Signs of Poor Mental Health You Shouldn’t Ignore

Mental illness affects all of our functions, from cognition to emotion to stress management to interpersonal interactions. But many people ignore warning signs, chalking them up to stress or exhaustion. Early awareness of these symptoms can mean a lot when trying to regain proper functioning through support to recover.

Ongoing Changes in Mood

Every individual has highs and lows, but sympathy is appropriate if the condition of feeling sad, irritable, or anxious persists for protracted periods with little relief. You may observe the following: “You may feel emotionally numb, need to cry more often, or have stronger mood swings than usual.” Feeling hopeless or trapped may denote depression, and when worries interfere with normal activities, it could denote an anxiety disorder.

Withdrawal from Social Relations

What could possibly signal mental distress more is what happens with a withdrawal from friends, relatives, and social activities that were enjoyed in the past. What happens is that people with poor mental issues actually think that they’re a burden to everyone, or that they do not have the energy to socialize with other people, so they just withdraw.

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Post-Polio Fatigue

Poor sleep patterns can manifest in a multitude of ways. Some people may experience insomnia and spend hours awake, racing in their minds as they lie in bed. Some people sleep a lot as a way to escape the overwhelming feelings they experience. You could find yourself waking up multiple times throughout the night or waking up in the early morning hours, experiencing heightened levels of anxiety.

Changes in Appetite or Experienced Weight

Mental health problems can impact eating behavior. Depression can cause a loss of appetite, and this can cause a person to lose weight due to a lack of nutrition. Others can be driven to eat due to emotional comfort, and this can cause them to be severely overweight. Apart from these changes, you can also notice that there is no interest in food, and this can happen due to compulsive behavior to eat.

Difficulty Concentrating or Making Decisions

When mental health declines, thinking abilities are commonly affected. It is just too hard to concentrate on what you are doing. You may be reading the same sentence or paragraph over and over again and not be taking in a thing. You may have trouble finishing a project that was easy before. Simple choices like what to eat for lunch or what to wear may be difficult. Memory loss can begin. You may forget things more easily or may have trouble thinking about what you want to say.

Physical Symptoms Without Obvious Causes

Mental health issues often show up in physical form. You can experience a constant headache, stomach issues, tense muscles, and other pains that don’t seem to respond to treatment. Feeling fatigued even after you take plenty of rest, feeling like you have a lump in your chest, and feeling like you’re experiencing a rapid heartbeat can happen if you have anxiety issues.

Lack of Interest in Activities Once Enjoyed

A lack of enjoyment or energy related to hobbies, passions, or activities that previously brought pleasure can also point to depression through the component of anhedonia. The act may become a chore where you can go through the motions without feeling pleasure. Activities such as art, sports, or relaxing activities become pointless, impossible, and/or have no relaxing effects. This also applies to matters related to appearance.

Increased Substance Use

Turning to alcohol, drugs, or another substance to manage challenging emotions is an indication. This can begin innocuously—resorting to alcohol or substances as a way to relax, or feeling the need to use the substance more often. Using substances may temporarily alleviate symptoms of mental health conditions but can exacerbate them.

Unexplained Anger or Irritability

Irritability, having a short temper, or feeling disproportionately angry could be an indication of issues with one’s mental health. Small matters may cause one to be extremely upset. One may lash out at their loved ones or be constantly short-tempered or mean-spirited. Such emotional behaviors may be due to one feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or depression.

Considerations of Self-Injury or Suicide

Thoughts of self-harm or suicide must also be addressed right away. These may include thoughts of not wanting to exist, planning, or actually engaging in suicide ideation. Even if you are not planning on proceeding with the act, the fact that you have the thoughts indicates a serious problem.

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Taking Action

Identification of these symptoms is a huge start. Mental illness is a normal condition that can be treated; there is no need to feel embarrassed by it. When you realize that many of these symptoms persistently occur within a span of two weeks, seeking help is important. You can start by opening up to a friend, family member, or doctor that you trust. There are professionals, like psychologists and psychiatrists, who can help individuals deal with these issues.

It is also important to remember that reaching out for assistance is a sign of strength, not weakness. Just as one would consult a doctor for changes in their body, mental issues also require similar attention and care. In most cases, getting assistance early is always much better.

You are important, and your mental health matters. It’s good that you are paying attention to some of the signs that could be in you and in some of the people you care about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do mood fluctuations mean that one has poor mental health?

Not necessarily. Mood swings are common from time to time. Extreme and persistent mood swings might suggest an underlying problem of bipolar disorder.

Q2: Can poor mental health impact physical health?

Yes. Stress, anxiety, and their effects can include headaches, problems in the digestive system, and immune deficiencies, which show the relationship between those concerning two aspects of our being and our bodily aspect.

Q3: When should I seek professional help?

It is important to seek the care of a mental health professional if the symptoms continue for longer than two weeks or are impacting daily functioning or involve self-destructive behaviors.

Q4: Is poor sleep necessarily linked to mental health?

It’s not always. It can be caused by a person’s lifestyle or a physical condition. However, a lack of sleep or sleeping too much may be a symptom of depression or anxiety.

Q5: Would lifestyle modifications suffice in ameliorating mental health issues?

Exercise, meditation, and maintaining a balanced diet can help, but sometimes it may require consulting professionals for moderate to severe cases.