Significant Warning Signs You May Have A Mental Disorder

Delusions Or Hallucinations

Delusions and hallucinations are part of a wider category of symptoms called psychosis. Though the term 'psychosis' is somewhat stigmatized in popular media, psychotic symptoms are simply symptoms that cause a disconnect in an individual's perception of reality. Affected individuals may have bizarre or unusual thought patterns, perceive sights and sounds that aren't there, or experience and express emotions oddly. Psychosis can be caused by certain physical brain conditions, but it's also commonly a sign of a mental health disorder. Studies indicate 3.5 percent of patients experience some form of psychosis. It's extremely important to note these individuals do not tend to be predisposed to violence, and they are more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators. The most well-known psychotic disorder is schizophrenia, which causes individuals to have trouble distinguishing between reality and delusions or hallucinations. Other related conditions include schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, schizotypal disorder, and brief psychotic disorder. Brief psychotic disorder, which is often triggered by stressful life events, involves psychotic symptoms that last at least twenty-four hours but not longer than a month.

Physical Ailments Without Obvious Cause

Sometimes physical ailments without obvious cause can be a sign of a mental health disorder. With that said, it's important for doctors to treat physical ailments seriously, as many physical conditions are difficult to test for and have unknown causes. For example, fibromyalgia causes full-body pain and fatigue. For an unknown physical problem to be caused by a mental health disorder, patients usually have to experience other mental health symptoms alongside it. Common problems are stomach aches, headaches, joint pain, and muscle aches. Headaches can be brought on by stress, while stomach aches may be caused by anxiety. Anxiety can also have other physical symptoms like sweating, rapid heart rate, and dizziness.