UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH
When it comes to understanding mental health, there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Everyone is unique in the challenges they face, as well as the various approaches they respond to most effectively.
Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being affect nearly every aspect of our day-to-day experiences - from how we process information and navigate through stressful situations to how we relate with loved ones and co-workers.
While it may not be quite as obvious, tending to our psychological health is equally as important as staying physically healthy. Ignoring symptoms of mental illness is just about the same as spraining your ankle and trying to go for a run, business as usual. As a serious athlete or hobbyist will likely know, this only exacerbates the issue, leading to more problems down the line.
We’re not at our best while suffering from depression, anxiety, or any other form of mental illness, no matter how minute or severe the condition may be.
Problems of the Day
Living in the modern age poses many uncertainties and stressors that regular people and experts alike are still figuring out how to deal with. Social media addiction, economic uncertainty, stark political divisions, unrivaled levels of loneliness, and other perils of the day amount to new challenges that can only be swept under the rug for so long.
It’s become more important than ever to make an active effort to educate ourselves and those around us on the outsized role mental health plays in our lives.
Shedding Stigmas
For countless generations, there have been stigmas and gross misunderstandings attached to mental illness, silencing those who are struggling and leaving them to suffer. Today, the tides are changing. More Americans than ever before are opening up about the difficulties they face with mental illness and are seeking out professional help.
According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 21.6% of adults in the US received some form of mental health treatment in 2021.
So how do you know if it’s time for you or a loved one to seek the counsel of a mental health professional?
Recognizing Mental Illness
Disturbances in mental health aren’t as easy to spot as high blood pressure or a skin rash, but there are tell-tale warning signs that can help identify an underlying issue. If you or someone close to you are experiencing a combination of the following symptoms, it may be beneficial to speak with a mental health expert:
- Feeling withdrawn or sad for more than 2 weeks
Persistent feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
- Abrupt changes in sleep patterns
Troubling falling asleep, sleeping significantly more or less than usual
- Drastic changes in mood
Strong waves of fear, anxiety, sadness, or happiness that seemingly come out of nowhere
- Significant changes in appetite or weight
Overeating or binge-eating, loss of appetite or skipping meals
- Decrease in productivity
Trouble concentrating at work or in school, difficulty completing routine tasks or working toward defined goals, uncharacteristic problems with memory
- Increased irritability
Agitation or heightened sensitivity to everyday situations
- Suicidal thoughts or plans
Even passing thoughts of suicide warrant professional attention, and you or a loved one should contact a mental health expert or call The National Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24/7 for immediate help at 800-273-8255, or text 988
- Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
Using substances to cope with stressful situations
- Extreme risk-taking behavior
Disregard for one’s own well-being, seeking out dangerous situations
Finding the Best Approach to Maintaining Mental Health
There are more treatment options for mental health issues than ever before – it’s just a matter of finding what is best for you and your goals. Everyone journeys from one chapter to the next in their own way, and identifying the best path forward is half the battle.
It’s very common to feel overwhelmed by the plethora of online and in-person treatment options available today. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Our friendly and compassionate mental health experts at Families, Inc are here to help. Give us a call or visit us at one of our 11 local clinics in Arkansas. Together, we can help you enjoy a healthier, happier life. #mentalhealth #familiesinc
