Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness or deviations from accepted norms. Experts identify Silvana Galderisi, Andreas Heinz, Marianne Kastrup, Julian Beezhold, and Norman Sartorius. Toward a new definition of mental health / World Psychiatry a healthy psyche as “a dynamic state of internal balance that allows people to use their abilities in harmony with the universal values of society.”
Let's figure out what signs show that a person successfully maintains internal balance, and how to restore lost harmony.
What qualities distinguish mentally healthy people?
Here are the main criteria.
They understand that mood swings are natural.
Both joy and sadness are equally valuable and inevitable. They complement each other and add flavor to life. A mentally healthy person knows that negative emotions are inevitable, but is prepared to deal with them. And if the sadness drags on or becomes unbearable, then he does not withdraw into himself, but accepts the help of loved ones or turns to a psychotherapist.
They are happy with life
A mentally healthy person experiences positive emotions more often than negative ones and tries to rejoice and love rather than act destructively. That is why he gives himself the right to make mistakes and usually looks at the situation from different points of view. This means he doesn’t blame himself in vain.
They feel part of society
A mentally healthy person does not suffer from loneliness and does not avoid people. He also realizes that he is an equal participant in society, which he helps to develop through his actions.
They manage their lives skillfully
Ups and downs are inevitable, like joy and sadness. Sometimes defeats are so global that they can unsettle you for a long time. But in general, people with a healthy psyche know how to pull themselves together, overcome failure, learn from it the necessary life experience and move on.
They know how to say no
This is not only about denial as such, but also about psychological boundaries. Mentally healthy people know exactly where these lines lie. And they know how to protect them without experiencing embarrassment, fear or other discomfort.
They create healthy relationships with other people
A person with a stable psyche tries to treat others with care and fairness. This means that he loves and respects those who are worthy and does not waste resources on toxic people. He also reconsiders his relationships with others if they begin to threaten his peace of mind. But he does this not emotionally, but calmly and consistently.
They don't try to please everyone
No matter what a person does, no matter how he looks or behaves, there will always be people who don’t like him. And he himself is not obliged to love and accept everyone around him. If a person is mentally healthy, he understands that social rejection is sometimes inevitable. Therefore, he tries to be polite even with those whom he does not like, but does not try to hurt himself in order to please someone.
They have healthy self-esteem
People with a strong psyche understand perfectly well that each person is valuable in their own way, and therefore do not place excessive demands on themselves. But they are well aware of their own capabilities and do not suffer when they cannot get something - be it model height, a Greek profile or, for example, a bachelor's degree at Cambridge.
A few years before
The first signs of schizophrenia can appear long before the disease develops. They are called outpost syndrome. Few people are able to suspect an insidious disease in them.
Such initial symptoms of schizophrenia appear several years (3–15) before the development of the disease. Characterized by asthenic manifestations, when there is rapid fatigue and the inability to maintain physical and mental activity for a long time. Sleep is disturbed, mood is unstable, self-control is lost, the person does not control his emotions and becomes irritable.
Asthenia is accompanied by apathy - powerlessness, low mood, lack of desire to perform usual actions, indifference to people and current events, decreased emotional background.
Dysphoria is also considered the first delayed symptom of the disease. This is a pathologically low mood, accompanied by irritability, dissatisfaction with one’s life and everything that happens around. There is a pronounced hostility towards other people.
Initially, it seems that such manifestations are a reaction to a certain unfavorable event. But later it becomes clear that they arise on their own.
Aggression, outbursts of anger, and a tendency to commit illegal actions are also inherent in this condition. It happens that dysphoria is accompanied by enthusiasm and elation. The person becomes overly talkative and may develop delusions of grandeur.
Typically, dysphoria lasts from several days to several weeks. Then it passes.
Naturally, the listed signs are nonspecific, and almost no one would think that they are able to predict the development of schizophrenia.
How to improve your mental health
Here are some important tips:
- Learn to voice your feelings . Putting a problem into words is the first step towards solving it. Moreover, others will hear you, which means you will receive support and feel less lonely.
- Try to lead an active lifestyle . Sport and movement increase SHZ Sani, Z. Fathirezaie, S. Brand, U. Pühse, E. Holsboer‑Trachsler, M. Gerber, and S. Talepasand. Physical activity and self‑esteem: testing direct and indirect relationships associated with psychological and physical mechanisms / Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Concentrate on one task at a time . Although multitasking has long been a popular and encouraged skill, psychologists suggest that it is detrimental to mental health. Doing several things at once increases stress and anxiety levels. Try to give up this practice and learn to prioritize so that you can concentrate on tasks one at a time.
- Start keeping a journal . Research shows Journaling for Mental Health/University of Rochester. Medical Center Rochester, NY, that the habit of recording and analyzing new experiences and related experiences helps reduce stress and anxiety, improve internal dialogue and learn to resist negative events.
- Find something that interests you . It doesn't matter what your hobby is. Gardening, crossword puzzles, knitting, and jogging are ways to shift your attention and focus on pleasant things instead of daily problems.
- Take breaks . Arrange 10-minute coffee breaks between work tasks. Take a couple of times for five minutes in your busy schedule to just stand by the window and admire the clouds. Go away for the weekend to a place where you can completely disconnect from your usual routine. This will help you understand yourself better and improve your mental health.
Onset of the disease in children
Childhood schizophrenia is not common, but there are known cases of its occurrence in children as young as 2 years of age.
