Ground Report | New Delhi: What are the 6 signs of mental illness; Signs of mental disorders, as well as the frequency of their occurrence, are a common issue of concern to the population in recent years. This is especially true due to the fact that the pace of life is growing steadily, and the resources of the human nervous system remain at the same level.
Very often, mental disorders develop gradually, step by step, introducing features into the human psyche that were not previously characteristic of him, respectively, there are good chances to notice them in time and provide proper medical care.
According to the latest data, mental disorders are diagnosed in 25-30% of the population, that is, in every fourth in the world. However, it is noteworthy that at the same time 75-80% are sick with non-psychotic, mild mental disorders. Serious mental illness such as schizophrenia occurs in 6-17% of cases. Alcoholism - 60%.
It must be remembered that a mental disorder is not a sentence, since, with sufficient and timely treatment from a specialist, as well as a responsible attitude and attentiveness to your condition, the symptoms of mental disorders can be stopped, (and often the disorder itself can be completely cured), which will help maintain the previous social, professional status and quality of life.
Let's take a look at 5 main signs that you should pay close attention to.
SIGNS
Asthenic syndrome.
This condition can accompany any mental disorder and many somatic diseases. Asthenia is expressed in weakness, low efficiency, mood swings, increased sensitivity. The person starts crying easily, instantly becomes irritated, and loses self-control. Often, asthenia is accompanied by sleep disturbances, a feeling of weakness, increased fatigue, and the inability to cope with the previously habitual workload and study.
Previously not peculiar to overestimation of one's own capabilities or abilities, the conviction in one's own exclusivity, passion for esotericism, magic, a sudden belief in the supernatural. The pace of the flow of thoughts in the head can also change, or become uncomfortably slow, or so fast that it is sometimes very difficult to concentrate on one thought
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Obsessive states.
A wide range of obsessions includes many manifestations: from constant doubts, unpleasant thoughts, "stuck, spinning in the head", fears that a person is not able to cope with, to an irresistible desire for purity or the performance of certain, unusual actions. Under the power of an obsessive state, a person can return home several times to check whether he turned off the iron, gas, water, or closed the door with a key. The obsessive fear of an accident can lead the patient to perform certain rituals that the sufferer believes can ward off trouble. If you notice that your friend or relative washes their hands for hours, have become overly squeamish, and are always afraid of contracting something, this is also an obsession. The desire not to step on cracks in the asphalt, tile joints. (What are the 6 signs of mental illness)
Mood changes.
It is especially important to pay attention not so much to short-term changes under the influence of momentary factors, but to mood changes that were not previously characteristic of a person, long-term, from 2 weeks or more.
- Melancholy, depression, desire for self-accusations, talk about one's own worthlessness, sinfulness, about death, about the absence of a future, hope for the best, etc.
- Unnatural frivolity, carelessness.
- Foolishness, not typical of age and character.
- A euphoric state, optimism that has no basis.
- Apathy, painful feeling of lack of emotion.
- Fussiness, talkativeness, inability to concentrate, confused thinking.
- Irritability, anger, aggressiveness
- Inability to keep emotions, tearfulness, slight breakdowns in a cry in a conversation
- Strengthening sexuality, extinction of natural bashfulness, inability to restrain sexual desires, or vice versa, the disappearance of libido, lack of morning erection in men
Unusual sensations in the body.
Tingling, burning in the skin, burning sensations, “twisting” pressure in the body, stirring “something inside”, “rustling in the head”, the presence of foreign objects in the body - can signal disturbances in the nervous system.
It is expressed in an obsessive, obsessive search for serious diseases and disorders, painful "listening" to the slightest changes in the state of one's body. At the same time, the patient often does not trust doctors, requires repeated and deeper research is fully focused on finding serious diseases in himself, and requires being treated like a patient.
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It is important to pay attention to both the sudden increase in appetite - "ravenous appetite", and its sharp decrease and perversion of taste preferences. The reason may be both in the disease of the gastrointestinal tract, and in the general depression of the state, or a painful conviction of excessive completeness in its absence. It is also important if previously tasty food has lost its taste, has become insipid, tasteless, "like cardboard." (What are the 6 signs of mental illness)
Illusions and Hallucinations
Do not confuse illusions and hallucinations. Illusions make a person perceive real objects and phenomena in a distorted form, while in hallucinations, a person feels something that does not really exist.
Examples of illusions:
- the pattern on the wallpaper looks like a plexus of snakes or worms;
- the sizes of objects are perceived in a distorted form;
- the sound of raindrops on the windowsill seems to be the careful steps of someone terrible;
- the shadows of the trees turn into terrible creatures, crawling with frightening intentions, etc.
If outsiders may not even guess about the presence of illusions, then the susceptibility to hallucinations may manifest itself more noticeably. Hallucinations can affect all senses, that is, be visual and auditory, tactile and gustatory, olfactory and general, and also be combined in any combination. To the patient, everything that he sees, hears and feels seems completely real. He may not believe that all this is not felt, heard, or seen by others. He can perceive their bewilderment as a conspiracy, deception, mockery, be annoyed that they do not understand him. (What are the 6 signs of mental illness)
- With auditory hallucinations, a person hears all sorts of noises, scraps of words or coherent phrases. "Voices" can give commands or comment on every action of the patient, laugh at him or discuss his thoughts.
- Gustatory and olfactory hallucinations often produce a sensation of an unpleasant property: an offensive taste or odor.
- With tactile hallucinations, it seems to the patient that someone is biting, touching, strangling him, that insects are crawling on him, that some creatures are invading his body and there they move or eat the body from the inside.
- Outwardly, susceptibility to hallucinations is expressed in conversations with an invisible interlocutor, sudden laughter or constant intense listening to something. The patient can shake something off of himself all the time, scream, examine himself with a preoccupied look, or ask others if they see something on his body or in the surrounding space.
Any obsessive states, quick mood swings, extraneous sensations in the body can also be signs of mental disorder, it all depends on the degree of activity.
For those who are worried about the health of their loved one, or even about their own, but do not want to go to a medical institution yet, a public has been created on the Contact social network, which is called "Standard Deviation". There you can anonymously ask any question related to mental health to a qualified professional and get an answer.
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