Mental Illnesses and Symptoms

"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you." ~ Rita Mae Brown

It's not just a quote, it's a fact! The mental illness statistics according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 25% of the people in the world, which is 1 in every 4 people in this world, develop mental illness signs and symptoms at least once in their lifetime! Mental illness includes depression, anxiety and stress, which has become a common phenomena these days. The modern lifestyle that we are living in, where there are no fixed jobs, no fixed relationships, and too much to handle at the same time, can make people prone to mental illnesses. And the more shocking fact is that 80% of people who have some form of mental disorder and illness, fail to seek medical attention or treatment. In fact, most people don't even realize that they have a mental illness, because these things have become so common nowadays!

What is a Mental Illness?

A person is said to be mentally ill when he is suffering from mental disorders wherein the mind is not able to work sanely and gives the body false alarms by thinking about things that have not happened, or believing in things which have no logical explanations! Because of this condition, the person fails to behave, think, feel or interact in a proper manner, which in turn has adverse affects on the person's health. Symptoms can be for a brief period of time, especially when a person is going through the lows of life, and it can also become chronic if not taken proper care of.

List of Some Common Mental Illnesses and their Symptoms

As mentioned earlier, there are various types of mental illnesses. Some mental illnesses are mild and some can be chronic! The symptoms that these mental illnesses show are something that all of us would experience when encountering difficult situations! However, when these symptoms are observed without any logical explanations and situations, the person is known to suffer from a mental disorder.

Mental Illness	Symptoms
Depression	Insomnia Eating disorders Lack of concentration Loss of sexual desire Negative approach towards life
Anxiety Disorder	Palpitations Nausea Dizziness Restlessness Trembling Shortness of breath Irritated behavior Panic Attacks
Schizophrenia	Hallucinations Delusions Psychotic manifestations Loss of normal functions Memory Issues Thought disorders
Autism	Speech disorders Lack of eye contact Lack of awareness Lack of empathy Problems in understanding Improper body posture
Huntington Disease	Extreme change in personality Clumsiness Grimacing Muscle rigidity Slurred speech Dementia Tremors
Alzheimer's Disease	Memory loss Loss of judgment Negative change in personality Disorientation Extreme mood swings
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)	Disorganized lifestyle Lack of attention Impulsive behavior Hyperactivity Procrastination
Munchhausen Syndrome	Frequent hospitalizations Self harm to gain sympathy Seeking constant attention Visiting different doctors Exaggerated and dramatic stories in relation with hospitalizations
Antisocial Personality Disorder	No regards for right and wrong Impulsive behavior Use of abusive language Lying constantly Being violent
Amnesia	Learning disabilities Lack of coordination in movements Unable to recall the past Disorientation False recollections

Make sure that you do not avoid even the slightest signs of mental illness as the condition might get even worse and become chronic in the case of delay or avoidance. With too much complications that we encounter in life today, it is important for you to take care of yourself and those around you! If not you, who else will?