According to Dr. Arjun Reyes and Cary Quashen at the Behavioral Health Unit at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, depression is very real and treatable with the correct diagnoses.
Symptoms of clinical depression include:
- A persistent sad, anxious or 'empty' mood.
- Sleeping too much or too little.
- Reduced appetite or increased appetite.
- Loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
- Feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness.
- Thoughts of suicide or death.
Another common mental illness is bipolar disorder.
Its symptoms include:
- Excessive energy, restlessness, racing thoughts and rapid talking.
- Extreme 'high' or euphoric feelings.
- Being easily irritated or distracted.
- Decreased need for sleep without feeling tired.
- Unrealistic beliefs in one's ability and powers.
- Uncharacteristic poor judgment.
- Abuse of drugs, alcohol or sleep medications.
- Provocative, intrusive or aggressive behavior.
"Typically beginning in adolescence or early adult years, bipolar disorder continues throughout life," Dr. Reyes said. "Often, this disorder is not recognized as an illness, and people suffer needlessly for years. That is why an early diagnosis and treatment are so important."
The third common mental illness is schizophrenia, which is a serious disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. Behaviors that are early warning signs include:
- Hearing or seeing something that isn't there.
- A constant feeling of being watched.
- Peculiar or nonsensical speech or writing.
- Feeling indifferent to very important situations.
- A change in personal hygiene or appearance.
- Irrational, angry or fearful response to loved ones.
"Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia
is not a split personality or multiple personality
disorder," Dr. Reyes said. "Furthermore,
schizophrenia is not caused by childhood experiences,
poor parenting or lack of will power. People
suffering from this mental illness often have
difficulty distinguishing between what is real,
and what is imaginary. They may be unresponsive,
or withdrawn. They may also have difficulty
expressing normal emotions in social situations."
