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what is mental illness? | |
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symptoms | |
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| seniors | ||
| caregivers | ||
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facts & myths | |
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good advice | |
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resource links |
While symptoms vary, and each person with mental illness is different, all people with mental illness have some of the thought, feeling, or behavioral characteristics listed below.
While a single symptom or isolated event is not necessarily a sign of mental illness, multiple or severe symptoms may indicate a need for a medical evaluation.
Changes
in thinking or perceiving
Hallucinations
Delusions
Excessive fears or suspiciousness
Inability to concentrate
Changes in mood
Sadness coming out of nowhere;
unrelated to events or circumstances
Extreme excitement or euphoria
Pessimism, perceiving the world as
gray and lifeless
Expressions of hopelessness
Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities
Thinking or talking about suicide
Changes in behavior
Sitting and doing nothing
Friendlessness; abnormal self-involvement
Dropping out of activities; decline in
academic
or athletic performance
Hostility, from one formerly pleasant
and friendly
Indifference, even in highly important
situations
Inability to express joy
Inappropriate laughter
Inability to concentrate or cope with
minor problems
Changes
in behavior (continued)
Irrational statements
Peculiar use of words or language structure
Excessive fears or suspiciousness
Drug or alcohol abuse
Forgetfulness and loss of valuable possessions
Attempts to escape through geographic change;
frequent
moves or hitchhiking trips
Bizarre behavior (skipping, staring, strange posturing)
Unusual sensitivity to noises, light, clothing
Physical changes
Hyperactivity or inactivity or alternations of these
Deterioration in hygiene or personal care
Unexplained weight gain or loss
Sleeping too much or being unable to sleep
Often the symptoms of mental illness are cyclic, varying in severity from time to time. The duration of an episode also varies; some people are affected for a few weeks or months while for others the illness may last many years or for a lifetime.
There is no reliable way to predict what the course
of the illness may be. Symptoms may change from year to year. Also,
one person's symptoms may be very different from those of another although
the diagnosis may be the same.
In some cases of apparent mental illness, other diseases such as
hypothyroidism, multiple sclerosis, or a brain tumor are found to be
the cause.
A thorough physical examination should be the first step when mental illness is suspected.
Please note: This
guide is for informational purposes only.
It is not meant to
be used as a diagnostic
tool. It is very
important that you seek a professional evaluation if you
have concerns about yourself or a loved one.
"We envision a future when everyone with a mental illness will recover, a future when mental illnesses can be prevented or cured, a future when mental illnesses are detected early, and a future when everyone with a mental illness at any stage of life has access to effective treatment and supports— essentials for living, working, learning and participating fully in the community."
Vision Statement, The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003
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