With today’s busy world it’s easy to forget to take care of your mental well-being. Life requires so much that we overcome discomfort and attribute it to stress or fatigue rather than a physical problem. But occasionally even ‘a bad week’ may be the mind prompting someone for intervention. This article talks about signs and symptoms that indicate your mental health needs attention and it’s time to take care of it and seek help.
Mental health is not only related to diagnosed illnesses; It’s part of our complete wellbeing on a daily basis. And when emotionally, mentally, or even physically things start to falter, it is important to pick up the signs before the situation goes from bad to worse. Here are some subtle and not so subtle signs that you may be having a struggle with mental health.
Persistent Sadness or Irritability
A lasting feeling of sadness or irritability is one of the most common indications that something isn’t quite right mentally. We all sometimes get a let-down, especially following losses and setbacks. But if you notice such feelings persisting for weeks or you’re quick to snap at people when the least things bother you, then it may be a warning sign.
This isn’t only about depression, it could be an indicator of anxiety, burn out, or past trauma that didn’t get resolved. Once your emotional baseline begins to change and low moods become the norm as opposed to the exception, it’s worth taking seriously.
Changes in Sleep Patterns
Sleep and mental health are severely intertwined. Whether you’re suddenly sleeping too much or not at all or waking up in the middle of the night with a million thoughts, your mind could be working on overload.
Sleep deprivation does not only come from stress, it also helps create it. Lack of quality sleep can compound mental health issues, forming a vicious cycle that’s hard to overcome without some assistance.
Loss of Interest in Things You Had Once Loved
Do you stop enjoying hobbies, activities, or social interaction that used to give you pleasure? Such emotional numbness is called anhedonia, which is one of the typical depression and other moods disorders symptoms.
Once your passions begin to feel like chores, or you catch yourself following without passion, your mental state may be indicating to you that it’s time to pay attention.
Withdrawing from Social Circles
One can need some alone time—it’s okay— everyone does. However, if you’re knowingly keeping a distance from friends, family, or social settings, but you can’t quite explain it, this could be an indication of emotional difficulty.
Isolation is sometimes a mechanism of defense. It is safer to be alone than to risk being vulnerable or having to explain how you really feel. As time progresses however, loneliness can actually intensify mental health issues by making things feel more oppressive.
Some changes in appetite or eating habits
Over or under eating may be symptoms that your mental health is off balance. This is one thing that stress, anxiety or depression can do to your hunger cues. Food becomes a comfort for certain people. for others it loses all interest.
Such changes may be slow to occur or sudden, but they tend to mean that your emotional state is affecting your physical self.
Trouble Concentrating or Making Decisions
Did you notice that focus is harder now? Perhaps workload which used to be easy seems overwhelming, or your mind tends to wander out of conversations or work.
Difficulty in concentrating and making decisions can be related to anxiety, depression up to even burn out. When your brain is sapped of resources it’s difficult to process information rationally or keep engaged.
Feeling Overwhelmed by Everyday Tasks
Sentiments that used to be routine, such as the answering of emails, the cleaning up, or even the grocery shopping, may now feel more like monumental tasks. This isn’t laziness or procrastination. If you always fight mental fatigue, or are paralyzed by the thought of taking care of the simplest to-do lists, your brain might be running on empty, as a result of emotional stress.
Physical Symptoms with no clear explanation.
Physical manifestations of mental health problems are common. Headaches, stomach cramps, or taut muscles, fatigue or even chest pain can be attributed to emotional stress or anxiety.
When you are unable to identify a physical cause for your symptoms, your mind may be trying to give you an alert on other underlying problems.
Negative Self-Talk and Low Self-Worth
That inner critic can become especially strong, when you are not doing well mentally. You will begin thinking thoughts such as “I’m not good enough,” “I cannot do anything right” or “Nobody cares about me”.
These thoughts are not usually based on reality, but rather – symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mood disorders. If unaddressed, they can strengthen feelings of hopelessness and hinder a desire to get help.
Food Use or Coping Behaviors Other Than Food
Whereas other times people resort to alcohol, drugs, food or reckless behavior to escape the way they feel. Although they can provide temporary relief, they usually exacerbate mental health in the long-term.
If you’re using substances or impulsive actions to numb old emotional pain, that’s definitely screaming that something deeper needs attention.
I felt like I wasn’t connected to reality or me.
It is possible for some to speak of sensations of being “floating,” or “numb,” or viewing one’s life from outside. Such dissociation may be a consequence of trauma or extreme stress and is a grave mental illness.
If you find that you’re not really living your life, you should speak to a mental health practitioner.
Thoughts of Self-Harm or Suicide
This is the worst sign and should never be disregarded. If you are contemplating doing yourself harm or attached to the idea that the world would be a better place without you, find help immediately. Call a mental health crisis line or call someone you trust or get yourself to a hospital.
Such thoughts are not a weakness. They are signs that you are in extreme pain – and that you do not need to be alone with it.
What to do :
The first step is to identify such signs. Here are some of the next steps you may take to take if you suspect your mental health is being compromised:
Talk to someone. Whether it’s a friend, relative or a therapist, talking can be quite a liberating experience.
Seek professional help. A practitioner licensed to provide mental health care can provide coping tools if necessary, diagnosis and treatment options.
Practice self-care. Rest, good nutrition, motion, and mindfulness all promote mental well being.
Limit stressors. Find what sucks the energy and create boundaries – even if it means saying no more frequently.
To Conclude,
Suffering from mental health isn’t weak, it makes you human. The emotions on the other hand create some challenges to every person at some point in his/her life. But all that is necessary is to recognize the signs and take them seriously. Your mind is not less than your body, both are to be taken care of, with compassion and support.
If you are reading this and find yourself matching some of these signs, here is what you need to know. There is help out there and you are not alone.