5 implicit signs of mental disorders

If a close person seems depressed and apathetic to you, it can be just a “bad day”, character characteristics or a manifestation of a mental disorder. Only a doctor is able to make a diagnosis. But relatives can also notice the first signs of mental ill health, friends. Just should be more attentive to each other.

According to statistics, mental disorders (including their light forms), a significant part of the population of the planet suffers (for example, in the USA – 20% of the population). But far from always it is noticeable or obvious to others.

The first manifestations of mental problems are easy to miss. Sometimes they are not noticed even by doctors, not

to mention friends and relatives. The reason may be both the lack of information and various prejudices, including professional. This is especially true for patients with unusual symptoms.

Meanwhile, it is very important to identify the disorder at an early stage and provide a person with the necessary assistance and support. This significantly increases the likelihood of recovery. In the absence of treatment, the disorder can progress.

Many patients, not fully realizing what is happening to them, try to “drown out” severe symptoms with alcohol or drugs. In order to notice a mental disorder in time and help a person, it is important to be able to recognize hidden signs, which are often easy to confuse with the manifestations of other diseases or just character traits.

Here are some of these signs.

Constant fatigue

It is unlikely that anyone will surprise anyone that mental disorders can lead to constant fatigue. For example, if a person suffers from non-unit obsessive-compulsive disorder (OKR), he is constantly tormented by the extremely unpleasant obsessive thoughts with which he tries to fight with the help of certain rituals.

Of course, this barren struggle takes a huge amount of effort from him. In addition, he has to cope with other responsibilities (workers, educational, family). Also, a person with all his might tries to hide his symptoms from others, afraid to seem “sick” and encounter condemnation. Attempts to seem “normal” take away a huge amount of energy from him.

Chronic fatigue in mental disorders can be associated with psychological, biological and social factors. Therefore, if one of your loved ones or acquaintances all the time complains of a lack of strength for no obvious reason, it may be worth asking him about what is happening to him.

Physical pain

Our body and psyche are inextricably linked. Physical diseases affect our mental state and vice versa. According to medical research, up to 50% of patients suffering from chronic pain also experience symptoms of depression. In turn, anxiety and depression can cause stomach and digestion problems, bodily and headaches and many other physical symptoms.

If one of your friends or loved ones constantly suffers from various pains not related to physical diseases, a mental disorder may be the reason for this.

Perfectionism

Some mental illness distort our perception of ourselves and our environment. Sometimes this is expressed in the fact that we begin to make unrealistic requirements for ourselves. For example, people suffering from anxious or food disorders can try to compensate for this, trying to make everything in their lives “perfect”: study, work, body, diet.

But none of us is perfect. The desire for self -improvement is commendable, but it is important to realistically evaluate your capabilities and not to make excessive requirements. Perfectionism can be an alarming sign indicating hidden mental problems.

Lack of emotions

Unemotionalism is a very common symptom of mental disorders, which is rarely talked about. It seems to us that mentally ill people necessarily suffer from strong and severe experiences: depression, anxiety, longing or emotional overexcitation.

Often this is true, but you can not discount another extreme. Some patients experience the exact opposite symptom: they do not feel anything at all, they become indifferent to both themselves and the world around them. For example, with depression, we can lose any interest in our previous hobbies and in people who were important to us.

The inability to experience pleasure in psychiatry is called “Anghedonia”. Everyone has unsuccessful days, but if a person has been happy for a long time, this is an alarming sign.

Avoiding behavior

We all sometimes try to avoid some business or communication with certain people. The reasons can be different: procrastination, stress, or just lack of interest. But if the avoiding behavior is a habit, this may be a sign of deeper problems.

For example, patients with a panic disorder often begin to avoid situations provoking their panic attacks. Patients with schizophrenia can also be eliminated from certain types of activities or communicating with some people because of their delusional beliefs (for example, something or someone seems to them “evil” or dangerous).

Some mentally unhealthy people try to fight their symptoms, simply avoiding everything that causes discomfort. Thus, they themselves impose tough restrictions, convincing themselves that they are “not capable” to do certain things. Often this only exacerbates their symptoms.

Mental disorders can manifest itself in each and express in different ways. Awareness and recognition of the problem is the first step towards recovery.

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