Mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, depression, or schizophrenia rarely appear out of nowhere. A common characteristic of mental health issues is that they affect your personality, thought processes and social behavior. It can be tough to diagnose mental illness when it is not detected early. However, learning about warning signs and developing symptoms can help reduce the severity of the illness. The following are hidden signs of mental health issues you should be aware of. If any symptoms describe what you have been feeling the past days or weeks, seek help.

1. Anger

It is completely normal to feel angry – it can happen at any time during your life, but it does not mean that you are suffering from mental illness. Nevertheless, anger can still be a problem, especially if it persists.

If your anger causes serious difficulties in your life and is putting your personal relationships on the rocks, then you may have a mental health issue. There are different types of anger or aggression including outward aggression, inward aggression, and passive aggression.

2. You don’t know if you are paranoid or worried

Anxiety may come in various forms. Some people are even good at looking cool and calm when they are not. However, getting worried and anxious can be normal to a certain extent. If your worries are leading to other problems, or your anxieties are persisting close to paranoia, then an underlying issue could be at play. A form of anxiety disorder, called paranoia disorder, can result in delusional hallucinations. Constant stress and worry are signs of mild anxiety disorders. Eventually, that will lead to further problems related to mental issues.

3. You have uncontrollable impulses

Almost everyone has their own guilty pleasure, and that is one excuse they tell themselves when they go on a shopping spree, drink uncontrollably, act out sexually, do excessive exercise, and other impulsive actions. You get overwhelming desires and act on it. An uncontrollable impulse is a sign of mental health conditions which could be OCD obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and others.

4. Withdrawal

People who deal with depression try their best to avoid social activities. Silent isolation is a sign that you have a mental illness or depression. It is not uncommon for depressed people to lose interest in everyone and everything. For instance, you may become a party pooper, call in sick or find excuses to avoid any social gathering. If you have been bailing on your friends, your family, and have been consistently letting them down, then you may be suffering from a mental illness.

5. Chronic fatigue

Another hidden sign of a mental health issue is chronic fatigue. This is caused by various physical conditions such as adrenal fatigue, thyroid imbalance, and hormonal imbalance. Physical and mental health are deeply intertwined. Chronic fatigue can be signs of anxiety, depression, and other mental issues.

Conclusion

One or two of those symptoms cannot foretell a mental illness. However, if you are experiencing several hidden signs of mental health illness simultaneously, then you must seek help from Endeavour Wellness. If left untreated, your illness may cause significant problems in your relationships, ability to study, and at work. Worst case, it can lead to suicidal thoughts or harming others.

Joel Curtis. guest author

Joel Curtis is a registered Psychologist with Endeavour Wellness and has over 17 years of experience. Joel holds a Masters Degree in Psychology from Western Sydney University. Joel owns a number of private practices in Sydney and provides expert content for several national TV and Radio programs.