lives. Because mental illness is invisible, it isn’t always easy to recognize when we or someone we love is living with a mental health condition. It’s important to know when you or a loved one needs professional help to diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
Overcoming Barriers To Detecting Signs of Mental Illness
Regardless of age, socioeconomic status, race, or gender, mental illness affects nearly one in five people in the United States. For some, there exist barriers to detecting the symptoms early to prevent the ongoing worsening of a person’s mental well-being. Factors that prevent early detection of a mental illness include:
- Stigma and prejudice against people who have a mental illness.
- Lack of mental health education and awareness.
- The dismissal of a person’s symptoms.
- Waiting lists for treatment.
- Financial restraints and lack of health coverage.
Prominent people like celebrities are helping normalize mental health challenges by talking about their own experiences reducing the social stigma. Business leaders that acknowledge mental illness and the need to help care for their employees are beneficial for workers with mental health issues. CEOs are regular users of mental health services to help keep their lives balanced.
By removing the stigma of mental illness, more people will feel more comfortable getting help. Knowing the signs of when a person needs to seek treatment for a mental illness can help the person live a better life.
The Warning Signs of Mental Illness You Need To Know
Some warning signs of mental illness are similar for different conditions. Only a medical professional can diagnose a mental health disorder. However, some symptoms can alert you to the possibility of having a mental health issue.
Many symptoms hinder you from performing the daily activities of life as normal. This may be the time to take note of the symptoms impacting your life, including:
- Inability to sleep, or sleeping too much.
- Constant fatigue that’s unexplainable.
- Long bouts of deep sadness or irritability.
- Withdrawal from social activities.
- The onset of paranoia and excessive anxiety.
- Intense mood changes.
- Unexplained body aches and pains.
When you experience these symptoms, it’s recommended to reach out for help. Mental health disorders are treatable with proven medical interventions and support from family and friends.
Mood Disorder Symptoms
Multiple mood disorders including depression, major depression, and bipolar disorder share symptoms that are cause for concern including:
- Suicidal thoughts and suicide.
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair.
- Excessive feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
- Slowed movements and speech.
Complicated bereavement is also classified as a mood disorder. The grief we all experience upon the passing of a loved one becomes too much to bear for some people, the symptoms include:
- Inability to accept death-causing intense feelings of sorrow and emotional pain.
- Emotional numbness or feelings of anger.
- A false belief that the person can’t live without the deceased.
- A desire to die to join the deceased loved one.
- Physical symptoms including weight fluctuations, fatigue, muscle pain, and nausea.
There are numerous treatment options for people diagnosed with a mood disorder. A specialist will help you determine the best plan of care specific to a person’s needs.
Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms
There are a few common types of anxiety disorders that are treatable. These include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder. People living with this condition experience chronic worry leaving them unable to relax while suffering from physical and emotional pain.
- Social anxiety disorder. The symptoms vary in intensity for each person ranging from extreme self-consciousness, physical symptoms including sweating, blushing, and shaking, and an excessive fear of public humiliation.
- Panic disorder. Symptoms of this mental illness include extreme physical discomforts and a distorted sense of reality.
- Agoraphobia. Common symptoms include avoidance of places where people may feel like they can’t escape such as public transportation and elevators.
- Separation anxiety disorder. Common in children, a person feels distressed when out of the presence of a loved one.
- Selective mutism. The main symptom, usually occurring in children, is not being able to speak in some normal everyday situations, but otherwise they can communicate comfortably.
When you recognize some of these indications of a mental health issue, be sure to reach out for help.
Psychotic Disorders
A few symptoms of psychotic disorders are similar to each other for schizophrenia, schizoaffective psychotic disorders. The symptoms of these disorders include:
- Depression symptoms.
- Lack of hygiene and self-care.
- Hallucinations; both audible and visible.
- Trouble with speech.
- Difficulty functioning socially, academically, and at work.
Sometimes people living with a mental illness require more specialized treatment when they live with another psychological problem as well.
Co-Occurring Disorders
When a person is having difficulty living with either a diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health challenge, they may turn to substances to alleviate symptoms. Addiction can make a diagnosis and the treatment of a mental health disorder more difficult. People living with impulse control problems such as gambling and another mental health challenge face problems in their:
- Health
- Professional life
- Social life
- Personal life
Though it’s challenging, with the right coping skills and therapies, people can learn to manage their symptoms successfully.
Available Treatments For Mental Illness
There are numerous options for treating mental illness. Some people benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medications, while others receive more help from transcranial magnetic therapy.
When you or a loved one need the most comprehensive treatment for mental illness, Solara Mental Health provides expert clinical and medical treatment. Solara Mental Health is recognized for providing the best programs with the highest rate of success. Find relief of symptoms of mental illness by the seaside within a safe compound at Solara Mental Health.
