Is My Loved One Mentally Ill?
Quirky Personality or Mental Illness?
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between a quirky personality and the symptoms of mental illness. It's important to get help for a loved one suffering from a mental illness, but it may be hard to convince them they're in need of help. Here are some of the hallmarks of mental illness so you can be sure you're going in the right direction in urging a family member to seek help.
In an adult, you need to watch for one or more of the following signs:
Significant change in personality
Difficulty in coping with daily activities and problem solving
Strange or grand ideas
Inappropriate levels of anxiety
Apathy and lengthy depression
Sudden changes in sleep or eating patterns
Periods of exultation followed by depression or apathy
Drug and alcohol abuse
Disproportionate displays of hostility, anger, or violence
Any mention of murderous or suicidal intentions requires immediate attention from a mental health professional
Mental Illness or a Learning Disability?
In children the key is to look for many signs of troubling behavior. If only a few signs of troubling behavior are apparent, it may be helpful to talk to a teacher or concerned clergyman. However, if your child shows several signs of emotional difficulty, it's best to have him evaluated by a mental health professional.
Signs to watch for are if your child:
Seems unable to cope with his suddenly overwhelming feelings
Cries often
Asks or hints for help
Appears preoccupied, tense, worried, anxious, sometimes exhibiting sudden phobias
Fears seem unreasonable and may interfere with schoolwork and daily living
Has difficulty concentrating on daily tasks
School performance declines
Teachers and other authority figures may inquire if something may be troubling your child
Can't master schoolwork
Teachers suggest the possibility of a learning disability
Loses interest in play
Exhibits various forms of self-stimulation such as thumb sucking or masturbation
Has little or no social interaction with peers
Is fighting
Begins to earn comments like: "this is an angry or disruptive child."
Prefers to be alone
Displays low self-esteem, minimal self-confidence, and denigrates self
develops sleep issues
When approaching puberty, may act in a sexually provocative manner
Set fires
Serious warning signs may merit immediate consultation with a pediatrician or a psychiatrist. These symptoms include:
Talk of suicide
Child becomes accident prone
Self-mutilation
Child may mutilate or kill animals
Eating habits change to the point that weight is affected
Ritual behaviors are adopted indicating obsessive-compulsive disorder
Attacks another child or adult
Drug or alcohol abuse
Sexual activity at a very young age