UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS

Coping with a mental illness a family member or yourself may have can be very difficult because we tend to believe it is something that happens to someone else. However, according to Mental Health America an estimated 54 million Americans suffer from a variety mental disorders in a given year. Excessive stress whether the stressor is from work, family, or personal problems may be related to mental illness.

The most common mental disorders are bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders which are the most common in American affecting over 40 million adults. Dealing with a mental illness can be trying for both the individual and their family because it is not something you can prepare for and coping with the issue is a process.

Although, it is not easy coping with learning how to love and care for someone who has a mental illness. We can recognize warning signs and symptoms a person may have and get them help in earlier stages. The following are signs and symptoms from different age groups:

Adults, Young Adults and Adolescents:

• Confused thinking

• Prolonged depression

• Social withdrawal

• Excessive fears and anxieties

Older Children and Pre-Adolescents:

• Inability to cope with problems

• Changes in sleep/eating pattern

• Frequent outburst of anger

• Excessive complaints of physical ailments

Younger Children:

• Changes in school performance

• Hyperactivity

• Persistent nightmares

• Frequent temper tantrums

If you or someone you know is struggling with some form of mental illness click here to learn more about how to cope day-to-day.