- [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers.
Welcome back to another video.
(air whooshing)
Are you worried about someone who might be suffering
from a mental illness?
Or perhaps you're worried about your mental health?
Major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia
or bipolar disorder, rarely appear out of the blue.
Most often family, friends, teachers
or individuals themselves
recognize that something's not quite right
about one's thinking, feelings, or behaviors
before one of these illnesses appears
in its full blown form.
Being informed about developing symptoms
or early warning signs can lead to intervention
that can help produce the severity of an illness.
It may even be possible to delay
or prevent a major mental illness altogether.
Before we begin, this video is for educational purposes only
and is not a substitute for professional guidance,
advice, treatment, or diagnosis.
We recommend you to reach out
to a qualified healthcare provider
or mental health professional
if you or someone you know are struggling.
With that said, let's look at the seven warning signs
of a mental illness.
Number one, recent social withdrawal
and loss of interest in others.
Do you know someone who has withdrawn themselves
from social interaction?
Have they been spending an excessive amount of time alone
compared to before?
Social withdrawal is defined as the lack of social relations
with one's family and friends.
Social withdrawal can be a symptom of depression
personality disorder, anxiety disorder, and more.
But it could also be caused by other factors in one's life,
such as high pressure from family or peers.
Number two, an unusual drop in functioning,
especially at school or work.
Someone who is suffering from a mental illness
may experience a sudden drop in their grades
or performance in school or work.
This can be caused by difficulties in concentrating,
lack of self-worth, low mood, joylessness,
a lack of activities and interest, social withdrawal,
giving up leisure activities,
changes in appetite, and sleep disruption.
These are all symptoms
that could heavily impact someone's ability to do work
and could be a sign of mental illness.
Number three, problems with concentration,
memory, or logical thought and speech.
Do you have trouble concentrating
no matter how hard you try?
According to an article written by Rachell Nall
and medically reviewed by Dr. Alana Biggers,
all of us rely on concentration
to get through work or school every day.
When you're unable to concentrate,
you can't think clearly, focus on a task,
or maintain your attention.
This not only affects your performance at school or work,
but also your decision making.
Some symptoms you may have experienced
due to poor concentration
include being unable to remember things
that occurred a short time ago,
difficulty sitting still, difficulty thinking clearly,
frequently losing things
or difficulty remembering where things are,
and inability to make decisions
or an inability to perform complicated tasks.
Number four, loss of initiative
or desire to participate in any activity.
Are you uninterested in things that you once enjoyed?
Anhedonia, similar to apathy,
can refer to the inability to feel pleasure
or manifest as a reduced desire and reduced motivation
to engage in activities that were once pleasurable.
The resulting numbness of this condition
can be overwhelming and scary,
and it could be a symptom of depression.
Another term for anhedonia
is emotional flatlining.
If you'd like to know more about it,
check out our video,
Emotional Flatlining, What is it?
Number five, a vague feeling of being disconnected
from one's self or one's surroundings.
A sense of unreality.
Have you ever had an experience where everyone you know,
everything around you,
everything that you're thinking and feeling feels fake?
Or that instead of being in the here and now,
you feel like a detached observer?
Watching yourself go through life
from a disconnected vantage point.
This could also be another sign of mental illness.
And there are actually a few terms for this.
They're called depersonalization,
an internal feeling of disconnection from one's self.
Derealization, an external feeling of disconnection
from one's surroundings.
And dissociation, detachment from one's physical
and emotional experience.
Number six, unusual or exaggerated beliefs
about personal powers or magical thinking.
What is magical thinking you may ask?
Well, it refers to the idea
that you can influence the outcome of specific events
by doing something that has no bearing on the circumstances.
It's pretty common in children.
Remember holding your breath going through a tunnel,
or not stepping on sidewalk cracks for the sake
of your mom's back, or jumping from sofa to sofa
because the floor is lava?
Magical thinking can persist into adulthood too.
Generally speaking, there's nothing wrong
with following rituals or superstitions
as long as they do not hurt anyone
or they're not done excessively.
However, uncontrollable and excessive magical thinking
can be a symptom of mental health disorders,
like obsessive compulsive disorder,
schizophrenia, and anxiety disorder.
And number seven, rapid or dramatic shifts
in feelings or mood swings.
Of course, it's normal to have days
where you feel sad or days when you're overjoyed.
As long as your mood changes
don't interfere with your life to an extreme degree,
they're generally considered to be healthy.
But if your behavior is unpredictable
for a number of days or longer,
it may be a sign of something more serious.
You may feel grumpy one minute and happy the next.
You may also have emotions
that can cause damage to your life.
If you are experiencing severe shifts in mood
or mood changes that cause extreme disruption
in typical behavior, it's best to talk to your doctor.
Professional therapy or medications
can help you relieve these life altering shifts in mood.
So, have you seen any of these signs in yourself
or those around you?
If you or someone you know identifies
with a lot of these signs, please don't hesitate
to reach out to a mental health professional.
You're not alone in your struggles.
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All the references used
are added in the description box below.
Thanks for watching.
And we'll see you next time.