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Signs of Mental Illness / Disorders
Mood and Mood Disorders.
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders.
Schizophrenia
Mood and Mood Disorders
Signs of Depression
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Depressed or irritable mood most of the day—nearly every day.
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Loss of interest or pleasure in activities ( such as hobbies, work, sex, or being with friends ) most of the day—nearly every day.
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A sudden change in weight or appetite.
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Inability to sleep or sleeping too much.
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Agitation or restlessness ( observed by others. )
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Constant fatigue or loss of energy.
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Frequent feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
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Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
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Frequent thoughts of death or suicide.
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Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood.
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Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism.
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Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness.
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Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex.
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Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down".
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Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions.
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Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping.
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Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain.
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Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts.
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Restlessness, irritability.
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Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.
Mania
- Abnormal or excessive elation
- Unusual irritability
- Decreased need for sleep
- Grandiose notions
- Increased talking
- Racing thoughts
- Increased sexual desire
- Markedly increased energy
- Poor judgment
- Inappropriate social behavior
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Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge.
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Fatigue.
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Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.
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Irritability.
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Muscle tension.
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Difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep.
Anxiety Disorder
- Endless checking or rechecking actions.
- A constant and unrealistic worry about everyday occurrences and activities.
- Fear and anxiety that appear for no apparent reason.
Anxiety disorder types:
- Panic Disorder: a sudden, uncontrollable attack of terror that can manifest itself with heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, and an out-of-control or terribly frightening feeling;
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: excessive anxiety and worry that last for at least six months accompanied by other physical and behavioral problems;
- Social Phobia: a persistent fear of one or more situations in which the person is exposed to possible scrutiny of others;
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: repeated, intrusive and unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety, often accompanied by ritualized behavior that relieve this anxiety;
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: caused when someone experiences a severely distressing or traumatic event. Recurring nightmares and/or flashbacks and unprovoked anger are common symptoms.
- Excessive fatigue and sleepiness or an inability to sleep.
- Social withdrawal and isolation.
- Deterioration of social relationships.
- Inability to concentrate or cope with minor problems.
- Apparent indifference, even in highly important situations.
- Dropping out of activities.
- Decline in academic and athletic performance.
- Deterioration of personal hygiene; eccentric dress.
- Frequent moves or trips or long walks leading nowhere.
- Drug or alcohol abuse.
- Undue preoccupation with spiritual or religious matters.
- Bizarre behavior.
- Inappropriate laughter.
- Strange posturing.
- Low tolerance to irritation.
- Excessive writing without apparent meaning.
- Inability to express emotion.
- Irrational statements.
- Peculiar use of words or language structure.
- Conversation that seems deep but is not logical or coherent
- Staring; vagueness.
- Unusual sensitivity to stimuli ( noise, light. )
- Forgetfulness.
Signs of Schizophrenia in Childhood
- Deficits in working (short-term) and verbal memory.
- Impairments in gross motor skills (the child's ability to control different parts of the body).
- Attention deficits.
- Mixed-handedness (the use of different hands for different tasks), particularly in females.
- Eye tracking dysfunction. This genetic trait is strongly associated with schizophrenia and may reflect abnormalities in the frontal regions of the brain. (Some experts believe that this is such a powerful marker in patients with close relatives with schizophrenia that it can be used as a predictor. This trait can only be detected by a health professional using special equipment.)
- Hallucinations or delusions. (This does not include normal childhood fantasies and stories, in which the child is aware that they are inventions.)
- A decline in verbal memory, IQ, and other mental functions.
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