Mental Health
Mental health is described as, “a state of well being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities and can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” [World Health Organisation].
The definition of mental health will differ between individuals as variables such as cultural differences, age, gender and more will play an associate as to how one reacts in a given situation. Therefore, it is important to stress that an individual’s own issues are looked at, as opposed to comparing them with others in similar situations.
Mental health issues are often looked upon in a negative light; however many issues can be brought to control with support and medication.
Signs of Mental Illness
There are numerous signs to show an onset of a mental illness. Mental health problems arise from a number experiences and the signs vary on a large scale; therefore it can be quite difficult to spot them. Furthermore, these signs will differ amongst individuals, adding to the difficulty of identification – and often the person themselves choose to hide these symptoms in fear of being judged by others.
In general, early signs which illustrate the onset of a mental illness are:
NOTE: These signs will vary in number and severity amongst individuals.
Different Mental Illnesses
There are many different illnesses which affect one’s mental health.
Depression
Depression is a prolonged state of sadness and low mood, which tends to develop gradually. There many different forms of depression. Often, you would hear people say, “I feel depressed today”. This, however, isn’t the same as one day of feeling down.
Some symptoms include:
Other types of depression
Postnatal depression is the development of the above symptoms after having a baby.
Bipolar disorder is also known as “manic depression”. This is where the person may have periods of feeling extremely low, showing the symptoms mentioned above, but then they may also show signs of mania on other days, where they display excessively high moods. These moods are not necessarily positive behaviour, such as extensive gambling, spending uncontrollably or even having multiple sexual partners.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is also known as “winter depression”. This is where the sufferer usually develops depression in the winter months.
Anxiety
Anxiety is the feeling of worry or fear. Everyone, at one point in their lives, have had this feeling, whether it was for a job interview; first stay at school or just before an exam. People who suffer from anxiety disorders have this feeling continuously and it begins to affect their daily lives. The extent of this feeling can vary in different people; where it may be more severe in one person than others.
Some of the symptoms are listed below. You may have a few of these, or all.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders are shown via the abnormal relationship someone may have with food. A person with an eating disorder may be excessively focussed on their body shape and appearance.
There are three main types of eating disorders:
Bulimia is when someone binge eats (eats excessively) followed by deliberately making themselves sick. they may also use laxatives to get rig of the excessive food they have eaten.
Binge eating is when someone feels compelled to overeat uncontrollably.
It is often claimed that both biological and social factors can influence the development of eating disorders. Doctors sometimes the following questions to check for an eating disorder.
It is often difficult to recognize someone with an eating disorder, as they hide their symptoms quite well. However, the following are some symptoms:
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental-health condition which has a variety of symptoms. It is often described as a psychotic illness due to the difficulty a person faces in the ability to distinguish their thoughts (due to illness) from reality. Schizophrenia is a long-term illness which causes people to hallucinate and develop muddled thoughts due to these hallucinations. They also tend to develop delusional thoughts and beliefs which contradict clear evidence. People with schizophrenia can be a challenge to live with, as their behaviour changes radically.
The symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into two forms, positive and negative. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions and changes in behaviour.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are when the person hears or sees things which do not exist. These are very real to the person who is experiencing this symptom. They can be positive, which tell the person to do good and may even praise them. But often, they are negative and are threatening or abusive. They can arise from particular areas, such as the corner of a room or from the TV.
Delusions
Delusions are having the belief regarding a matter with much conviction even though it clear to other people that they are mistaken or the belief if strange or unrealistic. These can affect one’s behaviour and may develop gradually or suddenly. People may interpret things differently, such as believing that a TV presenter is communicating with them though hidden messages in what is being said.
Paranoid delusions are when someone believes they are being harassed, chased, followed or would be harmed. It is often a loved one who faces these accusations.
Changes in behaviour/thoughts
People with schizophrenia develop behaviour which become difficult to understand by others. They tend to be disorganised, unpredictable and inappropriate in their language (such as randomly swearing or becoming agitated for no reason).
Some people describe their thoughts as being controlled by others, and believe their minds and bodies are being taken over, and controlled by other people or force.
Negative symptoms often develop prior to recognising someone may have more severe symptoms of schizophrenia. These symptoms usually develop gradually, getting worse as time passes by. The sufferer becomes more withdrawn; showing signs of lack of interest in their personal hygiene and socialising with others.
More detailed negative symptoms include:
The definition of mental health will differ between individuals as variables such as cultural differences, age, gender and more will play an associate as to how one reacts in a given situation. Therefore, it is important to stress that an individual’s own issues are looked at, as opposed to comparing them with others in similar situations.
Mental health issues are often looked upon in a negative light; however many issues can be brought to control with support and medication.
Signs of Mental Illness
There are numerous signs to show an onset of a mental illness. Mental health problems arise from a number experiences and the signs vary on a large scale; therefore it can be quite difficult to spot them. Furthermore, these signs will differ amongst individuals, adding to the difficulty of identification – and often the person themselves choose to hide these symptoms in fear of being judged by others.
In general, early signs which illustrate the onset of a mental illness are:
- Change in personality
- Easily distressed
- Poor performance on tasks/work
- Worry about others thoughts
- Change in mood/mood swings
- Loss of interest in activities
- Misjudgement of situations (thinking others are laughing or talking about them, thinking others are trying to harm them)
- Behaviour which seems out of character
- Self-harming (cuts/grazes/bruises)
- Change in eating habits (either eating less or more)
- Hallucinating
- Loss of (or increase in) sexual desire
- Tired/fatigued
- Likes to isolate themselves/withdrawal from socialising
- Feeling ‘high’ even though they sleep less/highly energetic than usual
- Hearing voices/sounds which are not there.
