Mental Health Help
This page is designed to offer mental health help to couples in relationships.
Symptoms Of Mental IllnessIf you are married to someone whom you are concerned about because you fear that they may need mental health help, it is likely you have noticed some of the symptoms in the list below. If your spouse has even one of these symptoms that seems to interfere with his or her daily functioning (how they live each day) please help your partner obtain proper medical care. Please click the “resources” link at the bottom of this page for mental health hotlines, or make an appointment with your family doctor or psychiatrist to get formal mental health help.Mood does NOT match circumstances (for example laughing when someone is hurt or not showing any emotion during conflict.)
Sadness
Irritability
Mood swings
Angry outburst
Substance abuse
Violent or criminal behavior
Illogical thought processes
Delusions
Hearing voices
Seeing People that are not there
Difficulty sleeping
Hyperactivity/Mania
Sleeping too much
Lost interest in things that used to bring pleasure
Decreased or increased sexual behavior
Lying
Obsessive compulsive behavior
Criminal mindedness
Paranoia
Avoidance
Fear of the outdoors
Overly egocentric (believing the world revolves around himself or herself) More than one personality
Lack of personal boundaries
Eating problems-too much, too little, binging, purging
Exercise addiction-exercising to the extreme
Disorientation (At times seems lost, doesn’t know date or time)
Worries a lot—too much
Extreme anxiety
Nightmares
Flashbacks
Startles easily
Appears very tense and stressed
Drinking heavily
Taking illegal drugs
Smoking marijuana heavily Has withdrawn from social activities
Has withdrawn from family/friends
Has experienced a terrible trauma Is overly happy without external cause/excessive giggling
If your spouse has been diagnosed with a mental illness, please help your spouse make certain that he or she follows the recommendations of his or her psychiatrist, therapist, or family doctor. Mental illness should be taken very seriously because it can be as life threatening as any other serious illness. Mental illness can be life threatening because often times when someone has a mental illness, there moods, behaviors, thought processes, and judgments are not logical and are erratic. When people are mentally ill are not being treated, their illness may take over their thought processes and cause them to make decisions or to exhibit behaviors that they would not make if they were being properly treated for the illness. Mental illness can cause individuals to hurt themselves, or to hurt others. They may even have suicidal or homicidal ideas and plans. This is why it is so important to make sure that mental illness is treated properly. People with mental illness may try to reduce their symptoms with self-medication, such as by drinking alcohol to cope with depression or anxiety. Unfortunately, most people do not understand that alcohol is actually a depressant and makes things worse. It is important for people who have mental illness to go to a medical doctor and find proper medications and mental health therapies that will improve their conditions. Mental illness should be looked upon with same compassion and dignity as any other physical illness. Mental illness is no one’s fault. | Mental illness can be genetic or can be the result of certain types of exposure to chemicals, such a lead or other poisons. Mental illness can be the result of substance abuse, however more than likely substance abuse is the result of mental illness. This is because many people with mental illness do not seek formal treatment out of shame, embarrassment, or ignorance, and try to self medicate with alcohol or illegal substances.
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