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“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
Health & WellnessAPR 19, 2024

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay

Kotryna Br
Kornelija Viečaitė
Kotryna Br and Kornelija Viečaitė
62
9
Mental health is extremely important for our overall well-being. And not just for our own but for our loved ones as well. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had the superpower to immediately clock the tiniest hints that someone close to us was having problems with their mental health? If we were able to tell when it's just a regular mood swing and when we'd need to actually worry?
Recently, people shared some signs that might indicate a person is having a tough time with their mental health. Some shared the things they wished others noticed about them when they needed help. Others shared experiences with loved ones who have been or are still struggling.
Bored Panda reached out to the Redditor who asked this question, and they were kind enough to have a chat with us. Read our conversation about the importance of mental health below!

#1

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
What people who aren't depressed or never have been dont realize is just how hard it is getting up in the morning much less making proper appointments for mental health checks. Everything feels exhausting. It's the one disease that literally tries to stop you from getting help for it.
rayrayruh, cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo)
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143points

The Redditor who asked others "What are some subtle signs a person is not quite alright mentally?" got back to us and told us why they decided to post this on r/AskReddit. It appears this topic is near and dear to this Redditor's heart. 

The question was inspired by the user's own struggles with mental health, such as depression, anxiety, and alcoholism, as well as the issues of the people in their immediate circle. "I developed an interest in observing these issues and learning about different ways of treating them," the Redditor told us.

#2

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
If you know someone who has been really depressed and suddenly they seem very happy it can be a sign that they decided they are going to k*ll themselves and are happy with their decision and glad it will all be over soon.
Magnito-was-right, Andrea Piacquadio
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116points

#3

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
Lives in filth and squalor. Severe depression and other mental illnesses impair your executive functioning and motivation, so tending to basic hygiene and cleanliness is extremely difficult.
Ordinary-Grade-5427, Wonderlane /unsplash 9not the actual photo)
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101points

The user also agrees that it's extremely important to be aware of subtle signs of mental distress. "The sooner one recognizes an issue, the better [the] chance of treating it before it becomes a greater hazard for the person and the ones around them," the Redditor says.

They also have had some personal experience with this and kindly agreed to share it with our readers. "If I myself would have seriously looked at my substance abuse earlier, I would have avoided a bad psychological breakdown and [the] consequences that followed," the Redditor gets brutally honest.

#4

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
Personal hygiene is usually for me a sign something ain't alright.
InstantMedication:
This is one of the things I started to notice went south before I started to plan to end my life. Just stopped caring if my hair was washed at all. Bipolar and depression are a b**ch.
Silent_Ad_8672, MART PRODUCTION / pexels (not the actual photo)
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98points

#5

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
"The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth".
JNorJT, Lucas Metz / unsplash (not the actual photo)
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94points

#6

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
Difficulty to make simple decisions, hyper sensitiveness of any kind of criticism.
ramonapap1, Alexander Dummer / pexels (not the actual photo)
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76points

The Redditor thinks the collective attitudes towards mental health have changed in recent years. They think there's more and more awareness about mental health issues and more compassion towards individuals who have to deal with them.

"I think people are more understanding and appreciative towards mental health than before. The [education] towards recognition and tolerance is better, though there is a huge need for that in schools, especially [for people of] younger ages," the user tells Bored Panda.

#7

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
Isolation from other people. Little to no social battery because in their minds they think they are bothersome to people or that other people would not really notice them gone anyway.
sl*t4suffering333:
For me, it’s isolation. I haven’t been okay in years so now I work nights and barely interact with anyone. I’ve become so isolated
I don’t even know how to integrate back into society or communicate properly. Appetite is also an indicator. When I stop eating and lose weight rapidly, something is very wrong. I’m usually hoping for death by starvation.
starkissedjade, Annie Spratt / unsplash (not the actual photo)
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67points

#8

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
Poor mood regulation, if I ever see an adult have a temper tantrum, I avoid them at all costs.
joeyggg, Andrea Piacquadio / pexels (not the actual photo)
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64points

#9

A constant sense of boredom, bored at work, bored at home, bored doing hobbies...etc. this is usually a sign of discontent or apathy both of which breed depression.
Fragrant-Knowledge70
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54points

#10

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
I have anxiety and I have noticed that when I am asked to do something at work that I am unfamiliar with, I will ask multiple times in multiple different ways. That’s the only way I can receive proper confirmation that I am performing the task correctly. It’s almost as if I have to ask every single step - I’m sure my coworkers hate me for it, but I’d rather ask 100 times than not ask, and have to own up and THEN fix my mistake. For reference, I work in a relatively fast pace environment.
wharepaku1999, energepic.com / pexels (not the actual photo)
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50points

#11

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
When they adopt a religious mindset that is closer to superstition about *every* single thing in life.
I'm not disparaging all religion, but when a person starts thinking the Archangel Gabriel is walking in their garden when the branches move in the wind or attribute absolutely every single thing, like a napkin falling, to God's plan something is wrong.
Clever_Mercury
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47points

#12

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
A lot of people might say to look out for people who are weird but the real sign is to look out for people who lash out randomly.
Expert_Map_2912, Vera Arsic / pexels (not the actual photo)
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44points

#13

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
As someone who's been there and seen others suffer, I have some to contribute
-Sudden changes in behavior
-Reckless behavior
-Lack of motivation
-Very high highs and very low lows
-Mood swings
-Changes in appetite (over/undereating).
hiyacoolcat7685, Adrian Swancar / unsplash (not the actual photo)
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41points

#14

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
Speech patterns are a good indication. Mania can make people talk really fast or depression can make people not speak at all. How they speak, the words used, can also indicate issues. It's best to just ask if they're ok.
Suspicious-Goat-1452, Christina Morillo / pexels (not the actual photo)
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40points

#15

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
A sense of hopelessness and abusing substances.
CuteChloeAmelia, cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo)
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39points

#16

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
I learned that in romantic relationships when someone is very overly affectionate one day and then completely cold the next for no apparent reason, it is a sign they could have a personality disorder. I sadly thought this was normal behavior for a long time.
soccer_mom_16, Odonata Wellnesscenter / pexels (not the actual photo)
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35points

#17

“I Sadly Thought This Was Normal Behavior For A Long Time”: 30 Signs That Somebody Is Not Okay
Impulsiveness. It seeps into every crevice of their lives. Whether in relationships, identity, decision making, money. They're literally unsettled mentally. Will drop people just as fast as they bring them in.
BrellaEllaElla, Andrea Piacquadio / pexels (not the actual photo)
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33points

#18

Incongruence in the emotions on their face and what they are communicating. It gives you the intuitive vibe that something is off and puts your on guard.
The classic case is the guy who comes to talk to you in the bar and be really friendly and smooth but their face shows flashes of anger mixed with anxiety and forced smiles that don't appear genuine.
This is what we call an incongruent affect.
lfras
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32points

#19

Lack of motivation.
convincing_stole
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32points

#20

Not that subtle but a lack of interest in a beloved pet is very concerning. This is a warning sign for one of my family members having a manic episode.
pink_hazelnut
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32points
62
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