What are the common symptoms of mental illness?
Everybody feels sad, anxious or angry at some point in life. But when these persist for long and are severe enough to affect the daily activities, then it is time to visit a psychiatrist. Some common symptoms of mental illness are as follows.
- Sadness
- Excessive worries and fear
- Change in sleep pattern
- Change in eating habits
- Forgetfulness
- Extreme mood changes
- Low energy levels
- Irritability
- Inability to relate to situations or people
- Hearing voices or seeing things which others cannot
- Excessive anger, hostility and violence
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Suicidal thoughts
What can be the possible complications?
Mental illness can cause complications in all aspects of a person’s life as well as that of his family members, unlike physical illness. It leads to substance abuse and unhealthy lifestyle, which increases one’s risk of developing medical problems like heart disease and diabetes. Some patients end up making huge financial losses due to wrong decisions. Some lose their jobs. Academic performance deteriorates. There are frequent conflicts in the family. Relationships are damaged. There also is a risk of self-harm or harm to others.