It is scary to realize and watch how a loved one loses his mind before your eyes. Unreasonable mood swings, irrational fears and obsessive thoughts completely take possession of a person's consciousness, affecting the adequacy of behavior - others are shunned by others, considering him a sick and dangerous person.
It is clear that individual reasons cannot indicate that a person is necessarily mentally unhealthy, because among the reasons for an inadequate state may be hormonal disorders, stress, overwork or anxiety. But what conclusions should be drawn if all the signs are present and the behavior of a loved one begins to pose a threat? First you need to learn how to correctly recognize the symptoms.
Alarming symptoms of mental illnessAsthenic syndrome
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The main symptoms of asthenia are:
- sudden mood swings;
- increased fatigue with little mental or physical exertion;
- loss of composure, irascibility, irritation;
- decreased ability to work, perseverance;
- high emotional excitability;
- poor sleep;
- sensitivity to loud sounds, light, or odors.
Often the symptoms of asthenia can manifest itself in the form of tearfulness, manifestations of self-pity, moodiness.
Asthenic syndrome in many cases is a consequence of diseases such as cardiovascular pathologies, diseases of the digestive system, some diseases of an infectious nature.
The absence of visible causes is the main difference between asthenia and chronic fatigue syndrome. If chronic fatigue is the result of excessive physical or mental activity, then the cause of asthenia is stress, social factor, the influence of psychogenic stress. Under the pressure of these factors, a person is not capable of self-recovery for a very long time. One of the most common manifestations of asthenia is neurosis.
Obsessive states
Obsessive-compulsive states or anxiety-phobic disorders are the names of the same disease, which is a collection of various conditions that arise involuntarily. The neurosis, as a rule, manifests itself in the form of:
- obsessive negative thoughts about the past and present;
- suspiciousness, fears, anxiety;
- obsessive movements.
Neurosis makes a person afraid of a far-fetched danger, to commit meaningless actions in order to avoid it. A common situation that clearly illustrates the manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder: it seems to a person that he did not turn off the gas or electrical appliances at home, did not turn off the water, and this makes him constantly return home. The manic urge to constantly wash your hands to keep them clean is also one of the manifestations of the disease. The disease forces a person to perform various useless obsessive actions, for example, biting nails, tapping a finger on the cheek, licking lips, straightening clothes.
Obsessive memories are the next stage of anxiety disorder. Unpleasant events from the past appear in a bright and distinct picture in the mind of a person, poisoning his life. Communication with such a person is a real test, although, of course, the most difficult thing is for the patient himself.
Sudden mood swings
Not all abrupt changes in human behavior can be symptoms of a disease. Alarm bells include:
- sudden display of aggression;
- excessive, exhausting the patient himself, suspicion;
- unpredictability;
- inability to concentrate attention;
- an unreasonable change in mood within a short period of time.
The danger lies not so much in the mood swings themselves as in the consequences. In especially severe, advanced cases, the disease can lead to suicide attempts or the murder of another person.
A change in mood can manifest itself not only from the emotional side, but also from the physiological side - often the symptom is accompanied by:
- malfunctioning of the menstrual cycle;
- impaired appetite;
- change in body weight;
- difficulties with tactile sensations;
Senestopathy or discomfort in the body
Senestopathy is an unpleasant sensation of an unusual nature in the area of internal organs or on the surface of the skin. Feelings, as a rule, do not have any objective reason and have no connection with the manifestations of psychosomatics. Feelings that accompany senestopathy:
- twisting;
- burning;
- squeezing;
- stirring;
- ripple;
- contraction.
There are even cases when senestopathy is accompanied by olfactory, gustatory, visual and auditory hallucinations. Senestopathy is one of the symptoms of many mental illnesses. It does not carry any somatic pathologies, but it can fundamentally ruin a person's life, especially against the background of other diseases.
Often, this disease can be one of the manifestations of hypochondria - a manic concern about the state of one's own health. Frequent, periodic manifestations of senestopathy are a serious reason to consult a specialist.
Illusions and hallucinations against the background of mental disorders
These two concepts - illusions and hallucinations - are often confused, although the difference between them is quite tangible. When an illusion is manifested, a person is inclined to perceive real objects or sounds in a distorted manner. A good example of an illusion is a person's perception of an abstract pattern in the form of a tangle of intertwined snakes.
Hallucinations force the patient to take non-existent things or phenomena for real, often affecting some sense organs. A person complains about "voices" in his head, biting sensations, visual images. The main danger of hallucinations is that the patient himself perceives them as absolutely real. When others begin to convince the patient about the opposite, this can be regarded by him as a conspiracy, and, as a result, significantly worsen his condition. Hallucinations often end in paranoia.
Delusional states
Delusional states can be attributed to the main symptoms of psychosis. In a state of delirium, a person is completely obsessed with his idea, nothing can affect his opinion, even if the contradictions are obvious. Proving his innocence, he operates with erroneous judgments and complete, unconditional confidence in his own righteousness. Among the variety of forms of manifestation of delusional states, one can single out:
- delusions of persecution or physical threat - paranoid syndrome;
- delusions of grandeur in combination with delusions of persecution - paraphrenic syndrome;
- delirium of jealousy.
What should a loved one do if a relative suspects a mental disorder?
If suspicions arise, do not make hasty conclusions. It is quite possible to explain the inadequate behavior of a person by a difficult period in his life, accumulated problems or a non-mental illness. But if there are vivid manifestations of mental instability, then you should immediately show the person to a specialist.
- You should have a serious talk with the person. To do this, you need to choose the right time when he will be friendly and ready to adequately perceive information.
- The conversation should be built in a trusting manner. In no case should you try to convince him of something, thereby provoking negative reactions.
- When talking, do not use specific words that are directly related to his mental state: hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, etc.
- Find general arguments in favor of undergoing a preventive examination by patients, express their concern about his condition.
- You cannot invite a psychiatrist home under the guise of an old acquaintance, you should not take a patient for a supposedly routine therapeutic examination.
It is imperative that you consult with a qualified psychiatrist - an experienced doctor will give recommendations about the correct behavior in relation to the patient. But you should not delay the visit to the doctor. Neglected mental illnesses will progress, and the consequences can be very sad.
