Sometimes, when you meet a person, you realize upon talking that something is odd with them. Maybe it’s the way they talk or what they talk, it makes you feel that the person is sad or depressed. On the other hand, and this happens in a majority of cases, a person who is deeply depressed is the one who makes frequent jokes, laughs heartily, and does not show any sign of depression. Perhaps, the person does not even know that he is depressed. 

Sometimes, suffering through mental illness does not imply sitting inside the room the entire day, isolating yourself from your family and friends, or certain other telltale signs. Even if a person is suffering from a mild mental illness, the daily activities of the person can be deeply affected by it. 

Signs of Mental Illness

Certain subtle symptoms of mental illness that you need to pay attention to and quickly get professional attention are:

1. Feeling apathy towards things you used to love

When you suddenly feel apathetic towards things you love or things that make you happy, there is something wrong with the mental state of mind. This sort of feeling is often known as anhedonia which means, ‘reduced ability to experience a pleasure.’ If going out with friends, listening to music, exercising or any other activity that you enjoy is not fun for you anymore, you are more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety.

2. Adopting unhealthy escapist activities

If you are suffering from mental illness, your mind will be more likely to find an escapist activity to get rid of the feeling. This activity is, more often than not, a negative one such as excessive drinking and smoking. There are significant changes in your diet as well. If you see rapid changes in your weight, you need to be conscious of your thought processes and prioritize your mental health.

3. Getting panicked easily

Getting panicked over things you cannot control is normal. However, if you are suffering from more than one panic attack regularly, over petty situations, then the situation should not be ignored. These panic attacks generally last from a couple of minutes to half an hour. Getting panic attacks for small things can stunt the quality of your life. Therefore, if you are experiencing them frequently, you must get some help.

4. Irregular sleep schedule

An irregular sleep schedule is one of the major signs of mental illness that you need to look out for. More often than not, people who suffer from depression, anxiety or are put under extreme stress, face insomnia or have trouble sleeping properly. In addition, people with depression also sleep a lot more than usual. So, if you find yourself sleeping a lot more or a lot less than usual, it is necessary to consult a therapist. 

5. Aches in parts of your body without any reason

If you find your body or parts of your body aching without any apparent reason, chances are that your mental health is at risk. However, suffering from a simple headache or back pain does not imply that you run to your psychologist. But if they continue for days and weeks without any reason, then you should consult your psychologist.

If you find yourself facing all these signs, then you might have poor mental health. 

Ways to Prioritize your Mental Health

Below mentioned are some ways to prioritize your mental health and take care of it:

1. Communicate your feelings

The first step to overcome any sort of mental illness is to openly communicate whatever you are feeling to yourself first and then to the world. The more you hide the feeling inside you, the more it will grow. So, it’s better to cope with a problem by admitting it and talking about it. 

However, make sure that you communicate the feeling with a person you trust. When you do that, you will feel more supported and less alone. And who knows, maybe the other person was feeling the same and was hesitating to take the first step? It’s natural to feel a bit awkward and discomforting while talking about it at first, but slowly you will open up. Just give it some time.

2. Pay attention to what you eat

The consumption of the type of food you eat is directly linked with how you feel. Coffee and sugar can elevate your mood instantly. However, if you are looking for some long-term effects, you can consume a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, dairy products, fish, and water.

3. Stay in touch with your friends and family

When you stay in touch with your friends and your family, you feel supported and cared for in life. All your problems that seemed difficult at first might seem solvable and easy. You will be provided with a plethora of different perceptions on which you can ponder upon. 

It’s good to work upon relationships and invest some time and effort. It helps you take your mind off of your illness. However, it is not advisable to work on relationships with toxic people. They have their burden to deal with, they cannot deal with yours, and nor are you liable to deal theirs. So, think wisely and choose the correct people in your life. 

These are some of the tips that you can keep in mind to deal with the signs of mental illness. However, none of these will work out efficiently, if you are not courageous enough to ask for help and support from the people. It is okay to ask for help. You are a human, not a god, so don’t try to be one. You will only hurt yourself more. 

You can join a support group if you want or you can talk to your closest group of friends and family. They will be ready to lend their ears for your problems. You just have to fight these limiting beliefs in your mind and reach out. You will be surprised when you see what lies in front of you.  

Also read: Mental Illness In Men : 5 Warning Signs To Look Out For