What’s the difference between normal mental health struggles and mental illness?

When a loved one is struggling with their mental health, it can be hard to determine whether they are facing a common mental health struggle or a true diagnosable mental illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that around 23% of people will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives. When caring for someone, it’s sometimes hard to know what they are dealing with.

The truth is that everyone experiences mental health struggles from time to time. We all grapple with anxious or depressed feelings at times, and we all face periods when our mental health isn’t as sharp as it could be. Still, sometimes, people face mental health struggles that go beyond the universal struggles that all people face. It’s at this point that intervention is needed to ensure that person gets the help they need.

How can you as a caregiver know whether your loved one is struggling with their mental health or if it’s actually mental illness? And if it is something more, how do you intervene in a way that can help restore the health of your loved one?

Mental illness can be life-altering, but with appropriate care, it is fully treatable. Caregivers must be aware of the differences between mental health and mental illness so that they can identify signs and symptoms and seek help for their loved ones.

What is mental health?

Mental health affects how well our minds function and how we handle emotions. People with good mental health can form memories, solve problems, process information, and interact with others. They can also respond to their circumstances—good and bad—in a way that is constructive to their overall well-being.

Spend a moment thinking about your own mental health. Do you have days where you feel a bit sad? When you worry about something coming up or a problem you are experiencing? Are there times when stress or life experiences seem to stand in the way of how you feel at any given moment?

Various factors influence a person’s mental health, including genetics, the environment, and life events. Just like physical health, people can experience declines and improvements in their mental health. What’s more, people can control some factors that influence mental health but not others. They may be able to practice good mental health habits like gratitude and focusing on the moment. This is all a normal part of the human experience.

That said, if you or a loved one is experiencing feelings of sadness or anxiety or stress or being overwhelmed that go beyond what you would consider ordinary experience, or if those struggles are interfering with the way they are able to function, they may be experiencing more than just a mental health struggle.

What is mental illness?

Many people, and especially older adults, experience drastic life changes that contribute to mental health declines. These declines, while normal, can lead to mental illness in some patients. Mental illness occurs when specific changes in thoughts, actions, or emotions occur that interfere with someone’s everyday life and ability to function. While everyone faces normal mental health struggles, when those struggles become severe or get in the way of how that person lives their daily life, they are often diagnosed with a mental illness.

People need to meet particular criteria for doctors to diagnose them with a mental illness. Doctors diagnose mental illness based on the signs and symptoms people display, as well as the severity. Medical professionals often use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5) to diagnose mental illness.

A few common examples of mental illnesses are:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• P​ost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

While​ mental illness can initially be severe, many people can recover their daily function and lead healthy, happy lives with proper treatment. Through medication and therapy, People with mental illness can experience times of positive mental health and function in daily society just like everyone else.

Early warning signs of mental illness

While everyone experiences emotional ups and downs, certain signs may indicate that your loved one is dealing with a diagnosable mental illness. These early signs often go beyond temporary stress or sadness and can significantly interfere with daily life.

Here are some common signs of mental illness to look out for:

• Persistent sadness or hopelessness that doesn’t seem to improve over time

• Withdrawal from friends, family, and previously enjoyed activities

• Changes in eating or sleeping habits (e.g., sleeping too much or too little, significant weight changes)

• Extreme mood swings or emotional outbursts

• Fatigue or lack of energy, even after adequate rest

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions

• Excessive fear or anxiety that interferes with daily tasks

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs

• Talking about feeling worthless, having no reason to live, or expressing suicidal thoughts

• Delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations in more severe cases

If you notice any of these signs persisting for more than a few weeks, or if the symptoms seem to be escalating, it’s important to seek professional support. Early intervention can make a significant difference in recovery and quality of life.

Improving mental health

If you determine that your loved one is facing typical mental health struggles, there are still things you can do to help them. Even if it’s not a mental illness, your loved one may need support or even therapy to manage their life and restore their mental health.

Some good ways to improve mental health include:

• Practicing good self-care
• Spending time outside
• Spending time with others
• Getting plenty of rest
• Exercising
• Practicing yoga or pilates
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Taking care of physical health issues
• Talking to a therapist

According to Better Health, even small takes at simple self-care like getting a good night’s sleep, eating well, and exercising can have a dramatic positive impact on mental health.

If you need support with a loved one who needs help with their mental health, a Grayce Care Partner can share tips and ideas in improving mental health, as well as help you to determine if your loved one’s mental health requires further attention.

Getting help for a loved one with mental illness

If you have determined that your loved one may be struggling with mental illness, the first step is to determine what’s going on. Make an appointment with a qualified health care provider and work together to assess what your loved one needs.

Spend time doing research, asking questions and working to understand the diagnosis. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your provider or to connect with a Grayce Care Partner. Grayce’s care team has extensive experience in dealing with a variety of mental illnesses and can help you to navigate any diagnosis and find resources to help manage a new or existing diagnosis.

After a diagnosis, a qualified health professional will collaborate with you and your loved one to develop a care plan that likely will include medication, therapy, or both. This treatment plan may feel a bit daunting at first, but the therapies available for mental illness are both effective and impactful. Like we said before, many people with mental illness are able to lead happy, healthy, and fruitful lives despite their diagnosis.

As you work to support a loved one with a mental illness diagnosis, remember that all of the techniques used to help improve mental health can be beneficial to those with mental illness. In addition to the therapy plan prescribed by your doctor, we recommend investing time in self-care and other activities known to improve mental health.

Help for mental illness

If your loved one is struggling with mental illness, we know it can be overwhelming. It’s hard to navigate a diagnosis while taking care of a loved one and trying to figure out how to best care for that person in the future.

We encourage you to reach out for help today. Grayce was built to support caregivers as they navigate care for the emotional, mental, physical, and social health of their loved ones. You don’t have to manage mental health struggles alone, and a Grayce Care Partner can help you to understand the diagnosis better, navigate treatment options, and help guide you through difficult conversations with family members.

Perhaps: Take the first step towards support—connect with a Grayce Care Partner today to start on a personalized wellness journey.