What Is Mental Illness?
Mental Illnesses affect thinking due to brain-based conditions. It also affects peoples emotions, and behaviours. Since everybody has a brain it is quite common for individuals to have some kind of mental health problem during their life.
When it comes to people who have mental illnesses, their brains have changed in a way in which they are unable to think, feel, or act in ways they want to. For some individuals, this means experiencing unexpected and extreme changes in their mood. Such as feeling more sad or worried than usual. For other individuals, it means not being able to think as clearly as they want. Also not being able to communicate with people who are communicating with them, or having strange thoughts to help explain weird feelings they are having.
In the world there are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness. Some cases are more common than others. Such as depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. A lot have the same symptoms which may include changes in mood, personality, and personal habits.
Mental health problems can be caused by excessive stress due to a particular situation or series of events. When it comes to physical health like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, mental illnesses can often be physical as well as emotional and psychological. With proper treatment and care there are many individuals who learn to cope or recover from a mental illness like emotional disorders. Mental illnesses can also be caused by a combination of reasons. For example environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances.
Warning Signs And Symptoms
There are a variety of ways to learn about certain symptoms. These symptoms will help find a specific mental health condition.To learn more about symptoms that are specific to a particular mental illness. Individuals can also figure out what their symptoms are related to by speaking to a friend or family member who is trained or experienced in mental health. Or they can speak to a medical or mental health professional like a doctor, nurse or psychologist. As there are many different mental illnesses that can cause the same symptoms.
It is crucially important that individuals and their family members pay attention to sudden changes in thoughts and behaviours. They need to keep in mind that the onset of majority symptoms that are listed below, can possibly indicate a problem that should be assessed. These symptoms below should never be due to recent medical conditions like heart conditions. They also should not be substance use related for example being under the influence of cocaine.
A Lot of symptoms can be found in different age categories. Here is a list of what individuals can expect.
Adults, young adults and adolescents:
- Dazed thinking
- Prolonged depression (Irritability or sadness)
- Feelings of extreme highs
- Feeling of extreme lows
- Dramatic changes in eating
- Strong feelings of aggression
- Having strange delusions
- Hallucinations which cause hearing and seeing things that aren’t there
- Increase of inability to cope with daily problems and activities
- Suicidal thoughts
- Thoughts of self harming
- Large number of unexplained physical ailments
- Social withdrawal
- Excessive fears, worries and anxieties
- Changes in sleeping patterns
Older children and preadolescents:
- Usage of drugs and alcohol
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Having the inability to cope with problems and daily activities
- Changes in eating habits
- Excessive complaints of physical ailments
- Changes in being able to manage responsibilities in school or home
- Breaking the law (truancy, theft, and/or vandalism)
- Heighten in fear
- Prolonged negative mood
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self harming
- Random frequent outbursts of anger
In Younger Children:
- Changes in eating pattern
- Changes in academic performance
- Hyperactivity
- Poor grades despite strong efforts
- Changes in sleeping
- Excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. Not wanting to go to school/out the house)
- Continuous disobedience or aggression
- Frequent temper tantrums
- Continuous nightmares
If you know anyone who struggles with any listed below get in touch with a professional in mental health/illnesses to get more information on what you can do to help. Here is a list of places you can find support/help.
Contact to receive help:
- 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.org – The Samaritans will reply in 24 hours.
- If you feel like you or someone else is in danger with their mental state call 111 or use the 111 online service.
- You can also contact the Shout Crisis Text Line by texting “SHOUT ” to 85258. If you are under the age of 19 text “YM”
- If you are having suicidal thoughts or think you know someone who might be contact the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK – 0800 689 5652 ( They are open 24/7)
Please remember you are never alone, there is help.