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Andy Stein

Mental health red flag symptoms

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Mental health red flag symptoms

What is a red flag symptom?

A symptom is something abnormal about your body or mind, that may indicate something is wrong. ‘Red flag’ means potentially serious (and potentially treatable).

The following symptoms should ‘ring bells’ – all need action.

  • Excessive worrying, anxiety, fear or sadness –  irritability, anger, or feeling excessively sad or low
  • Confused thinking – or problems concentrating and learning
  • Extreme mood changes – including uncontrollable ‘highs’ or feelings of euphoria
  • Difficulties understanding other people or relating to then – leading to avoiding friends and social activities
  • Difficulty perceiving reality – delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don’t exist in objective reality
  • Excessive use of recreational drugs – like alcohol or drugs
  • Inability – to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems
  • Thinking about suicide.

If you have any of these symptoms, you need to consult a doctor ASAP. If you have suicidal ideas, you need to call 999 and/or attend your nearest A&E now.

 

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