• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • COVID-19
  • Find A Doctor
  • Subscribe
Home / Health Conditions / Mental Health / 4 Ways To Detect Mental Illness

4 Ways To Detect Mental Illness

young woman covering head with her handsChallenging emotions can arise in any situation, from work to relationships. Everyone has good days and bad days — even good years and bad years — but you should be concerned when the signs of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or bipolar disorder seriously interfere with your ability to function.

4 Signs of Clinical Depression

“You determine clinical depression by two measures. One is by time and one is by severity — impact on function. When you have severe symptoms that last at least two weeks and are interfering with fundamental basic functions, it falls into the realm of clinical depression,” explains psychiatrist Jill RachBeisel, MD, associate professor of psychiatry of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

There are many symptoms of depression, but most common among people with clinical depression are changes in:

Appetite. “In clinical depression you lose your appetite completely, and you stop eating, or you eat very little,” says Dr. RachBeisel.

You May Also Like
9 Foods You Should Never Eat after Age 30

Sleep. When clinical depression sets in, you may have consistent, severe insomnia and be unable to sleep well almost every night.

The Ability To Concentrate. “Someone might find themselves unable to maintain focus on simple activities like watching a TV program or reading a newspaper article,” says RachBeisel. You may not be able to focus on a recipe for dinner or tasks at work.

Reduced Energy Level. “With severe clinical depression your energy is so low you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning or carrying through your basic activities of daily living. People find themselves lying in bed and staying in pajamas all day long,” RachBeisel explains. This may mean that you no longer care about shaving or styling your hair, for example, or about bigger issues, like caring for your children.

At its most severe, clinical depression can lead to suicide. Having thoughts like “My family would be better off without me” is a warning sign.

You May Also Like
The Most Common STD You've Never Heard Of

Signs of Anxiety

“We all should have a little anxiety at times because, when you think about it, one of the things that helps us perform really well is the tendency to get a little anxious,” says RachBeisel. There are, however, signs that you may need help controlling an anxiety level that’s just not healthy:

No Focus. You can’t follow a conversation or complete a basic task.

Social Fear. You can’t or won’t interact with other people; for example, you avoid using public transportation, attending social events, even leaving your home. You find yourself avoiding family gatherings or office parties due to social anxiety.

Continue Reading

The Latest In Mental Health

It’s Not Just Puberty – Important Signs of Mental Health Disorders in Teens

The teenage years can be difficult for both children and parents. While your child’s body changes in multiple ways, it’s not always easy to tell what’s normal and what’s not. According to medical statistics, one area of health that often read more about It’s Not Just Puberty – Important Signs of Mental Health Disorders in Teens

3 Reasons Why Your Excuses to Not Meditate Aren’t Good Enough!

Despite the wealth of data supporting the mental and physical benefits of meditation, I encounter a great number of patients who find it difficult to incorporate it into their wellness plan. Some of the top reported reasons are below: “I’m read more about 3 Reasons Why Your Excuses to Not Meditate Aren’t Good Enough!

You A’ight, Bro? 4 Reasons Why Black Men Need Therapy RIGHT NOW

Only one in three African-Americans who need mental healthcare receive it. The numbers are even grimmer when we consider Black men's mental wellness.  For the past few decades, there has been growing interest in improving Black men's health and the read more about You A’ight, Bro? 4 Reasons Why Black Men Need Therapy RIGHT NOW
sugar Affects

Here’s How Eating Too Much Sugar Affects Your Mental Health

It’s not a new revelation that sugar is bad for our mental health. High sugar intake leads to high BMI, obesity, a decline in oral hygiene, and diabetes. However, what’s not often discussed is the significant impact of a high read more about Here’s How Eating Too Much Sugar Affects Your Mental Health

Working from home getting you down? Here are 5 tips to help cure your Zoom Blues

If you’re finding yourself more drained at the end of the workday than before, it’s not just you.  “Zoom fatigue” is a sweeping phenomena that has dominated social media and Google searches since last March. It’s an interesting conversation since read more about Working from home getting you down? Here are 5 tips to help cure your Zoom Blues
love together

4 Ways Sex Affects Your Mental Health

Sex is more than just a way to find pleasure. Having an active, healthy sex life is an important part of your overall health as an adult. You may be aware of the physical health benefits including things like heart read more about 4 Ways Sex Affects Your Mental Health

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • 7 Bad Sleep Habits That Cause Weight Gain7 Bad Sleep Habits That Cause Weight Gain
  • Pooch Hall: Family Over EverythingPooch Hall: Family Over Everything
  • Home Remedies For Your Dry SkinHome Remedies For Your Dry Skin
  • 7 Turnoffs Men Wish Women Knew7 Turnoffs Men Wish Women Knew
  • ‘Madea’ Actress Natalie Desselle-Reed Dies at 53'Madea' Actress Natalie Desselle-Reed Dies at 53

Podcast

Diabetes prevention and management podcast

Dr. LeNoir is joined by Dr. Lenore Coleman, a Pharmacist and Founder of Healing Our Village, as they offer you the tools you need to prevent and manage diabetes.

Listen Now

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2021, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.