Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you don’t take care of your mental health, you won’t be able to come up with sound decisions which can affect all facets of your life namely your career, relationships, and wellbeing. Having poor mental health can also become the reason why you’ll have a hard time coping with life’s stress and relate to other people. Just like how you can experience illnesses and diseases physically, you can also develop mental health disorders. Over time, this can result in social isolation because you might fear that you’re judged by your peers, or no one understands what you’re going through. A mental health disorder can also cause a roller coaster of emotions such as anger, sadness and a feeling of helplessness. In worse cases, a mental health disorder can lead to suicide.
Mental health disorders are a serious issue. Sure, everything might be going on “in your head,” but these can significantly impact your mood, behaviour, and decisions. It can even cause severe and mild disturbances in thought and behavior which can result in your inability to cope with simple demands and routines. And contrary to popular belief, those who are suffering from mental health disorders can’t easily “get over it.” Mental health disorders are complex psychological problems which are very difficult to endure, regardless of how a sufferer tries.
What Are The Signs Of Mental Health Disorders?
Most people believe that a mental health disorder is rare and only happens “to someone else.” This is a misconception. In reality, mental health disorders are common and widespread. Because mental health disorders can come with different faces, anyone can be affected. You might even be suffering from a mental health disorder but just didn’t pay any heed. If you want to save yourself from suffering the full extent of a mental health disorder, watch out for the following signs:
- You feel confused, forgetful, angry, upset, worried and scared for no reason;
- You feel numb as if nothing around you matters;
- You lost the interest to do activities which you loved doing in the past;
- You often feel hopeless or helpless;
- You often have low or no energy;
- You often yell or fight with your friends or family for no reason;
- You’re drinking, smoking and using drugs more than usual;
- You’re eating or sleeping too much or too little;
- You’re experiencing severe mood swings which cause problems in your relationships and career;
- You’re having a hard time performing daily tasks like going to work or school;
- You’re having persistent thoughts which you can’t get out of your head;
- You’re having unexplained aches and pains, some of these are recurring;
- You’re hearing voices or believing things which aren’t true;
- You’re pulling away from people and would rather be alone;
- You’re thinking of harming yourself or others.
Carefully assess yourself and determine if you’ve experienced any of these signs. Be as objective as possible. If you’re guilty of experiencing even one of these, start scouting for professionals who can help you get better or recover completely. Organizations like Open Sky Psychology have psychologists who can provide tailored-fit solutions for your mental health needs. Although mental health disorders are common occurrences today, remember that help is always available.
How Can You Take Care Of Your Mental Health?
How you can recover from a mental health disorder heavily relies on your own efforts. Yes, professionals might be there to pave the way towards your recovery, but if you’re not exerting any effort or if you’re not taking any precautions on your own, any help given to you will be useless. Taking care of your mental health will be easier when you know how:
- Connect with others: Most often than not, a person develops a mental health disorder because he doesn’t have an outlet to relieve himself from stress or problems. He’ll end up keeping everything to himself which can aggravate the emotional weight that he’s carrying This is the reason why connecting with other people can go a long way in taking care of your mental health. If you have a problem at school, work or home, tell your friends and family about it. Let them know what you’re going through. Not only will this relieve yourself from stress but you can also gain pieces of advice which can help you cope from the problem.
- Stay positive: Things don’t always go according to plan. No matter how much you’ve prepared for it, there’ll always be factors which you can’t control. Instead of forcing things to happen your way, always stay positive no matter how things turn out. When you have this perception, you won’t feel devastated or miserable when unexpected things happen. Staying positive will also help you cope easier and faster so you can move on in life.
- Get physically active: Exercising regularly doesn’t only keep your weight in check, but it also aids in maintaining your mental health. This happens because whenever you sweat, your body releases endorphins which are also called as happiness hormones. If you notice that you immediately feel good after an hour of exercise, endorphins are the reason why. Aside from endorphins, exercising can also have a positive impact on depression and anxiety. It can also relieve stress, improve the quality of your sleep and boost your overall mood.
Take Care Of Your Mental Health
Regardless of your age and gender, your mental health plays an essential role in your life. When your mental health is optimal, you’ll be able to realize your full potential and easily cope with the stresses of life. Your mental health can also affect your productivity and helps you create meaningful contributions to your communities. All of these things should be reason enough for you to pay attention to your mental health. You should take measures to maintain your mental health and ensure that you’ll live a life that’s free from any mental health disorders.
