When we experience physical pain, we sometimes dismiss it as normal.
It’s just normal aches and pains.
I’m just getting older.
It’s not that bad. I have more important things to worry about.
We tend to do the same thing with mental health.
I just have stress like everyone else.
Everything is happening at once, but it’ll pass.
It’s not that bad. I have more important things to worry about.
Each of these statements may be true. Or they may not.
How do you when you should be concerned about what you’re experiencing and seek mental health support? Here are clear signs that it’s time to reach out for help.
It’s intense and doesn’t go away.
Temporary stress, anxiety, and sadness are part of life. Negative thoughts and feelings that are persistent and constant are not unusual, but they shouldn’t be dismissed. It’s time to seek mental health support when symptoms:
- Feel overwhelming or difficult to control.
- Cause feelings of helplessness or hopelessness.
- Last for more than two weeks and never really stop.
It’s making daily life more difficult.
When everyday tasks, responsibilities, and relationships are affected, it’s time to seek mental health support. This could involve:
- Drops in performance at work or school.
- Difficulty focusing or making decisions.
- Lack of dependability with family matters and responsibilities around the house.
It’s causing you to become isolated.
Withdrawal from friends, family, and activities you enjoy typically makes symptoms worse, and it’s a clear sign that you should seek mental health support. Signs of isolation and withdrawal include:
- Avoiding and not responding to texts, emails, and calls.
- Cancelling plans, especially for no reason.
- Spending more time alone than usual.
It’s causing physical and behavioral changes.
There’s not always one moment or event that causes you to seek mental support. It often happens after a pattern of changes has started to interfere with your well-being and happiness. For example:
- Sleeping/eating too much or not enough.
- Increased alcohol or drug use.
- Too much time spent on devices, social media, gaming, etc.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Part of increasing awareness is recognizing signs of mental health challenges. This can lead to early interventions that help you get back to feeling like yourself again before the situation becomes too serious. To schedule an appointment at Oaks Integrated Care, contact us by calling 1-800-963-3377.