Here are signs that should make parents think about their child’s mental state:
- The child avoids communication with friends, becomes withdrawn, and prefers loneliness. He prefers quiet, sedentary pastimes to active, active games. Plays alone, sometimes in games invented by himself;
- refuses to perform hygiene procedures;
- the mood spoils for no reason. The child whines, is capricious for no reason;
- cannot defend himself, tries to hide from a conflict situation;
- the cognitive level is impaired. The child seems to take a step back in his development. Poorly assimilates new material and behaves according to his younger age;
- shows unmotivated aggression towards loved ones and peers, inadequate emotional reactions: if another child hits him, it hurts him, he cries, then this baby starts laughing;
- the child develops speech problems. Incomprehensible words appear, speech is scanty and abrupt.
The behavior of such children is noteworthy. For example, they pretend to be a bird. At the same time, their actions are appropriate: they imitate flight, claim that they are not a boy or a girl, but a bird, and “peck” at food.
At an older age, children call themselves by other names and communicate with imaginary friends.
In adolescence, schizophrenia manifests itself as emotional detachment. The teenager withdraws into himself and stops communicating with friends. At the initial stage of development of the disease, perverted desires appear. Children run away from home and become members of gangster groups, where they strictly obey the leader. They show aggression and sadistic tendencies. They demonstrate sexual perversions and are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Particularly indicative is the duality of behavior. At home, the teenager behaves aggressively, laxly, argues and is rude, and rants a lot. And at school he becomes a different person: quiet, withdrawn, secretive.
As for such a severe form of the disorder as hebephrenic, at the dawn of its development such children become apathetic. Even if during the day they were not subjected to heavy mental or physical stress, they still feel overwhelmed, tired, and literally fall off their feet. They learn new material poorly. Sleep is disturbed and there is a rush of thoughts before falling asleep. Interest is lost and indifference appears. They remain inactive, abandon their studies, considering all efforts useless.
Aggression towards loved ones, especially mothers, while maintaining a normal attitude towards strangers is a very indicative symptom. Children call their parents guardians, believing that their real dad and mom are very influential and rich people. They just couldn't raise the child for some good reason, so they placed him in foster care.
An interesting fact has been established. Among children suffering from schizophrenia, the largest number are those who, before the illness, were known as obedient, flexible, problem-free children.
In childhood and adolescence, such manifestations are difficult to interpret correctly. They are usually mistaken for children's whims, the costs of upbringing, or a teenage crisis.
Are you comfortable with other people?
A person who is comfortable in his own skin is also comfortable with other people. A person who tries to be himself will not try to impress other people.
He is always present in the present, greeting a neighbor or communicating with acquaintances and friends. These qualities help him build social connections and promote personal growth.
A person who hates himself or his life has difficulty making friends and colleagues. He has a hard time adjusting or is emotionally immature. He is never optimistic and does not ask for help in emergencies, which prevents him from achieving his goals.
You are responsible and make your own decisions
© Getty Images
Responsibility is another main sign of a mentally healthy person. He takes responsibility for his mistakes and takes full responsibility for his life.
He realizes that his thoughts, feelings, behavior and actions shape his life and future
. Whether his decision concerns the choice of clothes or the purchase of an apartment, a person makes a conscious choice, thinks intelligently and accepts the result. No charges.
People with an unhealthy psyche never accept their shortcomings. Their idea of life is divorced from reality. They make impulsive decisions based on the immediate situation and benefit.
They do not think before they speak and act only to complete the vicious cycle of suffering and loss.
Schizophrenia in the elderly
Schizophrenia in old age is also a very rare phenomenon.
The problem is that its symptoms are mistaken for senile dementia until persistent delusions and hallucinations appear. Schizophrenia in an elderly person begins to manifest itself with suspicion and fears that they want to harm him, they want to offend him. Such a patient is wary of people, usually with aggression. Assuming danger from every stranger, a person isolates himself from society, withdraws into himself and hides from the whole world. He becomes what is called a “nasty old man.”
The emotions of old people with schizophrenia are inadequate. They laugh or cry inappropriately, and their mood changes quickly. In another case, their behavior is characterized by shyness and excessive modesty. Or there is emotional dullness, lack of emotion. Speech is distorted, it is characterized by paucity of statements and confusion. Often people simply remain silent.
Episodic derealization is observed when the patient does not understand where he is, what era he lives in, and does not recognize his loved ones. Depersonalization is expressed in a lack of understanding of who one is.
A characteristic symptom is the appearance of deceased relatives, friends, and acquaintances to the patient.
In old age, the paranoid form of the disease develops more often than others.
You don't take things personally
A person who accepts and loves himself for who he is has much less anxiety. They do not take negativity and criticism to heart.
A person with a healthy psyche is optimistic and can easily laugh at shortcomings and at himself. He controls how to react to an event or his emotions.
A pessimist is not mentally healthy because he is never dissatisfied with himself. He projects his doubts and complexes onto other people. Even a stupid joke can hurt him deeply.
You have a harmonious, satisfying relationship
Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger
(Robert Waldinger) conducted one of the longest studies and found out what makes a person healthy and happy.
Data collected over 80 years showed interesting results: good relationships are the source of happiness and health
.
Maintaining satisfying personal relationships is one of the clearest indicators of a mentally healthy person. At the same time, the quality of relationships is much more important than the number of friends and relatives
that you have. Strong social connections and deep attachments to loved ones make you physically healthier, happier and increase your life expectancy.
Mentally ill people are often in high-conflict marriages, unhappy relationships, and cannot count on anyone during difficult times.
Physical pain is compounded by emotional pain and early cognitive decline occurs. At the same time, healthy, warm and close relationships protect against many blows of fate and early aging
.
