Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
Mental illness can be difficult to spot in others, as symptoms vary greatly from person to person. However, there are some common signs that may indicate someone is struggling with their mental health. If you notice any of the following signs in yourself or someone else, it’s important to reach out for help.
1. Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
One of the most common signs of mental illness is confused thinking or a reduced ability to concentrate. If you’re finding it hard to focus on simple tasks or your thoughts are jumpy and all over the place, it could be a sign that something is wrong. This can also manifest as forgetfulness or difficulty retaining information.
2. Prolonged sadness or irritability
Everyone feels down from time to time, but if you’re experiencing prolonged sadness or irritability it could be a sign of depression. Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, and its symptoms can make everyday life very difficult to manage. If you’re struggling with depression, you may find that everything feels hopeless and that you have little energy or motivation for anything. You may also experience changes in your appetite and sleep patterns as well as physical aches and pains with no obvious cause.
Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
Mentally ill individuals may experience a range of symptoms that make it difficult for them to cope with the demands of daily life. These symptoms can be extremely distressing and disruptive, making it difficult for the individual to maintain a job, sustain personal relationships, or even take care of their own basic needs.
One common symptom of mental illness is excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt. Individuals may obsessively worry about things that are actually unlikely to happen, or they may feel guilty about things that are beyond their control. This can make it very hard for them to relax or focus on anything else. In some cases, the fear and anxiety become so severe that the individual avoids any situation that might trigger these feelings, which can lead to social isolation and further distress.
If you are concerned that someone you know may be mentally ill, look for signs that they are having difficulty functioning in their day-to-day life. Do they seem excessively worried or anxious? Are they avoiding activities and situations that they used to enjoy? Are they withdrawing from friends and family? Have their eating or sleeping habits changed dramatically? If you notice any of these changes, it’s important to talk to the person about your concerns and encourage them to seek professional help.
Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
Mood changes are a common symptom of mental illness, but in some cases, the highs and lows can be extreme. When someone has extreme mood changes, it can be hard to tell if they’re just having a bad day or if they’re actually mentally ill. Here are some signs that someone may be suffering from extreme mood changes:
1. They have sudden outbursts of anger or sadness.
2. Their sleep patterns are all over the place – they either can’t sleep or they sleep all the time.
3. They have no energy or motivation to do anything.
4. They isolate themselves from friends and family members.
5. Their eating habits change – they either lose their appetite or start overeating uncontrollably.
Withdrawal from friends and activities
If someone withdraws from friends and activities, it may be a sign that they are mentally ill. When someone is mentally healthy, they typically enjoy spending time with friends and participating in activities. But when someone is struggling with a mental illness, they may lose interest in the things they once enjoyed. They may isolate themselves and stop hanging out with friends. Or they may stop participating in activities that they used to love. This change in behavior can be a sign that something is wrong. If you notice that someone you know has withdrawn from their usual social activities, it’s important to reach out to them. Ask how they’re doing and let them know that you’re there for them.
Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping
It’s not always easy to tell if someone is mentally ill. However, there are some signs and symptoms that may be indicative of a problem. If you notice that someone you know is significantly tired, has low energy or is having difficulty sleeping, it may be worth considering whether they are mentally ill.
Mental illness can cause a range of different symptoms, so it’s important to remember that not everyone will experience the same things. However, fatigue and low energy levels are common in many mental illnesses. If you notice that someone seems unusually tired, it could be a sign that they’re struggling with their mental health.
Problems sleeping are also often associated with mental illness. This might include difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night or feeling very tired during the day despite having slept for a good number of hours. Again, this is only one symptom and there are many others which could indicate a problem so it’s best to consider the person as a whole rather than just one symptom in isolation.
If you’re concerned about someone you know, try talking to them about how they’re feeling. It can be difficult to broach the subject of mental health but sometimes just raising your concerns can be enough to help the person open up about what they’re going through. If they seem reluctant to talk or don’t want to discuss their feelings further then it might be worth considering seeking professional help on their behalf.