Did you know that approximately 1 in 5 people have some sort of mental health condition or issue? If your loved one or friend has a mental health disorder, they will likely display some signs of that condition. Before learning about these signs, it is important to know that not everyone has the same symptoms of a specific mental health disorder. In addition, not everyone’s symptoms will be displayed to the same degree either.
With this being noted, there are 5 signs to look for that may signify your loved one or friend is struggling with their mental health. If you recognize these signs, talk to them to see if they would be willing to attend a treatment program, so they can get help with the condition.
1. Feeling Worried, On Edge, or Anxious
There are many mental health disorders that cause feelings of worry and anxiety. Sometimes, these disorders will also cause a person to feel on edge all the time. If your loved one is feeling these things, they may be irritable and worried most of the time. Some of the conditions that cause these feelings include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- PTSD
- Depression
If your loved one or friend is dealing with these things, they need your support. They need to know they aren’t alone and that you are there to help without judgment. If they decide to attend a mental health disorder treatment program, they can find helpful ways to cope with and manage the condition.
2. Depression or Unhappiness
When you talk to your loved one or friend, how do they sound? Does it seem like they are constantly talking about how sad or depressing life is? Does it seem like they don’t find joy in any activities they take part in? Are you noticing that your loved one or friend is staying home most of the time and sleeping their days away? These are just some signs that they may be dealing with general feelings of unhappiness or depression.
If you suspect this is what is going on or your loved one tells you they are dealing with depression and need help, encourage them to attend a mental health disorder treatment program as soon as possible. These programs are very beneficial to those who are struggling with any depressive disorder.
3. Sleep Issues
Mental health disorders are difficult enough to deal with, let alone when they cause sleep disturbance or other sleep issues. If your friend or loved one has a mental health disorder, you may notice they are:
- Tossing and turning at night (often unable to fall asleep until late into the night or waking up many times throughout the night)
- Sleeping in way longer than normal in the morning
- Taking naps during the day (when they didn’t do this before)
- Having nightmares or vivid dreams
These are just some sleep issues that someone may experience if they have a mental health disorder. Generally, these sleep problems are associated with anxiety disorders or PTSD. However, they can occur with a range of other mental health conditions, as well.
If your loved one or friend’s sleep is being negatively affected by their mental health state, please encourage them to get help. The longer they let these sleep issues go untreated, the worse their mental health might get. The worse the mental health issues become, the more severe the sleep issues will likely get, as well. It is a vicious cycle that can be treated by professionals here at Recovery in Tune.
4. Appetite or Weight Changes
If your friend or loved one has a mental health disorder, they might also have the appetite or weight changes. Some conditions, such as anxiety disorders, often cause people to stress eat. When that happens, the person will usually gain quite a bit of weight. However, other conditions such as PTSD may cause someone to lose their appetite and lose a lot of weight.
5. Substance Abuse
Have you noticed your loved one or friend drinking a lot more than they used to? Maybe, they are now even smoking marijuana or doing other drugs? When you talk to them, they may say they need to relieve their stress or anxiety. Unfortunately, there are many people who will abuse drugs or alcohol to cope with anxiety, stress, and depression. The substance abuse and mental health symptoms are problems in themselves. However, substance abuse can worsen mental health disorders and vice versa.
Get Help for Mental Health Disorders Today
If your friend or loved one is displaying any of these signs, talk to them about it as soon as possible. Let them know you understand what they are going through and you want to be supportive. If they are willing to get help, have them reach out to addiction or mental health professionals.
Contact us today to get mental health treatments for yourself, your loved one, or your friend.