NOTE: These signs will vary in number and severity amongst individuals.
Different Mental Illnesses
There are many different illnesses which affect one’s mental health.
Depression
Depression is a prolonged state of sadness and low mood, which tends to develop gradually. There many different forms of depression. Often, you would hear people say, “I feel depressed today”. This, however, isn’t the same as one day of feeling down.
Some symptoms include:
- continuously feeling sad or being in a low mood
- Low self-esteem
- feeling tearful and hopeless
- easily irritated
- lack of motivation at work, school or home
- loss of interest in activities and socialising
- feeling anxious or worried (with or without reason)
- feeling suicidal
- have self-harmed or have had thoughts of self harming
- change in speech and/pr movement (usually slower than normal)
- Loss/gain in appetite
- Loss of (or increase in) sexual desire
- changes to menstrual cycle
- inability to sleep/difficulty in sleeping through the whole night
Other types of depression
Postnatal depression is the development of the above symptoms after having a baby.
Bipolar disorder is also known as “manic depression”. This is where the person may have periods of feeling extremely low, showing the symptoms mentioned above, but then they may also show signs of mania on other days, where they display excessively high moods. These moods are not necessarily positive behaviour, such as extensive gambling, spending uncontrollably or even having multiple sexual partners.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is also known as “winter depression”. This is where the sufferer usually develops depression in the winter months.
Anxiety
Anxiety is the feeling of worry or fear. Everyone, at one point in their lives, have had this feeling, whether it was for a job interview; first stay at school or just before an exam. People who suffer from anxiety disorders have this feeling continuously and it begins to affect their daily lives. The extent of this feeling can vary in different people; where it may be more severe in one person than others.
Some of the symptoms are listed below. You may have a few of these, or all.
- restlessness, constantly feeling ‘on edge’
- feeling impatient or irritable
- easily distracted
- loss of interest in is seeing friends/family
- feelings of dread or worry
- feeling tired
- pins and needles
- palpitations
- muscle aches and tension
- difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)
- sweating
- shortness of breath
- nauseous
- frequent urinating
- painful or missed periods
- panic attacks
Eating disorders
Eating disorders are shown via the abnormal relationship someone may have with food. A person with an eating disorder may be excessively focussed on their body shape and appearance.
There are three main types of eating disorders:
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia
- Binge eating
Bulimia is when someone binge eats (eats excessively) followed by deliberately making themselves sick. they may also use laxatives to get rig of the excessive food they have eaten.
Binge eating is when someone feels compelled to overeat uncontrollably.
It is often claimed that both biological and social factors can influence the development of eating disorders. Doctors sometimes the following questions to check for an eating disorder.
- Do you ever make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortably full?
- Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat?
- Have you recently lost more than one stone (six kilograms) in a three-month period?
- Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin?
- Would you say that food dominates your life?
It is often difficult to recognize someone with an eating disorder, as they hide their symptoms quite well. However, the following are some symptoms:
- Missing meals often/claiming they’ve eaten
- Feeling fat, though they have a normal weight or are underweight
- Repeatedly weighing themselves and looking at themselves in the mirror
- Eating little amounts
- Excessive calorie counting/eating very low calorific foods (such as salads)
- Feeling uncomfortable or refusing to eat in public places, such as a restaurant
- The use of “pro-anorexia” websites
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental-health condition which has a variety of symptoms. It is often described as a psychotic illness due to the difficulty a person faces in the ability to distinguish their thoughts (due to illness) from reality. Schizophrenia is a long-term illness which causes people to hallucinate and develop muddled thoughts due to these hallucinations. They also tend to develop delusional thoughts and beliefs which contradict clear evidence. People with schizophrenia can be a challenge to live with, as their behaviour changes radically.
The symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into two forms, positive and negative. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions and changes in behaviour.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are when the person hears or sees things which do not exist. These are very real to the person who is experiencing this symptom. They can be positive, which tell the person to do good and may even praise them. But often, they are negative and are threatening or abusive. They can arise from particular areas, such as the corner of a room or from the TV.
Delusions
Delusions are having the belief regarding a matter with much conviction even though it clear to other people that they are mistaken or the belief if strange or unrealistic. These can affect one’s behaviour and may develop gradually or suddenly. People may interpret things differently, such as believing that a TV presenter is communicating with them though hidden messages in what is being said.
Paranoid delusions are when someone believes they are being harassed, chased, followed or would be harmed. It is often a loved one who faces these accusations.
Changes in behaviour/thoughts
People with schizophrenia develop behaviour which become difficult to understand by others. They tend to be disorganised, unpredictable and inappropriate in their language (such as randomly swearing or becoming agitated for no reason).
Some people describe their thoughts as being controlled by others, and believe their minds and bodies are being taken over, and controlled by other people or force.
Negative symptoms often develop prior to recognising someone may have more severe symptoms of schizophrenia. These symptoms usually develop gradually, getting worse as time passes by. The sufferer becomes more withdrawn; showing signs of lack of interest in their personal hygiene and socialising with others.
More detailed negative symptoms include:
- Loss of interest in activities
- Loss of sexual desire
- Lack of concentration
- Refusing to leave home.
- Change in sleeping patterns
- Feeling uncomfortable around people