A person may have difficulty sleeping. This could be not being able to get to sleep at night or waking up increasingly early. Not sleeping well can have a massive effect on a person’s ability to function.
A change in eating and drinking routines could also be an indication that an individual is having difficulties with their mental wellbeing. This could mean binge eating or a loss of appetite. It could be a person will only eat a particular type of food. A person may feel palpitations or that their heart is racing. They may have an upset tummy, headaches, sickness, sweat heavily and tremble or shake.
Their personal hygiene routines may get worse, they may wear the same clothes every day and refuse to change them. They not wash or bathe or want their hair cutting.
People may change their pattern of sexual activity. They may find it very difficult to satisfy themselves and you may notice an increase or decrease of them experimenting with touch.
Think about how a person who does not communicate verbally might indicate that they are unwell.
Changes to the way people think and feel
It might be that a person finds it very difficult to make decisions. They may stare at whatever they have to make a decision about and may forget what it is they are deciding before they have come to a conclusion.
Changes to the way people act
You may notice changes to a person’s behaviour. The media have stereotyped the idea that mental illness is synonymous with violent and aggressive behaviour. This is not true for a vast majority of people who become withdrawn and show signs of depression.
A person may experience feelings like being worried, being very sad and feeling like they can’t do every day tasks.