Mental illness accounts for some of the most common health issues in the U.S. Statistics indicate that 50% of Americans will suffer from mental illness during their lifetime. Nonetheless, many people still don’t know all that much about mental health struggles. Misconceptions and stigmas still abound.
In this context, we can understand why a lot of people don’t realize they need help. One can’t recognize the symptoms of a mental illness unless they have some perspective on mental health disorders.
It doesn’t help that we have a tendency to assume we can get over mental health struggles ourselves. There is still a common perception that mental illness is a weakness, even though we have long understood that its occurrence is equivalent to physical illness. Most people wouldn’t expect to just get over heart disease without treatment and illnesses like depression and anxiety are the same.
So as to be able to identify when it’s necessary to get professional help, you need to know what to look out for. The following mental health warning signs are 6 key indicators that you should seek treatment.
1. Persistent Sadness or Hopelessness
Sadness is a normal emotion that everyone feels sometimes. In certain contexts, such as the death of a loved one, it is even expected that a person experiences an extended period of intense sadness. However, persistent sadness not explained by major life events may be a sign that you are struggling with mental illness.
What we mean by persistent sadness is that you feel sad for a large part of the day almost every day over a period of time. It can turn into or be accompanied by a sense of hopelessness – the growing belief that you will never feel better or that everything in your life will go wrong.
It is worthwhile pointing out that, with immense political conflict at home, along with immediate and constant access to global news, many people are experiencing more fear and hopelessness than usual. Being continuously sucked into dramatic headlines and extreme online discourse can lead to emotional dysregulation and, ultimately, mental illness.
If you’re feeling like you might be heading in this direction, seeking professional help now will give you the chance to prevent suffering later on.
2. Changes in Sleep Patterns
Mental health and sleep are closely connected. Poor sleep patterns can trigger mental health issues and, conversely, mental illness can cause poor sleep patterns.
This may present differently for different people and can also depend on the mental illness. Depression often causes people to struggle to get out of bed, but insomnia is also common. Anxiety may lead you to struggle with racing thoughts at night, but for some people staying in bed is a way they can switch off.
The key is to notice how your sleep patterns differ. Whether you’re struggling to sleep or sleeping too much, this may be a sign of mental illness.
3. Irritability and Agitation
When you’re struggling with mental health, you tend to feel more sensitive and vulnerable. For this reason, it can seem like everything is irksome and annoying. A certain behavior of a loved one may suddenly get on your nerves and even the most innocuous situations can make you angry.
If you’re suddenly finding yourself getting irritated with the way someone greets you or the normal sounds around you, you may be struggling with mental illness. The key is to notice if this irritability persists. Otherwise, it may be circumstantial.
Agitation is somewhat similar. Illnesses like depression can lead to agitation as you become impatient to feel better or experience discontent with the present moment. It can come with a sense that you need to ‘escape’ while not seeing any way out of the current situation.
4. Difficulty Focusing or Getting Stuff Done
Difficulty focusing or completing tasks can be a symptom of ADHD or other long-term issues. However, if you have not struggled with this in the past, its sudden occurrence may be related to mental illness.
The strong feelings and low motivation associated with some mental illnesses can make it difficult to pay attention to work or home responsibilities. In contrast, the mania or hypomania of bipolar disorder can lead a person to get distracted by too much stimulation.
5. Increased Use of Substances
Many people drink alcohol or use substances recreationally. They may do so in moderation, not letting it get in the way of their day-to-day lives. But, if you have noticed that you are using substances more often, and especially if you are doing so in order to cope, this is a sign of mental health struggles.
Substance addiction often begins when a person is already struggling with a mental illness. Substances become an unhealthy coping mechanism – an attempt to numb out painful feelings or, in some cases, just to feel anything at all.
It is crucial that you get help now so as to prevent yourself from becoming addicted.
6. Physical Symptoms with no Clear Medical Cause
If you do not have a physical illness but are nonetheless experiencing headaches, digestive issues, or even chronic pain, this may be a sign of mental illness. Stress and anxiety in particular can cause these symptoms. Other mental illnesses leave you more vulnerable to physical issues by weakening your immune responses.
Mental health and physical health are closely linked. Issues with one can trigger issues with the other, and it is important to pay attention to your health on a holistic level.
Conclusion
The above 6 warning signs are key indicators that you may be struggling with mental health issues. If you have noticed one or more of them persisting, you should seek help from a mental health provider.
Many mental illnesses can trigger substance use disorders, which is itself a mental illness. If you are using substances to cope or simply want more information on addiction, get in touch with Seasons in Malibu today.
