It’s not always easy to tell the difference between normal behaviors and signs of a mental illness. There’s no simple test to know if your thoughts and actions are typical of your lifestyle or if they are signs of an underlying condition.
Below, we will explore what mental health is and the most common signs of needing help for mental health.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health is about how you think, control your feelings, and act. At times, people experience challenges with their mental well-being. Consider seeking professional treatment if your thoughts, emotions, or actions start causing distress or interfering with your daily life.
Knowing When to Seek Treatment
There is no single indicator that you need treatment for a mental health condition. Often, the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions will appear over time, making it hard to identify the difference between a brief period of struggle in your life or a change that is ongoing and causing harm to your overall well-being.
Specific life experiences can put you at higher risk of mental health conditions. People who have lost loved ones, survived a disaster, are facing uncertainties in life, experienced verbal or physical abuse, or endured medical trauma are at a heightened risk for emotional distress.
The good news is there are symptoms that you can be aware of that can alert you to underlying mental health conditions. Below are some common signs you need mental health treatment.
Feeling “off.”
In general, you just don’t feel like yourself. These emotions can carry over into other parts of your life and affect your desire to do things you usually enjoy. Sometimes, you may fall into a rut after a significant life event, such as starting a new job or a change in an important relationship. It’s normal to need some time to adjust, But if you cannot recall the last time you felt happy, this could indicate something more serious.
Mood swings
Experiencing rapid shifts between happiness and sadness and engaging in other behaviors may indicate bipolar disorder, addiction, or untreated trauma.
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Oversleeping, not getting enough sleep, excessive eating, or not eating enough can be signs of a struggle with mental health.
Isolating from social situations
Human contact is essential to our well-being. Isolating yourself from social gatherings with friends and loved ones may signal that you are struggling with mental illness.
Struggling to concentrate or easily distracted
If you struggle to complete regular daily activities or are having trouble staying focused and motivated, it is crucial to address the underlying factors. Stress can be a significant contributor and, if left untreated, can become a more serious mental health condition.
Substance abuse
If you find yourself participating in addictive behaviors such as excessive drinking, abusing drugs, or gambling, it is time to seek help. These habits are destructive and can quickly affect your ability to function in day-to-day life.
Unexplained health problems
Anxiety and depressive disorders can often be linked to headaches, nausea, stiff joints, and muscle pain. If you are experiencing symptoms of pain with no other medical cause, a mental health condition could be causing your discomfort.
Trauma
Any form of trauma, whether emotional, physical, or psychological, can cause long-term mental instability. Leaving trauma untreated can lead to serious conditions. One of them is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This condition causes intense feelings of stress or panic when the person is exposed to triggers in regular life that cause them to relive the original, disturbing event. Mental health professionals are trained in different techniques to help people living with trauma cope.
Excessive worry or fear
If you seem to have never-ending worries, find that your mind is racing even during times of calm, or feel a constant sense of fear, speaking with a therapist could help you get to the root of your concerns.
Suicidal thoughts
If you have thoughts of harming yourself or no longer want to live, seek emergency help immediately.
Finding Treatment
Understandably, many people with mental health disorders might perceive their signs and symptoms as normal or feel hesitant to seek treatment due to shame or fear.
If you’re worried about your mental health, please don’t hesitate to seek advice. Your well-being is essential, and supportive resources are available to help you feel better.
It’s important to talk to your primary care doctor when seeking treatment for a mental health condition. They can use their knowledge of your medical history to help you find the right therapist or psychiatrist to address your condition.
Understanding your diagnosis is just the beginning of your journey. It’s essential to recognize your unique preferences and goals. Remember, treatments for mental illness are diverse and personalized. There’s no universal solution, but there is hope for individualized care.
What You Can Expect from Palm City Mental Health Treatment
Our mental health treatment program combines research-based practices with the use of individual and group therapy as well as medications to best support patients on their road to recovery.
Our first step in treatment is an assessment and diagnosis by a licensed psychologist. Once you have a better understanding of your condition, a psychiatrist can discuss with you whether treatment with medication can help stabilize your disorder.
Our team will help you become established with therapists who are trained in therapy models that are proven to be effective in treating your mental health disorder.
Mental health recovery is life-long. Your team of therapists and psychiatrists will be alongside you to guide your long-term recovery and make changes in your continued therapy and medication management.
Connect With Us Now
If you or a loved one is struggling with symptoms of mental illness, the time to find help is now. Our team of professionals at Palm City Wellness has cultivated an empathetic, research-based approach to treating mental health conditions.
Let us help you become your best self so you can live life to the fullest. Connect with our team today.
References:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: About Mental Illness – Warning Signs and Symptoms
- Mayo Clinic: Mental Health: What’s Normal, What’s Not
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: Knowing When to Seek Treatment