Mental health issues do not happen spontaneously. Often there are small changes in one’s personality that act as warning signs for nearly 44 million Americans each year who experience some type of mental illness. Of those adults, the National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that 60 percent did not receive mental health treatment in the previous year.
Treating mental health issues is a complicated and personal process. There is no universal solution, even for people with the same diagnosis. With nearly 300 recognized disorders listed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), it’s more important than ever to understand the potential early warning signs of mental illness.
Defining Mental Illness
According to the DSM-5, defining mental illness is a difficult prospect due to the subjective nature of the disorders that fall under the category of mental illness. However, the general consensus is that mental illnesses are clinically significant syndromes or patterns, whether behavioral or psychological, that cause distress or disability.
Individual disorders often come with their own set of symptoms of varying levels of severity. And the sheer number of disorders and symptoms make treatments dependent on individual characteristics of a patient. This subjective approach to treatment makes looking for early warning signs that much more important, and research has shown that early intervention may prevent a psychotic episode or need for hospitalization in the future.
What to Look For
While most early warning signs of mental illness aren’t necessarily evidence of an illness, specific changes of behavior or state of mind are common amongst people with these disorders. If you have noticed one or more of the following behaviors manifested in you or a loved one, you may want to follow-up with a mental health professional:
- Excessive feelings of worry, fear or anxiety
- Trouble concentrating on tasks
- Withdrawing from social activities, including friends and family
- Sudden changes in sleeping or eating habits
- Suicidal ideation
- Substance use
- Inability to cope with typical situations or activities
- Strong feelings of anger, or sudden outburst of emotion
- Strange thoughts or delusions
- Strong feelings of sadness, negativity or worthlessness
- Feelings of disconnection of dissociation
- Sudden shifts in mood, extreme highs and lows
- Hallucinations, either heard or seen
Many of these early signs can be found in both adults and adolescents, and if these issues cause major difficulty in day-to-day functions, they may get worse over time. Younger children can also exhibit early warning signs of mental illness through hyperactivity or persistent nightmares. Additionally, some signs like suicidal ideation or thoughts of harming one’s self or others require immediate attention.
How to Cope and Find Help
Friends and family are normally the first line of defense for those who begin struggling with the effects of mental illness. These people can often act as a support network and assist with receiving additional treatment, and support or self-help groups can also be found for those unable to discuss their issues with friends and family.
More importantly to note is that mental illness can only be diagnosed through an evaluation with a mental health professional. Receiving a diagnosis is generally the first step in creating a treatment plan. Though treatment plans vary from person to person, combinations of medication, therapy, and social support are common treatment methods used to address cases of mental illness.
Therapy can give offer a safe place to constructively discuss one’s illness in order to better understand and learn to cope with its effects. Support from friends, family or other social groups can also work to help those suffering from mental illnesses. In some cases, medication can be prescribed, and in conjunction with therapy, can alleviate significant mental health symptoms.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Mental illnesses can affect one’s life, and the people close to them, profoundly. Even still, proper treatment and support can manage the effects of these disorders and make it possible to function normally in most cases. Spotting the warning signs early gives those who may suffer from these disorders the best possible chance for recovery and treatment. If you or someone you know is in immediate need of help, consult your doctor or call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline at 1‑877‑726‑4727
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Sources: [Mental Health America, MHA, National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, NAMI, NAMI, NAMI, NAMI, National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institute of Mental Health, Psychiatry, Slate, Socalpsych]
