Are you concerned about a loved one? Well, if you feel that they might need to see a psychiatrist in Gaithersburg MD, then knowing the signs and symptoms can be a good starting point. It will give you something to work on.

Here’s what to look for if you need to know whether a loved one needs to see a professional and get the help they need.

Signs Someone Needs a Psychiatrist

#1: They Cannot Control Their Emotions

The concerned person is unable to control their emotions. There may be episodes of extreme sadness and extreme anger and irritability. The person is unable to get out of it on their own and the emotions may feel overwhelming. While feeling things is normal, unable to shake them off and resume a normal life is not. That is when there is a need for professional help.

A psychiatrist can help assess the emotions and come up with a treatment plan.

#2: Change in Sleep Pattern

If a loved one slept normally through the night before but has suddenly taken to waking up all the time and is unable to fall back asleep, it can cause severe issues. Insomnia is not something that should be treated lightly. When it does not go away on its own and continues to linger, it can cause a loss of happiness in life.

Or it can be the other way around with the concerned person sleeping too much. They may be unable to do the normal tasks of the day because they are sleeping during the day as well as the night which may point to the existence of a mental condition.

In time, it can lead to severe mental health issues. So if you see a loved one with a change in sleep patterns, consulting a psychiatrist can be important.

#3: Suffering Work

Too many people are diagnosed with mental health issues when people point out the fact that their work is suffering. If you feel that a loved one has been missing work or is being reported for unsatisfactory work by their boss more than a few times, it may be because of mental health condition.

Suffering at work can lead to livelihood issues and hence can never be taken lightly. That is why it is critical to see a reputed psychiatrist for the same before bad turns to worse.

#4: Being Aloof All of a Sudden

If you have noticed that a loved one who was gregarious and social before is now suddenly silent and does not want to interact with anyone, it may point out to be a mental health issue. Now, the truth is that some people are naturally aloof. But if the concerned person was once very social but now prefers to stay behind a locked door most of the time, then it may be time to see a professional for help.

#5: Too Much Anxiety

For some, being anxious is a way of life. But when the anxiety is getting overwhelming, it can feel as if the whole world is closing up. If you have seen or heard a loved one speaking up about too much anxiety. Then it may be time to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist who can help.

#6: Inability to Perform Normal Functions

If a loved one is not able to lead a normal life when they previously had no trouble doing it, it may point to a mental health problem that can be treated. For instance, they may not want to get up in the morning, or they may not want to do hygiene tasks on their own or they may have trouble studying or going to work.

An inability to perform normal daily functions can be a sign of one of the multiple mental health issues.

Finding a Professional to Help

As you can see, the above signs and symptoms are not complicated and may be easily overlooked. But it is good to notice and give the loved one the treatment they need. A good professional psychiatrist in Gaithersburg MD can be very helpful. What can a professional do in such cases? Have a look below to find out.

Provide Urgent Care: Mental health issues can crop out of nowhere and make it impossible for a person to carry on in life. Whether it is a severe depressive episode, bipolar disorder, or even suicidal tendencies, such cases may require urgent psychiatric care. This is something that a quality professional can bring to the table.

If you feel that your loved one needs urgent mental health care, then getting a professional is very important and may help change the trajectory of the concerned person’s life.

Manage Mental Health Issues: Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and more may affect life very much. A professional can certainly help manage these conditions and more. This may mean getting long-term treatment suitable for particular cases. Bring Lifestyle Changes: A psychiatrist is also better able to understand if there are lifestyle changes that may help your loved one. In many cases of mental health illnesses, lifestyle changes can bring about positive results and this can include eating regular meals and getting more sunshine and exercise during the day. If a mental illness can be treated with the help of positive lifestyle changes, then that is certainly worth considering.Get Second Opinions: When it comes to mental health issues, often second opinions are asked for. Perhaps a general physician suspects mental health issues and refers the patient to a psychiatrist for a second opinion. This professional then diagnoses a mental condition and starts treatment.Admission to Hospital: Sometimes, mental health issues can be treated with drugs and lifestyle changes. Sometimes, it requires more than that, and admission to the hospital may be required. A psychiatrist can make that happen.Help with Suicidal Tendencies: Anyone who has suicidal tendencies or thoughts requires the help of a professional. This may or may not be given to them. But if you feel your loved one is suicidal, then giving them help is the need of the hour so that they can come out of it.

Different Types of Common Mental Illnesses

Anxiety: This may be anything from social phobia to panic disorders and can lead to severe PTSD. It may make a person unable to lead a normal life.

Bipolar Affective Disorder: This is a condition where the patient experiences manic depressive episodes and elation. Environmental factors and a genetic predisposition are responsible for the condition and can affect a person’s personal and social life.

Depression: This is a mental illness that is characterized by a loss of energy, lowering of mood, loss of interest, and more symptoms. Depression is not just feeling sad the severity levels can be different as well. 

Eating Disorders: This can include an inability to eat normally and can mean binge eating and starvation. It can have very severe physical and psychological effects.

OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a condition where the patient gets recurring thoughts and impulses that are intrusive and does not let them live their life normally. Patients often have distressing rituals that they cannot do without which can disrupt their way of life by a huge margin.

Psychosis: This is another mental illness that can have a patient to see hallucinations and experience things that never happened. It can take away the enjoyment of life and make people feel restless.

Getting the right professional help can be critical to the recovery of any patient who is suffering from a mental health condition. Living with a mental health problem is not easy and nor does anyone have to when there is help available. At Gelber MD, get professional psychiatric treatment and support for yourself or for your loved one. Edward Gelber, MD, Psychiatrist has the proficiency in developing customized tailored treatment plans to suit the needs of his individual patients.