Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 20, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • Many mental health issues can bring about significant emotional changes, like sadness, apathy, and anger, that may alter someone’s entire personality.
  • Frequently cancelling plans, holding a negative view of self, or going through the daily hiccups one after the other can all indicate a possibility of underlying mental instability that may warrant attention.
  • Feeling concerned about a loved one’s mental health is completely natural, and the importance of addressing the issues, if any, is indisputable.
Reading time: 11 min

Watching a loved with struggle with mental health is not easy. Many mental health issues can bring about significant emotional changes, like sadness, apathy, and anger, that may alter someone’s entire personality. Frequently cancelling plans, holding a negative view of self, or going through the daily hiccups one after the other can all indicate a possibility of underlying mental instability that may warrant attention.

Feeling concerned about a loved one’s mental health is completely natural, and the importance of addressing the issues, if any, is indisputable. Nevertheless, the idea of seeking help from experts for mental issues can easily seem daunting. So if you have an emotionally upset person around you and do not know how to deal with a mentally unstable person, contacting a luxury treatment center can be the right step. These facilities equipped with five-star luxuries can offer the right type of care and help individuals struggling with mental health.

  • Approximately 26% of the adult population in the UK have reportedly been diagnosed with at least one type of mental illness
  • 1 out of every 4 people in England experiences a mental issue every year
  • 1 out of every 6 people in the UK undergo a common mental problem per week
  • Emotional instability causes 1 in every 5 people in the UK to develop suicidal thoughts
  • 1 out of every 14 British citizens engage in self-harming behaviours

Mental health refers to the ability to adjust to the daily stressors and life changes. Individuals with sound mental health are able to:

  •  Receive and give back love and affect
  • Adequately communicate their feelings and thoughts
  • Control their impulses
  • Listen to others and respect their views
  • Tolerate the consequences of their actions
  • Respect themselves
  • Accept the hardships and disappointments of life and understand that things do not always go according to the plan
  • Use positive coping strategies to adjust to stressful situations
  • Bear frustration and anxiety to a certain amount
  • Get along with others without any issues

Sound mental health is the key to good physical health. Having positive coping skills also helps manage the daily changes occurring throughout the lifespan while minimising the risk of acquiring a mental health issue. That said, it is important to remember that feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed from time to time is completely normal. Under stress, even a mentally sound person is likely to demonstrate poor coping behaviours. What draws the line between a mentally stable and unstable person is that the former possess knowledge about good coping skills and is able to use them for recovery from the initial grief, shock, or stress. On the other hand, the latter lacks this ability and can fall into a vicious cycle of mental and emotional dysregulation requiring professional help.

Before you wonder how to deal with a mentally unstable person, it is imperative to recognize the signs of emotional instability accurately. This also helps you determine if it is just a short phase or whether professional help is required.

The following signs and symptoms depict an underlying mental instability that warrants attention:

Rapid Mood Swings

Mood swings are extremely common, but when they continue to happen at the snap of the finger, they might signal that your loved one is struggling to maintain emotional balance. For them, riding on a roller coaster of emotions forces them to suddenly become sad or agitated, usually without an apparent reason.

Reduced Emotional Management

Tumultuous emotions often lead to difficulty in engaging in self-calming behaviours. In other words, people experiencing these feelings lack the skills to calm themselves down and can easily become hyper-aroused, even to minor stimuli. Some examples include people holding a grudge over a silly issue for a longer-than-expected duration or continuing to stay upset even after a conflict resolution. Of course, this is always circumstantial, but if the problem continues to persist, your loved one might require professional help to acquire emotional equilibrium.

Impulsive Behaviours

An emotionally unstable person is often labelled as erratic or impulsive, mostly because of poor problem-solving or coping skills. Such individuals often make important decisions without any forethoughts with completely unpredictable steps. Common examples of impulsive behaviours that may label someone to have a crazy mental state include breaking up with a partner suddenly or moving houses or apartments too frequently and without any warning. These behaviours are not necessarily negative but hold the ability to decrease the quality of life.

Inconsistent Attitudes

In addition to impulsive reactions, another feature indicated by a mentally unstable person is an inconsistent emotional attitude. These emotional inconsistencies can be large or small and might be overlooked in the early stages of the problem. An example of emotional inconsistency includes reacting neutrally to a disappointing event in life one day and having a completely different reaction to an event of the same scale the other day.

Strained Relationships

Mental health and relationships are closely connected, with any changes in the former wreaking havoc on the latter. People with mental instability often seem to burn bridges with partners, family members, colleagues, and old friends and face difficulties in maintaining long-term relationships. These conflicts are not limited to a single form of relationship but extend to multiple areas of life and can easily make a living with someone with mental health issues extremely difficult.

Difficulty in Controlling Emotions

Difficulty in controlling emotions is another hallmark of mental instability. As a result, such people often discharge their feelings on their loved ones in a completely abrupt and unpredictable manner.

