What are the warning signs of mental illness?
Substance abuse, “growing pains” or menopause may mask signs of mental illness. Individuals abusing drugs or alcohol may be seeking ways to cope or self-medicate mental illness. Repeated visits to a doctor with complaints of flu-like symptoms or colds may also be symptomatic of an underlying mental illness. Often the warning signs are ignored because of the stigma that persists that the sadness is a sign of weakness and they should just “snap out of it.” Confronting mental illness can be an overwhelming experience. Knowing the warning signs is very important.
Substance abuse, “growing pains” or menopause may mask signs of mental illness. Individuals abusing drugs or alcohol may be seeking ways to cope or self-medicate mental illness. Repeated visits to a doctor with complaints of flu-like symptoms or colds may also be symptomatic of an underlying mental illness. Often the warning signs are ignored because of the stigma that persists – that the sadness is s sign of weakness and they should just “snap out of it.” Confronting mental illness can be an overwhelming experience. Knowing the warning signs is very important. Ten warning signs! 1. Marked personality change. 2. Inability to cope with problems and daily activities. 3. Strange or grandiose ideas 4. Excessive fears, worries and anxieties. 5. Prolonged depression, apathy, sadness or irritability. 6. Feelings of extreme highs and lows 7. Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits. 8. Excessive anger, hostility or violent behavior. 9. Abuse of alcohol or drugs. 10. Thinking or talking ab
