Mental Health Warning Signs
Maybe you’ve recently recovered from an episode of depression. Maybe you’ve done some major healing work and have decided to take a break from therapy. Maybe you just have a lot of stress in your life. In all these situations and more, it’s important to check in with yourself. Learning to recognise when your mental health is declining is an important part of mental health maintenance and well-being. Read on to learn common signs of mental health decline and what to do when you notice them.
Everyone’s brains, symptoms, and lives are different. Accordingly, mental health struggles manifest differently in every individual. If you identify with items on this list, it does not automatically mean you have a mental health disorder, and if you don’t identify with anything, that doesn’t mean that the pain you feel isn’t real. This is simply a collection of common ways people recognize that their mental health is declining. That being said, here’s some mental health red flags:
You’re struggling to sleep or find yourself tired all the time and sleeping too much.
Everything feels like a chore, like the joy has been sucked out of everything.
You find yourself judging others, being resentful, and being short-tempered in situations when you usually wouldn’t.
You are withdrawing from others, avoiding making plans, or canceling things you would have once looked forward to.
You constantly feel overwhelmed.
You feel like escaping and are engaging with more “mindless” activities than usual (endless scrolling, re-watching the same shows).
You find yourself using more drugs and alcohol.
You notice unintentional changes in your eating habits.
You feel on edge, restless, or anxious.
You feel trapped, stuck, or disillusioned with your life.
You find yourself dissociating or “checking out” when you want to remain focused.
You have difficulty concentrating and completing your usual workload.
There’s highs and lows in every season in life, and it’s completely normal and healthy to feel “negative” emotions like sadness, anger, and grief. It’s when these feelings eclipse the positive and start impacting our daily life that we should be concerned about our mental health. The common thread in all these red flags is a noticeable change from then to now. If you’re worried about changes in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, it’s a good time to speak with a mental health professional. Looking for a qualified, experienced counselor in Shelby Twp, MI? Send AWC a message today - just click on the “contact” tab on the top of this page.
