News Taffy

Mental illness is a subject we all avoid unless we are forced to by a loved one’s condition or our own. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, which is an effort by mental health organizations to educate the public on this important issue. Since 1 in 5 Americans will be affected by some type of mental illness in their lifetime, that means everyone will be impacted in some way, if only through friends or family.

Mental illness includes a wide range of conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders like binge eating, post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and addiction and even Alzheimers. Half of mental illnesses begin by age 14 and 75% begin by age 24. It is easy to see how mental illness will affect everyone in some way during their life.

Scientists have identified 4 stages of mental illness that everyone should know. In Stage One, mild symptoms and warning signs begin to appear but the individual is still able to function at home, work or school; others sense that something is “just not right”.

By Stage 2, symptoms increase in frequency and severity and begin to interfere with daily activities; the individual may have trouble at work, with social obligations, family interactions or personal responsibilities.

Symptoms have worsened to the point that there is serious disruption in daily activities by Stage 3, with the individual feeling like they are losing control. Different symptoms may occur at the same time.

In Stage 4, persistent, extreme symptoms often result in the development of other health conditions, leading to a crisis like the loss of a job, hospitalization, homelessness or incarceration. Untreated mental illnesses can lead to a loss of life an average of 25 years early.

It is critical to get help for mental illness as soon as possible as many such illnesses are completely curable. People can overcome mental illness and lead a normal life but often people don’t seek help early when they could be successfully treated because they fear the stigma of mental illness. There are many types of treatment available from individual or group therapy to medication but it might take time to find the combination that works best. Sadly, it typically takes 10 years from the first signs of mental illness until someone gets a correct diagnosis and proper treatment. That means 10 years lost when they could have been living a normal life.

It is helpful to be aware of some of the early warning signs of mental illness which may include confused thinking, prolonged depression, extreme mood changes, excessive fears, worries or anxieties, social withdrawal, dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits, strong feelings of anger, strange thoughts, increased sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells or touch, unusual behavior, a change in personal hygiene, loss of desire to participate in usual activities or poor performance at work, school, or in sports.

If you suspect a friend or family member is developing a mental illness, you can help by trying to talk with the person first. Talk calmly and in a non-accusatory manner. Suggest they visit their family doctor who can refer them for appropriate therapy. If a loved one is in some type of immediate crisis such as threatening suicide, call 911 for help. Treated early, mental illness doesn’t have to be a lifelong problem, so don’t ignore the warning signs.