Mental wellness plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life. However, traumatic events and everyday stressors can deflect your mental health and if left unchecked, it not only leads to poor physical health but also increases your risk of mental illness.
If your loved ones have noticed changes in your thinking or behavior, it’s crucial not to brush it off, but to take time to consider the warning signs of mental illness. If you can tick a couple of them, it’s prudent that you seek help early to avoid lingering mental problems and major disruptions to your normal life.
Here is a list of the top five signs of mental illness. And while some of them may or may not be obvious, they are strong indicators of when it’s best to seek professional help.
Decreased Functionality
Decreased functionality is an unusual drop in your ability to perform regular tasks at work, home, or school. Other signs include a decreased interest in social activities you used to enjoy such as sports or social events and finding it difficult to work through familiar challenges associated with your normal routine. Simply put, you feel less and less of yourself every day.
Prolonged Sadness and Irritability
This is persistent sadness and low mood that leaves you feeling empty and hopeless. You may also be experiencing odd and strong outbursts of anger and irritability. These extreme mood changes are a strong indicator of mental illness.
Changes in Appetite and Sleep Patterns
Changes in appetite can occur in both extremes. Increased hunger especially, for people who use food as a way to cope with negative emotions and often leads to weight gain. On the flip side, others may struggle with the loss of appetite leading to unintended weight loss.
Poor sleep patterns including irregular and interrupted sleep or severe insomnia are some of the strongest markers of mental illness. They tend to also exacerbate other symptoms listed here such as excessive worry, anxiety, decreased functionality, irritability, and sadness.
Excessive Fears, Anxieties, and Worries
While fear and anxiety are normal reactions to danger, excessive fears, anxieties, and worries make it hard to think clearly or maintain a normal routine. These include persistent incidents of intense fear and anxiety that escalate within a short time. Some of the other signs may include panic attacks, nervousness, sweating, and rapid heartbeats.
Strange Thoughts
If you’re increasingly fighting intrusive thoughts that bring you fear or anxiety, or you’re battling delusions and hallucinations making it difficult to perceive reality, it may be time to seek professional help.
Access the Best Mental Health Services
Have you ticked a few of the signs above for yourself or your loved one but don’t know where to start? Our licensed therapists can help you find the answers you’re looking for. At BEST, we offer comprehensive mental health services that cater to your needs. Our goal is to apply our experience and the latest treatments to help you live your best life.