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Although you may not be ready to take the next step
and actually walk through the doors of The Stadter Center,
we still want to help you, your friends and your family
get through these times. We have provided a number of
links, articles and other resources to get you on your
way. And remember, help is available when you are ready.
Self-assessment Symptom Checklist
Although this does not replace the evaluation from a
mental health professional, please take a look at our
symptom checklist as a resource to see if you, a friend
or a family member may be suffering from one of these
conditions.
Bipolar Disorder
Manic symptoms include:
- Either an elated, happy mood or
an irritable, angry unpleasant mood
- Increased energy or activity
- More thoughts or faster thinking
than normal
Increased talking or more rapid speech than normal - Ambitious or grandiose plans
- Poor judgment
- Increased sexual interest and activity
- Decreased sleep and decreased need
for sleep
Depressive symptoms include:
- Apathetic mood
- Decreased activity and energy
- Restlessness and irritability
- Fewer thoughts than usual or slowed
thinking
- Less talking and slowed speech
- Less interest or participation
in and less enjoyment of activities than normal
- Decreased sexual interest and activity
- Hopelessness or helplessness
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Pessimistic outlook
- Thoughts of suicide
- Change in appetite (either more
or less) or weight loss
- Change in sleep pattern (more or
less)
If you are experiencing 2 or more of these symptoms,
which have lasted for 2 or more weeks, consulting
a mental health professional is recommended.
Depression (symptoms last longer than two
weeks and interfere with ordinary functioning)
Depression symptoms include:
- Persistently sad or irritable mood
- Pronounced changes in sleep, appetite
and energy
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating
and remembering
- Physical slowing or agitation
- Lack of interest in or pleasure
from activities that were once enjoyed
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness,
hopelessness and emptiness
- Recurring thoughts of death or
suicide
- Persistent physical symptoms that
do not respond to treatment such as headache, digestive
disorders, chronic pain
If you are experiencing 2 or more
of these symptoms, which have lasted for 2 or more
weeks, consulting a mental health professional is
recommended.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (symptoms
fall into three categories)
PTSD Symptoms include:
- Re-experience: recurrent recollections
and/or nightmares about a traumatic event, flashbacks,
and hallucinations.
- Avoidance: avoidance of any thought,
feeling or situation that is a reminder of the traumatic
event, detachment from emotions, loss of interest
in activities that may trigger a memory, hopelessness
about the future.
- Increased Arousal: Difficulty falling
asleep, irritability or anger outbursts, difficulty
concentrating, overly alert or watchful of the environment,
jumpiness or easily startled.
If you are experiencing any of these
symptoms, consulting a mental health professional
is recommended.
Links
www.nimh.nih.gov
(National Institute for Mental Health)
www.nami.org
(National Alliance On Mental Illness)
www.psych.org
(American Psychiatric Association)
www.apa.org
(American Psychological Association)
www.nmha.org
(National Mental Health Association)
www.mentalhealth.com
www.adaa.org
(Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
www.ncptsd.va.gov
(National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
www.socialanxiety.factsforhealth.org
(Site for those with social anxiety disorder)
www.aacap.org
(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)Articles
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