Mental illness is considered an invisible illness and that’s because there are many mental illness symptoms you can’t see. In fact, most of the worst symptoms of many mental illnesses can’t be seen. This causes many problems for people with mental illness. Because mental illness symptoms can’t be seen they’re often not thought of as real – but mental illness symptoms are as real as the pain of a two-by-four to the head, trust me.
Mental Illness Symptoms You Can See
This is not to suggest that there aren’t mental illness symptoms you can see. There are. Just looking at bipolar disorder, for example, the following symptoms are visible:
- Weight gain or loss
- Sleeping too many or too few hours
- Excessive talking
- Talking about random and unconnected ideas
- Espousing grandiosity
- Being easily distractible
- Being easily irritated
- “Goal-focused” activity that’s out of character
- Excessive seeking of pleasurable activities even with painful consequences (often hypersexuality)
- Change in speed in speech and/or movement (could be slower or faster)
- Excessive talk of suicide/a suicide attempt
While it may require knowing a person well to pick up on, for example, unusual distractibility, it certainly is visible if you know what to look for. In fact, in the case of mania or hypomania, part of the definition of the episode is that it is noticeable by others.
Mental Illness Symptoms You Can’t See
Of course, the worst symptoms of mental illness you can’t see. The above symptoms, mostly, don’t seem that bad, and yet the pain of mental illness symptoms is bad enough to cause up to 50% of people with bipolar disorder to attempt suicide.
You can’t see the symptoms of mental illness such as the following of bipolar disorder:
- Irritability, elevated or expansive mood that is felt but not overtly shown
- Racing thoughts
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest in most or all activities
- The inability to feel pleasure
- Slowness of thought
- Loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Inability to concentrate
- Inability to make decisions
- Preoccupation with death or suicide/a plan for suicide
This is one of the things that makes mental illness so insidious – the worst parts of it are hidden from view most of the time.
Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness You Can’t See Real?
The trouble with the symptoms of mental illness that you can’t see is that people often think they aren’t real – in fact, sometimes even people experiencing the symptoms don’t know if they’re real. But pain, no matter what the reason, is real.
For example, take a headache. For the average headache, there are no outward symptoms and no test can prove or disprove that you have a headache. And yet, the pain of a headache is as real as the pain of a physical injury. Moreover, the pain can be mild, such as in the case of an everyday headache, or the pain can be crippling, such as in the case of a migraine.
And mental pain is exactly like that. There is the normal pain humans experience on a day-to-day basis such as when a relationship breaks up or when you’re passed over for a promotion, and then there is the pain that severe mental illness brings – it is severe, real, debilitating and medical. And the mental illness symptoms you can’t see play a major role in that. They are the drivers of the suffering. It is the cluster of symptoms – both visible and invisible – that make mental illness an illness and something that needs to be professionally treated to alleviate.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Mental Illness You Can’t See in Ourselves and Others
The important thing to remember about the symptoms of mental illness that you can’t see is that invisible doesn’t mean nonexistent. When a person talks about pain, we all need to support the person by believing him or her. When we, ourselves, experience suffering, we need to support ourselves by getting help. We all need to recognize that much of the human experience can’t be seen or even fully understood. And while seeing may be believing, it’s also true that experiencing and educating should be believing too.
Image by Flickr user Marian.
What frightened me beyond belief was when my 20 year old daughter tried to commit suicide and I did not see any of the signs. Later she was diagnosed as Bipolar 1 which ironically I have too even though we aren’t genetically related. She is doing better now I think but I am never 100% sure. Finding a therapist for her feels impossible and she wants one. I reach out on Psychology Today and the therapists don’t even respond. Are they afraid of her diagnosis?
Hi Hilary,
You can find a physiotherapist through the American Psychological Association. You can find a link to their therapist locator here: https://natashatracy.com/get-mental-illness-help/
Good luck. Therapy can work wonders.
– Natasha Tracy
Great post. It is only human to react to physical and emotional changes in life. The problem is that many of us find it difficult to accept change. Therefore, seeking a solution becomes even more challenging. It is really important to accept the symptoms in the earliest stage possible and seek the necessary help to overcome any ailment or problem.
My 75-yo brother has been hospitalized in the last week with mania. This has been his worst episode so far that I have seen. He feels like he is well due to a miracle and stopped taking his meds. He intends to stay off his meds whenever he is released, so I do not know what will happen. I took him in several months ago when he was completely disabled by depression. For four months he lay with his eyes closed 24-7 except for mealtimes. I have been told by family members that during his manic periods he has done some awful things — trying drugs, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking pot, and even stealing. It is unfathomable to me that he might steal, but when he left my home recently he took my earphones, my modem cord, a fifty-foot cable, my clipboard and medications I had left on his bedside table (an expensive oil and ibuprophen.) When he lived with me before he gave most of my silk plants to our church without my permission, loaned out my ladder to someone who would have kept it without my knowledge, destroyed a bed and mattress, lost two of my expensive kitchen knives and all my tools, destroyed my computer (losing very expensive programs). Is it possible that that he actually steals from me, or is it just an absentmindedness brought on by his mania? I am so conflicted and am at a loss as to how to protect my things. I’m retired and don’t have the resources to recover from any more big losses.
Hi Nancy,
I’m sorry to hear about you and your brother. That’s a really tough situation.
I suspect your brother isn’t thinking he’s “stealing” from you. It’s likely a more complicated thought process and confusion. It does sound like you’re going to have to make some serious provisions to protect your things, however, no matter what the motivation.
I highly recommend you read this book (I’m not associated with it): https://www.amazon.com/Someone-Mental-Illness-Accept-Treatment-ebook/dp/B004Z7SI7Q/ref=pd_sim_351_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0AKAXWHXH0P4MRM62W9E
It’s for people who refuse treatment because they think they’re well.
I hope that helps.
– Natasha Tracy
thank you for sharing this great information about mental illness.
Hi Natasha,
Thank you for this article. I have been on the fence as to whether or not my mom suffers from this. She often feels “invisible” as you so eloquently describe. I am going to pass this article to her. Thanks!
I’ve read your book, Lost Marbles. I now truly understand my Bipolar. It was like it was my story. Thank you so much for writing this book that touches all of us.
Hi Lana,
Thank you so much. I’m honored to have helped.
– Natasha Tracy
Thanks again, Natasha, for a great article. In addition to having bipolar, I also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which is considered an “invisible” illness. So, I have to try to convince people at times that I am truly disabled, and it can be very frustrating.
Hi Denney. I hear you. I am sick of having to convince people “anything” about myself. I am getting to the point where this is who I am, take me or leave me. I have found it harder and harder to
trust people. My dog has never let me down. LOL