Poor mental health is a serious issue that should be treated as such. If not dealt with in the right way, it can lead to a number of physical issues and can cause behavioral problems that can be life-threatening. Mental health is a blanket term to refer to a emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Our mental health impacts the ways in which we interact with others, our thoughts, and feelings. It also plays a role in how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It is important for all people at all stages of life.
Anyone can deal with and experience mental health problems, including your family and loved one. There are a number of contributing factors when it comes to mental health problems including life experiences, biological factors, and hereditary and family history.
If you are worried that your loved one may be dealing with some sort of mental health problem, you need to work to look for the signs related to these and be there for them to help them through these issues.
Signs of Mental Health Problems
If you aren’t sure if you or a loved one is living with mental health problems, you can look for a few signs and symptoms that can be considered early warnings. Some of these signs include:
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
- Pulling away from people and usual activities
- Fatigue
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Yelling or fighting with family or friends
Some more serious issues can include:
Self-harm — Hurting yourself on purpose is a sign of emotional distress. These emotions can grow to become more intense as a person continues to use this as a coping mechanism. Self-harm can be a sign of many different problems including borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, PTSD, and more. Unfortunately, if not handled, self-harm can become more problematic and even lead to thoughts or attempts of suicide.
Drinking or using drugs — Along with self-harm, drinking or using drugs is considered a coping mechanism to deal with stress, emotional distress, or something else. Unfortunately, these actions can be cyclical and lead to addiction. If this is the case, it is important to deal with issues related to addiction as soon as possible. Luckily there are many resources available to help someone learn how to stop drinking or quit using drugs.
How To Help
If you have noticed some of these signs in your loved one, they may be dealing with some type of mental health issue. It is important to reach out to them if you notice they are struggling. Just offering a hand in support can be enough for them to seek out the help that they need.
There are a number of ways that you can show support for a loved one with a mental health problem. For example, simply expressing concern and asking questions about their state of health can go a long way in showing that you care about your loved one.
The issues that they may be dealing with can be overwhelming. If this is the case, it can be beneficial to offer your loved one a helping hand with everyday tasks that they need to be accomplished.
Other ways that you can help and show support include:
- Reassuring your friend or family member that you care about them
- Educating others on the facts about mental health problems
- Including your love done in your plans
If the problem is severe, you may need to urge your loved one to seek professional help. It is important to remind them that proper treatment is available and mental health problems can be alleviated given the proper approach.
There are a number of ways that you can improve your situation. For example, seeking out a therapist or psychologist can help evaluate your loved ones situation and figure out a proper treatment plan.