While everyone realizes the importance of attaining and maintaining physical health, there needs to be an increased awareness of mental health as well. With the high levels of stress, disturbing global issues, and the family unit under attack, mental health problems have been on the rise. It’s now estimated that around a quarter of the USA’s while population is suffering from some sort of mental disorder or disease.
It’s very much possible that we ourselves or a loved one has their lives affected by mental illness. While such conditions are disturbing, they are not irreversible. The first step towards dealing with mental health issues is to acknowledge them, and then work towards understanding them. After that, some methods of treatment or therapy can be worked out.
Understanding the Problem
It’s important to understand that an issue with one’s mental health affects not just the individual, but also their family and friends. There’s a lot of false information and stereotypes about certain mental illnesses going around, so it’s all the more essential to educate ourselves about them. Once we learn about all the symptoms of anxiety, eating disorders, depression, etc, we’d be better equipped to help those who are suffering in silence.
Diagnosing Mental Issues
It’s not easy to diagnose any mental health issue, so be sure to consult a licensed expert in this regard. While any layperson can easily Google certain behaviors to find out if they’re symptoms of a particular disorder, an armchair diagnosis could easily be wrong.
The wrong diagnosis would lead to a problematic treatment, resulting in aggravated symptoms. The suspected patient needs to go through a series of certified tests and have their problem officially recognized. This is the best and perhaps the only way for them to truly be helped.
Common Symptoms
Some symptoms of mental health disorders might not be considered too serious in our daily lives. However, it is when these symptoms get out of control that they become a proper disorder. When the little cleanliness habits, unusual quirks, or interests turn into obsessive streaks and prevent us from leading a normal life, the individual in question needs rapid assistance. Just a few symptoms to be on the alert for are:
- Detachment from activities once enjoyed
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Lack of sleep, or suffering from insomnia
- Unexplained and unreasonable sadness that stays for long periods of time
- Anxiety, fatigue, constant tiredness
- Inexplicable and sudden mood swings, going from very happy to very sad with the slightest or even no triggers
- Substance abuse, especially with drugs and alcohol, in order to suppress inner emotions and feelings.
If we notice any of the symptoms above, we should be asking whether the person exhibiting them needs help of any kind.
Play Your Part
Once you’ve helped a loved one to diagnose their mental health issues, give them the information and treatment methods they need. Minimizing or ignoring the problems won’t help then go away. Help them recognize what’s going on, and you may improve more than one life in the process.
It is also important to always keep a check on your friends, family members, and relatives. It is sometimes the strong, funny ones that are battling some of the horrible wars inside their minds, all on their own.
Stay Safe.
