October has been declared Mental Health Awareness Month with the objective of not only educating the public about mental health, but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to.
At some point in our lives we all experience stress or anxiety, mood swings, burnout or some kind of emotional distress.
The reasons for these may be varied and sometimes it simply is not possible to overcome it ourselves.
We feel down and cannot manage to perk ourselves up again.
We develop negative habits that we cannot seem to break.
These are the times we need some professional help to get us back on track.
Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness.
The stigma surrounding mental illness has seen far too many people suffer in silence for fear of being prejudiced against.
Getting the help you need, when you need it, is the first step to getting your life back on track.
According to mental health experts, seek professional help if:
You are unable to self-regulate
Sadness, anxiety, or anger are common feelings, but could be indicative of something more serious if it occurs too often and intensely.
Going to therapy will help you manage your emotions more effectively and can help pinpoint their root cause.
A professional therapist can help you explore deeper issues and give you the tools you need to cope.
It is a safe and objective space in which you can express your emotions without fear of judgement, appearing weak, or worrying that confidentiality will be broken.
You have been feeling unwell
Mental health issues can have direct and indirect effects on our physical health. Fatigue, headaches, tension and a weak immune system are often indicative of a mental health concern.
You are not as effective as usual
When experiencing mental health issues, there is often a decrease in performance.
You may have a reduced attention span, poor concentration and memory, and a lack of energy and excitement to fulfil everyday tasks.
Your interpersonal relationships have been affected
Poor mental health can cause you to withdraw, or cause you to be more “needy”, and lean on someone heavily for support.
You no longer enjoy the things you used to
People struggling with psychological issues often feel detached from their everyday lives. This often results in them no longer enjoying the things they used to. They become more isolated and could have thoughts of suicide.
You are dealing with grief
The emotional burden of grief is a heavy one. Having therapy or grief counselling can go a long way in lifting or easing this burden, particularly if you do not have an outside support system helping you with it.
Your sleeping and eating patterns have changed
Someone suffering from anxiety may have difficulty sleeping, while someone in a depressed state could sleep more than the recommended amount. The same applies to eating patterns. Some “eat their feelings”, while others find it difficult to eat when they are feeling stressed.
