The reality of mental illnesses has gained a lot of attention in the last couple of years. More people are aware of major mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. It is not uncommon for family members and friends to blame themselves for not seeing the earlier warning signs after their loved one has a significant breakdown or even takes their life. Symptoms vary for different individuals, but many of them often cut across several people. Identifying and knowing when to seek external psychological services can prevent or at least assist people living with mental illnesses.

Changes in sleep and appetite

One of the easiest and earliest warning signs of mental illness is a change in sleep pattern and appetite. Now, it doesn't mean that everyone who experiences these changes is at risk of having a mental illness. However, it might be a cause for concern if the changes are over a prolonged period, not caused by an apparent reason, and combined with other warning signs. You might notice your loved one experiencing more and more episodes of tiredness from lack of sleep, and they might also spend several hours sleeping. Changes in appetite can also be on either side of the spectrum. They might reduce their intake of food drastically or become more voracious eaters.

Changes in mood

Mood changes don't always have to be extreme; they can also be subtle. They might experience long sessions of negative feelings like irritability and anger over petty things. They could just as quickly, and at times even simultaneously experience high levels of euphoria. You should pay attention to how often and how swiftly they swift between such emotions. Mental illnesses are known to cause dramatic mood changes in some instances, and people suffering from it might have difficulty controlling their outbursts. It also often leaves them liable to depressive and even suicidal thoughts; if you or someone close to you keeps having reoccurring thoughts of suicide, that is a red flag.

Withdrawal from social activity

Another warning sign of mental illness is a withdrawal from all social activities. People suffering from poor mental health are more likely to isolate themselves from their friends and family. They'll often make excuses to skip several functions that involve gathering with others and express disinterest in activities they once enjoyed. You might notice them growing apathetic to playing sports, going out with their friends, or just experiencing a general loss of desire to do anything. Everyone feels the need to step away from reality for a bit, but if these withdrawals are becoming excessive, it is a significant cause for concern. If they don't come around after giving them a little space, you might need to intervene.

Decline in productivity

A change in performance could be a telltale sign of mental illness. Many jobs require our focus and concentration, and when the brain is ill, it becomes a lot harder. Children and teenagers can also suffer from mental illness so that you might notice a drop in their performance at school. They might find it hard to focus or complete tasks they were once able to do. A decline in productivity extends to more than just academic and official work. It could even be in their hobbies. Sportsmen and women can also suffer, and people who play instruments might find themselves repeatedly hitting the wrong notes. Everyone has bad days, but if you're experiencing several days or even weeks of decreased output, you could need external help.

Warped sense of reality

Conditions like schizophrenia and dementia can distort people's minds. As a result, people with these conditions may find themselves disconnected from reality. This distortion may manifest in different ways. They could find themselves hallucinating and seeing things that aren't there. Some of the hallucinations might sound ludicrous; they could report seeing dragons or other fantastical creatures. It's not uncommon for exaggerated beliefs in their abilities to spring up as well. They might believe they can control things typically out of their control like the weather, or have the ability to read minds. You must be as gentle with them as possible, as what they are experiencing is very real to them.

Abnormal behavior

Apart from mood changes, sleep, and appetite, a mentally ill person, might express changes in their behavior. Children might suddenly start engaging in flagrantly disobedient and destructive behavior. You might observe them throwing more frequent temper tantrums and becoming more hyperactive. These changes can also affect their sex drive, and you might notice your partner's libido has significantly increased or declined. Lack of insight is relatively common when their behavior changes. They might ignore or argue that they haven't changed because they cannot perceive these changes themselves. Paranoia is not uncommon, as they might grow increasingly anxious and suspicious of people close to them.

Substance abuse

To cope with these foreign signs and symptoms, mental health patients might use illicit drugs and alcohol. They can abuse other drugs like opioids to experience a momentary high and escape feelings of depression. Substance abuse on its own can lead to disruptive changes in mood and sleep, so if they're already experiencing these changes due to mental illness, it could get worse.

Conclusion

Thankfully the world is moving away from the stigma surrounding mental health diseases as we learn more. If you or anyone you know is experiencing any or a combination of the warning signs highlighted here, do not hesitate to seek help from your community.