Mental illness in the United States is surprisingly common. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an estimated 43.8 million people experience mental illness a year. That's 18.5 percent, or (to be more precise) one in five people. Even more alarming, most of these illnesses aren't immediately visible. While people may experience a lot of stereotypical symptoms, there are however, some other warning signs that are not as apparent.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in America, and it's also one of the most easily missed. While most people would describe it as a prolonged period of sadness, it's much more than that, and it's definitely not one you can "snap out of" as many people erroneously think. It also has some very strange symptoms.1. Depressed people use the first person more frequently
People with depression are more likely to use first person pronouns such as I, me and myself instead of the second and third person like he, she and them. Scientists theorize that this is because depressed people are more likely to focus inwards than outwards. Oh, and they use negative adjectives and adverbs like “hurt", “lonely" or “miserable" a lot.2. Depressed people are more likely to use black and white filters on social media
Depressed people are less likely to use filters on Instagram when they post pictures, but when they do, they tend to choose black and white filters. They were also less likely to post pictures of their faces.3. Depressed people are more likely to be tired
Depressed people spend a lot of time in bed, and when they do sleep, they wake up tired, and no wonder. Many depressed people suffer from rumination, or cycling thoughts, so imagine having to constantly fight a mental battle that doesn't allow you to sleep properly.4. You don't feel anything
Most people associate depression with deep sadness, but did you know that apathy, or a lack of emotion, is a symptom too? If you're just going through the motions with no interest in anything for days on end, this might be a sign of depression.Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive illness, is a mental disorder characterized by unusual shifts in "mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks." There are four types of bipolar disorder, but they're all characterized by those visible changes in mood, etc.1. Bipolar people can experience psychotic breaks
Bipolar disorder is not just aggressive mood swings, part of it can be psychosis as well, which is described as a "break with reality." According to New Life Outlook,A psychotic break can often involve delusions or false beliefs that a person believes to be true despite lack of evidence, or evidence to the contrary. These might include the belief that one is a god, is impoverished, is being controlled by other people or forces, that one’s thoughts are being read by an outside force, or even that one’s spouse or partner is having an affair — that one is particularly painful; I’ve suffered from it on several occasions.
2. You don't have to have super high highs
A key part of bipolar disorder is cycling between depression and mania. But not all mania is full-blown. Hypomania, which can be described as an elevated mood, is not as obvious as full-on mania. You might be more sociable and more confident, but not so much that you turn people off.3. You might become hypersexual
Find yourself feeling aroused more often or having the urge to sleep with way more people? It might be your bipolar disorder talking. If you suddenly can't keep it in your pants you might be in the mania portion of your illness.4. You're suddenly buying out stores
Are you suddenly Mr/Mrs. Big Spender? Do you find yourself buying all sorts of things you actually don't need and didn't plan for? Then you might be in the throes of illness. Ditto that sudden urge to gamble away your savings.Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is one of the most stigmatized mental illnesses around, because, in its most aggressive form, it's also one of the most visible. According to the National Institute of Mental Health,Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.