Mental illness is not just something that you are born with. It can also develop over time, either because it was always going to happen or because you got sick over time. Some mental illnesses, like Alzheimer's disease, are not common in young people. However, depression can start as early as childhood, and even though ADHD is often misdiagnosed, it still affects many children and adults.
Mental illnesses can affect people of all ages, but young adults are more likely to be diagnosed for the first time than people of any other age. This is because their brains are still developing quickly and they experience a lot of new things in their late teens and early twenties. Young adults aren't necessarily more vulnerable than other people, but if they were born with a mental illness, it's more likely to show up now than when they were younger.
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that often affects young adults for the first time. People can be moody or paranoid, which a friend or family member may be able to notice and report to the person's doctor. Another sign could be that the young adult hears voices or sees things that aren't there. Schizophrenia can also cause apathy or a lack of emotions, which can get worse in social situations. They may also have trouble focusing, following directions, and getting things done. Their memories may also start to get worse. Patients with schizophrenia almost always start to feel sad before their symptoms get worse.
Depression is also a very common mental illness in young adults. It is a feeling of being completely helpless and without hope. It is not the same as "feeling blue" or "being down." Depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people in the United States. It can lead to suicidal thoughts, overeating or undereating, sleeping too much or too little, and mood swings. Depression is not something that people can just "get over" or "snap out of." Instead, the person may need medication, therapy, or a combination of the two before they start to feel better. The signs of depression can come and go. They are similar to the signs of bipolar disorder, but there are some differences.
Manic depression, which is another name for bipolar disorder, can be treated with medicine. It is marked by intense manic or "high" periods in which the person gets too excited or hopeful and may start tasks or plans that can't be done. These "highs" are followed by crashes and intense "lows" that can include sleeping all day, feeling hopeless, trying to kill yourself, and other signs of depression.
ADHD is more of a disorder than a disease because it usually doesn't make it hard for a young adult to function normally in society. However, it is possible for a young adult to have ADHD that makes it hard for them to hold a job or do other things on their own. This disorder is often marked by symptoms like not being able to focus and being easily distracted. It may show up as almost constant forgetfulness, an inability to sit still, or an inability to stop thinking about certain things.
Doctors should be the ones to figure out if someone has a mental illness, but it is often up to the family and friends of a young adult with a mental illness to notice the signs so the person can get help. Many people with mental illness don't know they're hurting or don't want to get help on their own for different reasons related to their illness.
People who care about people with any of the above mental illnesses or other mental illnesses should write down the specific symptoms they see so they can show a mental health professional. Changes in how you sleep and eat, weight gain or loss, personality changes, inability to function normally, paranoia, aggression, and other strange behaviour are all signs you should look out for. Even if you just have a feeling that something is "off" with a loved one, you might need to pay more attention to them or even look into it to help them get help for their mental illness.
No matter what the symptoms are, a doctor can't make a diagnosis until the person who is sick is taken to a doctor. When police take someone to the hospital, they are likely to be treated quickly and sent home before their real needs are met. When a young adult has a mental illness, it is up to their family and friends to get them help.
