- Withdrawal — recent social withdrawal and loss of interest in others.
- Drop in functioning — an unusual drop in functioning at school, work, or social activities, such as quitting sports, failing in school, or difficulty performing familiar tasks.
- Problems thinking — problems with concentration, memory, or logical thought and speech that are hard to explain.
- Increased sensitivity — heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells, or touch; avoidance of over-stimulating situations.
- Apathy — loss of initiative or desire to participate in any activity.
- Feeling disconnected — a vague feeling of being disconnected from oneself or one's surroundings; a sense of unreality.
- Illogical thinking — unusual or exaggerated beliefs about personal powers to understand meanings or influence events; illogical or “magical” thinking typical of childhood in an adult.
- Nervousness — fear or suspiciousness of others, or a strong nervous feeling.
- Unusual behaviour — odd, uncharacteristic, peculiar behaviour.
- Sleep or appetite changes — dramatic sleep and appetite changes, or a decline in personal care.
- Mood changes — rapid or dramatic shifts in feelings.
Other signs you may need a mental health evaluation
1. You are having a difficult time coping with life in general, or cannot function day to day
Perhaps you have noticed that you are not able to function as well as you once did, or in a way that is appropriate for your particular circumstances, such as age and health. There also appears to be no reasonable explanation for your diminished coping skills, such as a diagnosed medical condition. While some mental health conditions develop gradually, others can have a relatively fast onset.
2. You have impulsive or obvious mood swings
Some psychiatric disorders involve significant mood fluctuations. The changes may be rapid, as in borderline personality disorder, or occur over several days or weeks, as in bipolar disorder. Drug and alcohol use and certain medications can also contribute to erratic moods.
3. You feel sad, hopeless, or down most of the time
This is often a red flag for depression, a mental health disorder affecting an estimated 350 million people of all ages worldwide. While occasional feelings of sadness are part of being human, it is abnormal when they are long lasting or chronic. If other symptoms are present, such as poor concentration, sleep disturbances, low energy, or feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, depression is a likely clinical diagnosis.
4. You worry excessively or feel anxious a lot of the time
Anxiety or irrational fear is a common symptom of many disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, and phobias. Anxiety can be paralysing, and its constant presence can affect health, sleep, and other aspects of daily functioning.
5. You cannot shake the impact of past or recent traumatic events
Trauma can turn your life upside down and take a serious toll. Unwanted images and memories can stay with you, leaving a sensation of being stuck without a way to heal and move on. Seemingly unrelated things can trigger these memories.
6. You are contemplating suicide
Suicidal thoughts and actions are primarily associated with major depression and other mood disorders. If you are thinking about suicide, it is imperative that you seek help immediately.
7. You use substances or damaging activities to numb emotional pain
When you turn to things outside yourself in a desperate attempt to cope, it usually signals a serious underlying problem. The use of substances or activities as a means of escape can lead to substance abuse and other addictive disorders. Instead of alcohol or drugs, some people rely on gambling, sex, or other behaviours that spiral out of control until they become addictive and negatively affect life.
8. You have serious anger that results in a very bad temper
Significant irritability, hostility, rage, and frequent outbursts of anger can signal a mental health problem. Anger drains emotional and physical energy, and has a negative impact on health, relationships, and work. Unresolved anger can also lead to substance abuse, emotional and physical abuse of others, destruction of property, and self-destructive behaviour.
9. You have irrational fears that interfere with your life
Irrational fears can involve a variety of things, including the fear that people are watching you or following you, an extreme fear of animals such as dogs or spiders, and fear of situations such as flying or social situations. Irrational fears can become obsessive, leading to persistent and intrusive thoughts that create significant anxiety and detrimental behaviours.
10. You have an unusual, highly troubled relationship with food and eating
A distorted body image — for example, seeing yourself as fat when your weight is normal or you are underweight — is often a red flag for the beginning stages of an eating disorder. Eating disorders tend to consume a significant amount of time and energy and, more importantly, can lead to long-term health risks and even death.
Although this list is not comprehensive, it covers a broad range of potential signs of mental illness. If any of these behaviours strike a familiar chord, the sooner you contact a mental health professional, the quicker you can be on the path to recovery. If you think you might be at risk of harming yourself or someone else, talk to someone immediately. Call a crisis line, a local mental health clinic, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. You can also call ACRA Specialist Clinic on +234 806 900 8876.