BEHAVIOURAL AND MENTAL SIGNS OF DISTRESS

Overeating

Loss of appetite

Increased cigarette smoking

Increased alcohol consumption

Distressed, worried, upset, tearful, deflated, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, hysterical, withdrawn, feeling unable to cope, anxious, depressed

Impatient, easily irritated and aggravated, angry, hostile, aggressive
Frustrated, bored, inadequate, guilty, rejected, neglected, insecure, vulnerable

Loss of interest in self-appearance, health, diet, sex; low self esteem and loss of interest in others

Polyphasic (doing too many things at once), rushed

Failing to finish tasks before moving on to the next

Difficulty in thinking clearly, concentrating and making decisions, forgetful, lack of creativity, irrational; procrastinating, difficulty in starting to do things

Prone to making silly mistakes and having accidents

Having so much to do and not knowing where to start so ending up doing nothing or going from task to task and not completing anything

Hypercritical, inflexible, unreasonable, over-reactive, non-productive, poor efficiency

NB; this list is not exhaustive and some of the mental signs could be regarded as physical signs and vice versa.