With this article, we will be discussing how you can tell if you have a mental illness.
All the advances in science, research and medicine, we have managed to control and even eradicate many diseases that once killed millions. We have medications that can help cure virtually everything. Despite these advances, one area of health is still lagging behind. Although awareness has spread, mental health still has a stigma. Even with research and new forms of therapy, mental health is something that is not yet fully understood. People are often not diagnosed or misdiagnosed. Medications for mental disorders are difficult to use and require a lot of trial and error to get the correct doses. These same medications also have side effects that may be long-term or permanent. People hide their symptoms and illnesses for years, afraid to introduce themselves. But this journey begins with the understanding of a series of symptoms that could identify any number of problems.
How To Tell If You Have A Mental Illness
I am going to look at some of the most common signs that could indicate a mental health problem. I am not advocating self-diagnosis, but being aware of these symptoms, someone who is suffering can go to a doctor and get the help he/she needs. Hopefully, this article and similar ones will continue to provide information and knowledge about an issue that affects so many.
As human beings, we all have idiosyncrasies and weaknesses that make us unique. It often seems that there is a thin line between people with particular personality traits and those who are teetering on the edge of a full-fledged mental disorder. If you have mental problems, you are not alone.
You may often ask yourself: “Do I need mental help?” Or “Do I need a psychiatrist?”
If you are concerned that something may be wrong (or that you are worried about someone close to you), it may not be possible to know. safe unless a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional conduct a thorough evaluation. Here are 10 behaviours that may indicate a mental health disorder.
How To Tell If You Have A Mental Illness Click To Tweet1. You are having difficulty coping with life in general or cannot function on a day-to-day basis
You may have noticed that it may not work as well as before or in a way that is appropriate for your particular circumstances (for example, age and health status). It also seems that there is no reasonable explanation for their diminished coping skills (for example, a diagnosed medical condition). While some mental health conditions develop gradually, others may have a relatively rapid onset.
Life can throw us some pretty bad obstacles. We deal with loss, confusion, and trauma. Some deal with this better than others. But the failure to cope even with the least disorders is a symptom of certain mental disorders ranging from clinical depression to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The chemical imbalances of these disorders deprive people of the ability to cope with the daily roller coaster of life. With the right treatment and therapy, these coping skills can be learned. But for someone who is not diagnosed, the inability to cope with the trauma and agitation can be brutal. If you know someone who simply cannot deal with problems or daily activities, perhaps recommend that you evaluate. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
Having difficulty coping with life in general or cannot function on a day-to-day basis is one of the sign of Mental Illness Click To Tweet2. You have impulsive or obvious mood swings
Some psychiatric disorders involve significant fluctuations of mood. Changes can be rapid, as in borderline personality disorder, or they can occur for several days or weeks, as in bipolar disorder. The consumption of drugs and alcohol and certain medications can also contribute to erratic moods. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
3. You feel sad, angry, hopeless or depressed most of the time
Often, this is a warning sign of depression, a mental health disorder that affects 350 million people of all ages around the world. While occasional feelings of sadness are part of being human, It is abnormal when they are long-lasting or chronic. If there are other symptoms such as poor concentration, sleep disturbances, lack of energy or feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, depression is a likely clinical diagnosis. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
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4. You worry too much or feel anxious most of the time
Irrational anxiety or fear is a common symptom of many disorders, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Anxiety Disorder and Phobias. Anxiety can be paralyzing, and its continual presence can wreak havoc on your health, sleep and other aspects of daily running. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
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5. The impact of past or recent traumatic events cannot be shaken
The trauma can turn your life upside down and charge a very high price on your psyche. Unwanted images and memories are often marked in your brain, leaving you with a horrible sense of being trapped without a way to heal and move on. Apparently unrelated things can trigger these memories and leave you desperate to get rid of them.This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
6. You Are Contemplating Suicide
This is a big one. The undeniable sign of a possible mental illness is suicidal thoughts. Everyone, at one time or another, we feel depression that leaves us without even wanting to get out of bed.
We deal with tragedies that can temporarily incapacitate even the strongest of us, but these are not the thoughts I’m talking about. The constant little voice inside their head tells them it is useless and that it would be better for them to just kill themselves. That is the main symptom. If someone tells you about suicidal thoughts, or if you are experiencing them yourself, talk to someone right away.
Mental illness is a difficult subject to discuss. With very few physical signs, you never know if someone is suffering. It has a great stigma and is still very misunderstood. Never underestimate how these diseases can manifest. And never hesitate to get help. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
7. Use alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, other substances, or harmful activities to numb emotional pain.
When you turn to things that are outside of you in a desperate attempt to cope with the situation, they usually indicate the presence of a serious underlying problem. The use of substances as a means of escape can lead to substance abuse and other addictive disorders. Instead of alcohol or drugs, some people depend on a play, sex or other behaviours that get out of control until they become addictive and have a negative impact on life. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
8. You have serious anger management problems that result in a very bad temper is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness
Significant irritability, hostility, anger and frequent outbursts of anger may indicate the presence of a mental health problem. Anger does not only exhausts emotional and physical energy but also has a negative impact on our health, relationships, and work. Unresolved anger can also easily lead to substance abuse, physical and emotional abuse by others, destruction of property and self-destructive behaviour. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
9. You have irrational fears that affect your life
Irrational fears can involve so many things, including the fear that people are watching you or following you, extreme fear of animals like dogs or spiders, and fear of situations such as flying or social situations. Irrational fears can become infatuated in nature, giving rise to persistent and intrusive thoughts that create significant anxiety and harmful behaviors. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
10. You have an unusual and very problematic relationship with food and drinks
A distorted body image (for example, seeing oneself as fat when your weight is normal or weighs less than normal) is often a warning sign for the early stages of an eating disorder. Eating disorders tend to devour a significant amount of time and energy, but more importantly, they can lead to long-term health risks and even death. This is one of the ways to tell if you have a mental illness.
Conclusion
Although the above list is not exhaustive, it covers a wide range of possible signs of mental illness. If any of these behaviours touches a familiar chord, the sooner you contact a mental health professional, the faster you will be on the road to recovery. If you think you might be at risk of harming yourself or someone else, talk to someone right away. Call a crisis line such as 911, to a local mental health clinic or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.