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Mental Health: Knowing the Signs

Legacy KVI archive article originally published September 26, 2022, examining signs associated with depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, and personal reflection.

KVI Legacy Archive • Visualizing Virtue

Mental Health: Knowing the Signs

An archived KVI article preserved from September 26, 2022.

Woman seated in meditation overlooking a mountain landscape, representing mindfulness, reflection, and mental wellbeing — Photo: Dmitrii Eremin / Pexels. Imported into the KVI Media Library for this archived redesign.

Original publication: September 26, 2022 • Original archive credit: KVI Network Creations / Vee Nelly

Archive note: This redesign preserves the original article’s wording and perspective. Medical knowledge and diagnostic guidance can change over time; this archived piece is not a substitute for evaluation or treatment from a qualified health professional. The spiritual comments in the Reflection section are the author’s personal theological perspective, not medical guidance.

Mental health problems can cover a broad range of disorders, but the common characteristic is that they all affect the affected person’s personality, thought processes or social interactions.

Everyone has good 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 make it difficult to carry out the tasks of everyday life. Challenging emotions can arise in any situation, from work to relationships, and you want to act before they seriously interfere with your ability to function.

Signs to Look For

Depression

You determine depression by two measures. One is by the time and one is by the 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.

There are many symptoms of depression, but most common among people with clinical depression.

Appetite – A person with depression loses his/her appetite completely, and stops eating, or eats very little.
Sleep – When depression sets in, a person may have consistent, severe insomnia and be unable to sleep well almost every night.
Concentration – Someone might find themselves unable to maintain focus on simple activities like watching a TV program or reading a newspaper article. A person may not be able to complete daily tasks.
Energy Level – With severe depression an individual’s energy is so low that he/she has trouble getting out of bed in the morning or carrying through basic activities of daily living.
Interest in activities that one would normally enjoy. This may mean that you no longer care about shaving or styling your hair, for example, or about bigger issues, like completing assigned chores.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is on the extreme end of the anxiety symptoms.

People with OCD are so anxious, they have intrusive thoughts that are irrational, and they cannot get the thoughts out of their head. Therefore, what they do is develop behaviors to cope with the anxiety. These behaviors or rituals may be so time-consuming that a person cannot get anywhere on time, and may even prevent a person from working.

For example:

Wash your hands 20 to 30 times a day.
Count 5 chairs before you sit.
Spend ours checking belongings, drawers, and cabinets before going to bed.
Repeat work tasks (chores) multiple times to make sure they are perfect.

Bipolar Disorder

A person with bipolar disorder is someone who has severe mood swings. During the depressed period, the signs of depression appear, but people with bipolar disorder also experience a manic period during which they may have much or many energy and positive feelings about themselves.

Signs of mania are:

Mood swings – Examples are elevated temperament or extreme irritability.
Fast speech – You cannot get a word in across and you have to ask them to slow down.
No need for sleep – People with bipolar disorder may stay up all night for many days cleaning, painting walls, or doing laundry or even starring at the ceiling constantly thinking.
Overreached – An overly high estimation of themselves leads to commitments they cannot possibly keep, such as taking on jobs they do not have the skills to do.
Excessive behaviors (actions/reactions) – Borrowing items or asking for favors they cannot pay back. Taking risks without thinking of the consequences.

Reflection

Scary right? After reading the following above many of us can relate to some of these symptoms, whether it’s close to home that involves a family member or close friend, or maybe it’s you. Honestly, I too share some of these indicators.

Where do we get these behaviors?
First let me say, I am no certified clinical psychologist, doctor or mental health counselor, I only hold a Bachelor Degree in Theology & Religious Studies… but based upon experience and an objective scientific, rationale, I perceive (in my opinion) most of our behaviors are hereditary, meaning past on from our mom, dad, or one of our past ancestors.

Sometimes, it rubs off on us by and through other people, where we adopt their behaviors and habits (good or bad), or might be triggered through a past experience or trauma. Sometimes it could be the type of drugs we use or the side-effects of medication or a mixture of both. Now, from the Theologian side, some of these influences could be binding demonic spirits, but that’s another study.

(Demonic Possession: Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 1:23; 5:1-10; Luke 4:33; Acts 16:16-19; 1 Tim 4:1-10)

Whatever the case, it is very important that we have knowledge about these type behaviors (both from a scientific and spiritual perspective) as it helps us to be more empathetic towards others as well understanding. The least, we will know how to help ourselves first before helping another.

Growing up as a child I’ve often heard the phrase, “what you don’t know can’t hurt you.” That was a lie! As we get older we realize that many of the old phrases were very deceptive. Trust me when I say,

“What you don’t know CAN indeed hurt you.”

For example: working in criminal defense sector, the phrase is often heard, “ignorance of the law is no excuse to break them…”

This article is just a small snippet of the many types of behaviors out there. Research them and learn all you need to know. It may save your life, or another’s.

Questions

Do you agree or disagree with this article?
If so why?
Do you know someone close to you that share some of the indicators listed above?
If yes, what are the indicators?
How do you (or the person you know) cope with these type behaviors?
Are you (or the person you know) seeking help for these behaviors?
If yes, how? If no, why?
Do you have any other tips and advice that you can share with our readers?

You may post your response in the comment section below.

Open Discussion

This archive mixes lived experience, spiritual reflection, and older mental-health language. Which parts still feel useful today, and which parts deserve a more updated understanding?

Where should the line be drawn between personal belief and clinical guidance?
What has changed most in the way people talk about mental health since 2022?
What would you add to this conversation for readers today?

Join the discussion in the comments—agreement, respectful disagreement, and thoughtful perspective are all welcome.

Legacy author bio

Vee is a poet and writer by heart from the West Indies. He has published several series of books. To name a few, “Visions of Prosetry, A King’s Fall & Dark Haze” …

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Mental Health: Knowing the Signs