October 2-8 Mental Health Awareness week. Mental health is a huge subject, that is impossible to cover completely in one article However, if you’ve never given much thought to your own mental health, there are some basics to consider that may help you.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and taking care of it is crucial for your overall well-being. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some surprising facts about mental health, and what you can do if you feel you might be struggling.
The Staggering Statistics of Mental Health
Mental Health involves more than just depression and anxiety, but these are the two most common issues, and the ones with the most data collected. In fact, depression is the most common mental health condition in the world.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2017, 300 million people around the globe suffered from depression. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of stigmas attached to the mental health condition, so there are likely many people struggling with it who have never gotten an official diagnosis. The same goes for a variety of different anxiety disorders.
There is no one cause for most mental health conditions. Sometimes, genetics can play a factor. Traumatic events, life changes, or even hormones can also come into play. Because there isn’t one concrete cause, These type of conditions can sometimes be difficult to diagnose.
The Common Symptoms
Eeryone experiences mental health struggles differently. However, in addition to obvious mood changes (sadness, irritability, anxiety, etc), there are other common signs to look for:
- Problems sleeping (too much, too little, poor quality)
- Changes in appetite (stress eating or lack of appetite)
- Changes in weight (both gaining or losing weight)
- Constant fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Problems in relationships (arguing more, feeling distant or disconnected)
- Poor work productivity
- Increase in impulsive/unhealthy behaviors (isolating, avoiding, distracting through drugs or alcohol, or over-shopping, gambling, etc.)
Because mental health conditions aren’t always easy to diagnose at first, it’s especially important to pay attention to your own signs and symptoms. You know your mind and body better than anyone else. If something feels “off” or you know you’re not thinking the way you should, you can take the first step toward getting the treatment you need.
When to Seek Help
Unfortunately, there are still many negative stigmas surrounding mental health problems. Some people see it as a sign of weakness. Others worry about what family members and friends might think.
It’s easy to be in denial over a mental health issue because everyone experiences them differently. But, there is absolutely no shame in getting help when it’s needed. If you notice any signs of a problem, it’s never too early to get help. Perhaps you will benefit from learning to handle general life stress better before it becomes a serious diagnosis.
If you’ve been holding back or suffering silently, you should absolutely seek out treatment. Most importantly, if you ever have any thoughts of self-harm or suicide, don’t let dark thoughts or moods linger, isolate you, or become worse.
Treatment for mental health conditions comes in a variety of options. For some, medication is the best solution. For others, therapy and/or counseling can make a big difference in helping you identify unhelpful patterns and learn to manage your symptoms. Sometimes the best outcome is achieved through both medication and counseling.
