How to Spot Mental Illness in Others: 8 Signs to Look For

Mental health can be a complex and sensitive issue that may often go unnoticed. It is a challenging task to identify mental illness in others, and sometimes the people affected by it may not want to disclose it themselves. However, knowing important signs and symptoms of mental illness can help you identify the problem and encourage them to seek professional help if required. In this article, we will highlight eight signs to look for when identifying mental illness in others.

Physical Symptoms

Some physical symptoms can indicate mental illness in others, many of which we might overlook or dismiss. These symptoms may include:

  • Sleep disturbances: The person may suffer from sleep-related issues like insomnia, night terrors or sleepwalking.
  • Weight fluctuations: Unexplained weight loss or gain may indicate mental illness, especially if there are accompanying appetite changes.
  • Loss of energy or extreme lethargy:If the person seems fatigued and sluggish most of the time, it may be a sign of depression or other mental illnesses.

Changes in Behavior

Behavioral changes can be one of the most noticeable signs of mental illness in others. Here are some significant changes to look for in their behavior:

  • Emotional instability: The individual might experience sudden mood swings, such as feeling angry, upset or overwhelmed for no apparent reason.
  • Social withdrawal: They may start avoiding social situations, prefer staying alone more often, and stop participating in activities they once enjoyed.
  • Sudden and intense fear or panic: Panic attacks, trembling and rapid heartbeat may be seen in someone suffering from anxiety disorders.

Speech and Language Problems

The person’s language and communication skills help reflect their mental state. Here are a couple of things to look out for:

  • Incoherent speech : Struggling to articulate thoughts, difficulty in organizing thoughts into sentences indicating a problem with thought processes, sleep deprivation or drug/alcohol abuse.
  • Speed and volume: Rapid, slurred, or loud speech might suggest hypomania/mania, anxiety, or other mental health disorders.

Changes in Cognition

Changes in thought patterns can sometimes indicate underlying mental health problems. Here are some things you might see:

  • Memory problems: Difficulty in recalling information, loss of short- or long-term memory.
  • Confusion: Difficulty with understanding, paying attention, or following simple instructions.
  • Delusions or hallucinations: Seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not real, might suggest schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Self-harm and Suicidal behavior

The risk of self-harm or suicide can dramatically increase in people with some mental illnesses, here are some signs of it:

  • Self-harm: Evidence of self-inflicted harm, such as cuts, bruises, or burns.
  • Talking or writing about suicide: Expressions of suicidal thoughts or intentions, sometimes through writing or social media platforms.
  • Reckless behavior: Engaging in dangerous activities, putting oneself in harm’s way intentionally, or giving belongings away indicating behaviors linked to self-destructive thoughts.

Personal Hygiene

Mental illnesses can also affect personal hygiene, which can be a sign of significant problems. Here are some signs to look for:

  • Poor self-care: Reduced interest in grooming or maintaining personal hygiene, unkempt clothing or hair.
  • Compulsive or ritualistic behaviors: Behaviors linked to OCD, such as excessive handwashing, cleaning or other hygiene activities.

Social Problems

Mainly affecting a person’s ability to create and maintain relationships, such as:

  • Family and/or marital discord: A season of conflict may indicate a mental health problem.
  • Financial difficulties: Difficulty in managing finances, overspending or lending money frequently can indicate underlying mental illness problems.
  • Legal and disciplinary problems: Getting into altercations frequently, trouble with the police, or getting involved in disciplinary issues at work/school are all signs that may indicate underlying mental health issues.

Women and Men

While both men and women can experience mental illness, some conditions are more common in one gender over the other:

  • Mental illnesses in Women:
    • Anxiety Disorders: Most commonly seen in women than men.
    • Depressive Disorders: Significantly more common in women than men.
    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Occurs twice as much in women than in men.
  • Mental illnesses in Men :
    • Alcohol and Substance Abuse: Substance abuse is common in men than in women.
    • Antisocial Personality Disorder: More common in men than in women.
    • Suicide: The suicide rate is four times higher in men than women.

Conclusion

Spotting mental illness in others is a challenging task, and it is vital not to jump to conclusions. Mental illness is not something that should be stigmatized, so it’s essential to recommend professional help and encourage them to seek it out. Knowing potential signs and learning about each type of disorder is essential to provide better support and more effective treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are all mental illnesses serious?

Regardless of the severity or prevalence of the disease, every mental illness is serious and warrants appropriate medical attention. Ignoring warning signs or allowing the illness to go untreated could lead to severe negative impacts on quality of life.

Q: Can mental illnesses be cured?

Mental illnesses are not curable, but they are treatable. Many people with mental illnesses lead fulfilling lives with successful careers, satisfying relationships, and fulfilling hobbies, given the right treatment and support.

Q: Can mental illness be inherited?

Yes, most mental illnesses have some genetic factors, but it does not mean that everyone with a predisposition to a particular condition will necessarily develop it.

Q: How can I talk to someone about their mental health?

Having an open conversation about mental health, especially with someone who may be experiencing mental illness, can be challenging. Nonetheless, research shows that a non-judgmental and supportive approach is effective in this case.

Q: Can someone have more than one mental illness?

Yes, it is common for people to experience more than one mental illness. This is known as a co-occurring disorder, and substance abuse disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression often occur together or alongside other mental illnesses.

References

  • Mayo Clinic Staff. “Mental illness.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 19 Jan. 2021.
  • National Institute of Mental Health. “Mental Illness.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • WebMD. “Mental Illness in Women.” WebMD, 2021.
  • WebMD. “Mental Illness in Men.” WebMD, 2021.

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