Mental Health Diagnosis

If you have a mental health diagnosis, it can cause distress or disability in social, work, or family activities. Just as the phrase “physical illness” is used to describe a range of physical health problems, the term “mental illness” encompasses a variety of mental health conditions.

It is important to note that mental health and mental illness are different. Mental health refers to your ability to function effectively in your daily life, including having healthy relationships, engaging in daily activities, and coping with the problems you face effectively.

By contrast, mental illness refers to diagnosable mental health conditions that create significant changes in how you think, feel, and act. These changes make it difficult to function and create significant distress.

How to Recognize Signs of Mental Illness in Yourself

The key to recognizing the signs of a mental illness in yourself is to practice self-awareness and learn to recognize the signs and changes in your own feelings, behavior, habits, and personality. 

Note that becoming self-aware is easier said than done. It will take a lot of work, as you need to realize when you are experiencing changes in your feelings, behavior, or personality at any given time. It will take some reflection and introspection. However, for some people, it may be even more of a challenge, and some will even deny that they have a mental illness. This is often referred to as anosognosia or a “lack of awareness.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association, some signs and symptoms of a mental illness may include the following:

• Sleep or appetite changes
• Poor hygiene
• Dramatic mood changes
• Social withdrawal or lack of interest
• Drop in functioning, such as school or work
• Problem with concentration, memory, or logical thinking
• Increased sensitivity of senses
• Apathy – lack of motivation, interest, or concern often involving thinking or emotions
• Feeling disconnected from oneself or surroundings
• Illogical thinking
• Nervousness, fear, or suspicious feelings
• Unusual behavior