If a dear one is experiencing the symptoms mentioned above and you are clueless about what to do when someone is mentally unstable, help is always available. Luxury treatment centres for people with emotional irregularities are readily available in the UK to provide a perfect inpatient experience without discomfort or judgment. Contact us now to book a slot for your loved one today.

If you are living with someone with mental health illness, it is common to feel at a loss for words when you talk to them. Despite wanting to offer support and comfort, worrying about how your words can be interpreted easily takes over. It is recommended to plan out a conversation beforehand and try to include as many supportive things as possible to help your loved one feel appreciated and accepted.

Here is a list of things to guide you on how to engage in conversations with them.

What to say to someone with mental illness?

  • “What can I do to help?”
  • “I am always here for you.”
  • I’m really sorry for what you’re going through. I am always here whenever you need me.”
  • “That sounds hard. How have you been coping?”

What not to say to someone with mental illness?

  • “I know what you are going through. I experienced it last month.”
  • “Why are you not taking medication?”
  • “Many have it worse than you.”
  • “You won’t feel this way if….”

There are plenty of seemingly simple ways to show these individuals that you care, for example:

Lend an ear: Sometimes, all it takes to support a mentally unstable person is giving them space to talk and express themselves. Listening to what they feel can go a long mile in helping them manage their emotions.

Provide reassurance: A mental health can be extremely burdensome and can easily induce feelings of loneliness and fright. So make sure to assure your loved ones that you are always there for them.

Stay Calm: Listening to the troubles of a loved one as they fight a mental illness can distress you. However, it is important to stay calm as it will make them calmer and reassure them that they can easily share their feelings without worrying about you.

Be patient: It’s common to feel curious and to know more about what’s going on in the mind of someone struggling with mental health. At the same time, you might push them to seek help immediately. However, both of these practices can intimidate the affected individual and possibly worsen their mental state. Practising patience and taking things slowly while giving them space is recommended.

Keep things normal: An important thing to do to support your loved one fighting mental illness is keeping things normal. This includes chatting with them casually and inviting them to social events as you normally would without making a big deal out of their issue.

Avoid making assumptions: Your own perspective may seem helpful to your loved one but do not try to impose that you know what they are going through and how it can be handled.

Refer them to a luxury mental health rehab: Talk to your loved one about the possibility of attending a luxury treatment center to have a break from life and sort out their issues while enjoying five-star luxuries. These treatment centres offer both medical and holistic approaches with all necessary facilities, including private villas, personal chef, and access to leisure activities, to support a mentally unstable person in times of crisis.

Choosing a luxury treatment rehab can be the perfect way to help someone close to you with a mental illness. These premium rehab centres work as therapeutic communities to help emotionally unstable people recover in a supportive environment. They offer an upscale experience with high-end living spaces, lavish meals, premium comfort, and assistance in day-to-day tasks through regular housekeeping and the availability of a wide team of well-trained staff members, including chefs and drivers. Each patient is closely worked with in a supportive environment and in collaboration with doctors, therapists, and holistic experts for faster and complete recovery.

At our luxury mental health treatment center, we help residents restore their emotional health and acquire healthy coping skills. We ensure that each of our clients is heard, well-supported, and forms life-long bonds. Our goal also includes making the residents feel at home and enjoy their stay with us with our center’s wide range of leisurely activities, including a big pool to dive in and a lush green garden to catch fresh air. 

So if you or your loved one is emotionally unstable and having difficulty coping with the negative behaviours, contact us now. We are here to help!

FAQs

How can I know if someone is suffering from a mental problem?
Most of the time, it is quite easy to know if someone is going through a rough patch. However, there is no simple way to confirm if they have an underlying mental issue or emotional instability. The best approach is to act sensitively to someone who seems troubled than to find out if they have a diagnosis. The presence of unusual symptoms like feelings of sadness, excessive worries or fears, social withdrawal, frequent mood changes, and troubled sleeping habits can also hint toward an unsorted mental issue.
My partner’s mental health is affecting me. What can I do?
Though emotional difficulties can put a strain on relationships, giving up on someone with mental illness is highly not recommended. In fact, the best approach to follow involves sitting down with your partner and having a discussion about their issues while respecting their boundaries and comfort zone. Ask them how you can support them in the best way possible and actively listen to what they have to offer. Invest in maintaining an open and loving relationship, and don’t forget to take care of yourself as you support your partner through the crisis.
How to help someone with mental illness who doesn’t want help?
It is common for emotionally unstable individuals to brush you off and refuse support. However, do not be discouraged and keep checking on them gently and without invading their privacy. It is important for you to come from a place of support instead of judgment. Avoid pushing them into unwanted conversations all the time. Instead, focus on having a fun time together and give them space to unwind and get ready to seek help independently. Contact your local mental health emergency hotline if you are worried about a loved one engaging in risky or suicidal behaviours due to mental illness.

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