MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER SYMPTOMS
AM I POLLSTER CHEAT SHEET
1. Anxiety
2. ADHD
3. Bipolar
4. Conduct Disorder
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Pain in chest
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping
- Worried
- Shaking
- Frequent urination
- Tiredness
- Anger easily
5.Depression
- Difficulty
- Lack of energy
- Feeling guilty
- Hopelessness
- Insomnia
- Increased sleeping
- Anxiety, irritability
- Loss of appetite
Overeating
- Thoughts of suicide
- Persistent sadness
- Headaches
- Weight gain or loss
6. Eating Disorders
Anorexia
- Frequent exercise
Weight loss
- Appear extremely thin, pale and malnourish
- Dehydration
- Social withdrawal
- Fear of gaining weight
- Refusal to eat
- Eating low -calorie low - fat food
- Exhaustion from exercise
- Frequent use of laxatives
- Detest parts of the body
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- Frequent use of bathroom
- Vomiting
Bulimia
- Weight gain
- Weight fluctuations
- Isolation
- Depression
- Eating food quickly
- Secretly eating
- Abuse alcohol, street drugs
- Low self esteem
- Fatigue
- Self -induced vomiting
- Tooth damage due to vomiting
- Menstrual irregularities
Adult
- Problems concentrating
- Restlessness
- Problems completing tasks
- Disorganization
- Frequent mood swings
- Unable to control anger
- Difficulty with stress
- Unstable friendships
Children
- Inattentive to details
- Problems paying attention during tasks or play
- Sloppy mistakes in schoolwork
- Does not listen when spoken to
- Problems organizing tasks or activities
- Does not listen to instructions
- Fail to finish schoolwork or chores
- Dislike tasks that need mental effort
- Loses items e.g pens, pencil
- Easily distracted
- Forgetful
Hyperactive & Impulsive
- Frequently get up out of seated area
- Run and climb often
- Difficulty playing quietly
- Always on the go
- Talk excessively
- Difficulty waiting for their turn
7. (OCD) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Concern / fears of germs
- Idea of things in line/order
- Superstitious
- Compulsive rituals such as washing, checking.
- Double checking things, dryers, appliances, switches
- Hoarding, accumulating junk, magazines, newspapers, towels, bottles
- Fear of harming self or others
Mania stage
Check: Helpguide.com
-Bipolar 1-manic state
-Bipolar 2- depressive
-Cyclothymic -mild form of bipolar
- Poor judgment - Feeling great or important
- Aggressive behavior
- Poor judgment
- Highly optimistic
- High self esteem
- Risky behavior e.g: spending a lot and making unwise financial decisions
- Delusional
- Very agitated
- Lack patience
- Sleeplessness
- Fast talking
- Racing thoughts
- Low achievement or accomplishment at work or school
Depressive stage
- Sadness
- Anxiety
- Guilt
- Problems sleeping
- Increase and decrease in appetite
- Lack of concentration
- Bad temper
8. Personality Disorder
- Absenteeism from school or work
- Social isolation
- Anger
- Difficulty making friends
- Suspicious of others
- Need for gratification
- Drug or alcohol abuse
9. Stress
- Inability to concentrate
- Worry
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Loneliness, isolation
- Nausea
- Sleeping too much/little
- Biting nails & pacing
- Memory problems
- Speaking negatively
behavior
- Fighting
- Bullying
- Cruelty to others
Destructive behavior
- Destruction of property
- Arson
- Vandalism
Deceitful behavior
Violation of rules
- Going against rules
- Skipping school
- Playing pranks
- Running away
10. (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Lack concentration
- Intense and lasting reaction to traumatic events e.g wars,
-other captivity, terrorist attack , natural disasters etc.
- Flashbacks, nightmares,
Disturbing/upsetting
memories of the events
- Difficulty falling/staying
asleep
- Loss of interest in life
and other activities
- Feeling jumpy and easily frightened
- Difficulty concentrating
- Guilt, shame, depression,
anger, suicidal thoughts, loneliness, self blame. etc
11. Substance Abuse
- Aggressiveness & irritability
- Disappearance
- Forgetfulness
- Money or valuables missing
- Lying
- Abusive to others
- Getting drunk
- Avoid friends and families
- Hangovers
- Trouble with law
- Feeling hopeless
- Tardy attire
- Absence from school or work
- Hiding drugs or alcohol
- Selfish thoughts
- Frequent use of deodorizer or air fresheners
- Possess pipes, rolling paper and other things associated with drug habits
Mental Health Platform (MEHEP) was created by Karen Byfield after she studied psychology at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. She created this website out of passion: to inform, educate, and bring to the forefront issues that persons with mental health disorders encounter.
Karen’s passion and empathy for the mentally ill started as a young child, when she would often witness people residing on the streets, in tattered clothing—if any at all—and conversing with themselves, and eating remains from garbage containers. When she inquired of her family about these persons’ state of mind, she was often told they were “mad”. So she assumed that ideology. Years passed by, and it was while working at a bank that was close to a mental health institution that her curiosity was piqued even further. She became friends with a psychologist from that institution and learned about the different terminologies associated with people who have a mental health disorder such as schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar. This knowledge gave her a heightened interest in mental health causes, which led her to pursue a degree in psychology.
Karen is a former Accountant and Bank Clerk turned mental health advocate. She has generously contributed to society in a positive way through ten years of volunteering in different institutions and organizations, such as the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, Immigrant Services, and the Women’s Centre, among others.
An altruistic and well-rounded woman with varied interests, Karen subscribes to Psychology Today, Women’s Health, and Christianity Today magazines; she also contributes monetarily to Save the Children and In Touch Ministries.
An avid news reader, Karen spends a lot of time learning about new mental health discoveries. In her spare time, she takes pleasure in traveling and learning about new cultures, as well as cooking and taking note of secret recipes. She enjoys exercising and playing a variety of games including Scrabble, Pictionary, Monopoly, and card games. She also enjoys watching and sometimes playing sports such as pool, table tennis, lawn tennis, and swimming. Karen is fond of reading books on brain and behavior, neuroscience, psychology, history, and religion. Karen resides in Ontario, Canada with her beautiful family.
Some of Karen’s philosophies of life by which she lives are as follows:
- What defines a person is not his or her haves or have nots, but his or her character.
- In every good person there might be a bad quality, and in every bad person there might be a good quality.
- Do not judge. Instead, examine or think about the underlying disposition of someone’s behavior that led to a negative response to society.
- Volunteering and giving back to society is rewarding.
- Having the positive support of one’s family and friends is important in life.
- Believing in yourself and having positive thoughts ultimately lead to success.
- There is only one life to live. Dream and think big.
- Having a faith-based belief system is essential. Understanding, apologizing, forgiving, and loving make up a healthy way to live.
- Being wealthy is not about how much money you have, but about how much love you have after you have spent your money.
- Time is limited. I cannot go back to yesterday and correct my mistakes, but I can start afresh today.
Karen Byfield
BSc. -Psychology
Mental Health Advocate
Fight Stigma Now!
mentalhealthplatform@yahoo.ca
mentalhealthplatform@gmail.com
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