Recognizing Negative Mental Health

Sometimes it is easy to recognize whether or not we’ve fallen into a funk. We notice that we just don’t feel like our normal selves. We feel lost, alone, and detached.

Sometimes it’s not so easy for us to tell if our mental health needs tending to.

Here are some basic signs that your mental health is declining’

• Prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
• Dramatic changes in eating habits. (Barely eating or constantly over eating)
• Lack of sleep or excessive sleeping
• Strong feelings of anger or fear
• Social withdrawal (no longer participating in social activities with friends and family)
• Feelings of anxiety (anxious, nervous, paranoid)
• Unexplained aches and pains (not to doing strenuous activities yet feeling sore or physically hurt)
• Lack in sense of self-worth (feeling worthless)
• Impulsive Actions
• Suicidal thoughts
• Increased amount of substance use

These are just some basic symptoms of a mental health problem.

Many things can cause your mental health to decline. Things like an abundance of school work (having papers, projects, and other school work) due around the same time. Commiting to too many activities (after school sports or clubs). Extra responsibilities at home or work. Family or friend problems such as fighting or abandonment.

Sometimes we only feel out of sorts for a few days while we deal with the problem that caused our stress but other times it can last awhile. If you find your symptoms of a mental health issue increasing or lasting for long periods of time, seek professional help. It might be a sign of a mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.

Everyone experiences negative mental health at some point in their life’s and it’s often times not a one time thing. Never feel you have to keep your mental health a secret. Seek help or advice from a love one or professional. Explain your symptoms and what has you feeling out of control.