Our bodies often cry for help, but are we listening? Explore the different potential warning signs you may be experiencing, and why it’s important to seek help.
Can you hear that? Unclench your jaw and relax your shoulders. Can you hear your intense desire for a break, a pause, a moment of peace?
Many of us dismiss our internal distress signals and push through our stormy life, armed with just our sheer will. Yet, these whispers can be vital warning signs, indicators that our mental well-being is under siege and needs attention.
Can you hear it now? Because in this blog, we will be exploring these signals, as we direct ourselves towards the support and healing we desperately need.
Anatomy of Warning Signs
- The Brain: Decoding Cognitive Signals
- Negative Self-talk: Harsh self-criticism and feelings of worthlessness might be a sign of distress. Given their persistent presence, they can be subtle, but significant, indicators of underlying emotional turmoil. These persistent negative thought patterns can erode self-esteem, hinder personal growth, and contribute to the development of more severe mental health conditions.
- Hopeless Thoughts: Under high pressure, some people may find it difficult to think of moving forwards, often leading to ideations about hopelessness or suicide. Thoughts such as “I wish I was dead” can be an indicator of deteriorating mental health.
- Difficulty Concentrating: Decreased cognitive function can be due to different underlying issues, such as fatigue, anxiety, ADHD or more. But one thing is for sure: it is not a sign to be ignored!
- Racing Thoughts: On the other hand, do you sometimes feel like there’s a panicking squirrel in your brain, jumping from one place to another and wreaking mental havoc? While it is common, racing thoughts are a nuisance to have! They often result in feelings of anxiety and overstimulation.
- The Heart: Notice Your Emotions
- Withdrawal and Isolation: Whether it’s due to low energy or acquired disinterest, we sometimes find ourselves withdrawing from social environments or activities with our loved ones. Regardless of the reasons behind this, isolation is a slippery slope that can increase our feelings of distress.
- Irritability and Mood Swings: Okay, so waking up happy and then getting angry because your roommate stole your breakfast doesn’t necessarily indicate that you are moody. However, it is worthy to note instances where you experience frequent outbursts of anger, irritability, or unexplained emotional episodes, especially when your relationships and daily life get disrupted.
- Loss of Enjoyment: Have you ever found yourself struggling to engage in activities you previously enjoyed? Anhedonia, a common response to high stress, is when you lose the ability to experience pleasure or joy in life, leading to frustration and hopelessness.
- The Body: Listening to Your Physical Signs
- Unexplained Symptoms: Chronic stress increases the level of cortisol, a body hormone associated with different physical conditions when elevated for long periods of time. While physical symptoms can be a sign to check with your general physician, body pains such as headaches, fatigue, muscle tension and more, can also be a sign to seek psychological help as well.
- Trouble Sleeping: Can you find greater hostility than the one between distress and sleep? Go on, I’ll wait. In fact, stress is significantly associated with reduced sleep quality. One common knowledge is that people may lie awake, overwhelmed by their thoughts. However, there’s the other end of the extreme, where individuals may find themselves sleeping for longer hours, unable to feel refreshed and awake.
- Changes in Appetite: If you sometimes feel like your stomach either turned into a rock or a black hole, you’re not alone! Yes, mental health can even cause changes in our appetite. Growing research has been delving deeper into such relationships, proving that these appetite changes are not just you being “picky”, but a genuine physical response to the different ways stress can affect the brain and digestive system.
Now What?
So, now that some celebrities here and there talked about their psychological challenges, it’s easier for us to do that as well, right?
Let’s think again. Help-seeking behavior in the Middle East is actually rooted in several unhealthy foundations, preventing it from flourishing. An interesting recent study delved deeper into this topic, showcasing the main barriers that prevent us from reaching out for help.
Here are some of the factors standing in the way of nurturing our mental stability:
- Public Stigma: Unfortunately, stigma against mental health problems still exists on a large scale. Fear of judgment on a professional, personal and even legal level can be a huge deterrent against seeking help for any mental distress.
- Internalized Shame: Societal stigma can also lead to internalized shame and embarrassment. While people may be either conscious or unconscious of such feelings, they might view seeking help as a sign of weakness or failure.
- Lack of Resources: Another barrier against seeking treatment is the limited access to mental health services due to financial constraints, lack of insurance coverage, or a shortage of qualified professionals in certain areas.
I know, this blog has taken quite a turn, hasn’t it? While things are sounding a bit down, the importance of acknowledging these barriers is in breaking them.
And what better way to facilitate help-seeking behavior other than to actually seek help? The question remains: Who do we reach out for?
Fret no further, for things are looking up! Because the answer is right here:
Trusted Friends and Family
It can be difficult opening up to individuals who are close to us, fearing that their image of us may shatter as vulnerabilities get shared. On the contrary, being supported by those close to us can strengthen our connection and provide us with irreplaceable encouragement and compassion.
Support Groups
Struggling with mental health problems can sometimes be isolating. So, reach out to support groups that can help you feel validated and empowered by connecting you with others sharing similar experiences!
Mental Health Professionals
Therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists offer a confidential haven where you can unravel the complexities of your mind. With their non-judgmental and empathetic approach, they can foster your resiliency and well-being.
Stand Strong!
As we push ourselves in this modern hustle era, the reinforcement of productivity and contribution can be addicting. We might lose ourselves in the storms of tasks and appointments, falling deaf to the silent cries of our souls.
Acknowledging our stamina and limitations is a strength. It is a skill that allows us to focus on the ultimate priority– our well-being. Our body, mind and soul work to preserve our health and identity, often sending signals that are crucial to be recognized and seen.
As the author and mental health advocate Matt Haig eloquently put it, “It’s okay not to be okay. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to say you’re struggling. Mental illness is not a personal failure. You are not weak for struggling. You are not weak for asking for help. You are strong for surviving.”