I recently attended an event hosted by #Propelledmedia and their mentorship initiative for young women. I was asked to speak on the subject of mental health to encourage and enlighten those in attendance. One of the attendees posed an important question, as she inquired how can one know they are depressed or having a mental health issue? In other words, how can someone seek help, if they are not even aware of their own emotional state?
Quite often, mental illness is depicted in an extreme form; someone has to be on the verge of suicide or a psychotic break to be considered mentally ill or have a need to address their mental health. In actuality, stressors both external/situational or internal/biological can trigger an emotional response.
Whether dealing with any form of loss of relationships, employment, finances, death, dealing with depression subsequent to childbirth, or the onset of an illness as complex as schizophrenia, none of these concerns hold a hierarchy to seek professional support. Clearly, some conditions are more impairing than others, however, it is important to consider your particular condition worthy to be addressed.
Here is a behavioral checklist to consider if uncertain whether you or a loved one are in need of additional support:
Disclaimer: DO NOT use this post as an alternative to actual enrollment into the care of a mental health professional. If you are experiencing auditory or visual hallucinations or if you are feeling like hurting yourself or someone else, please call 911 and/or proceed to the nearest emergency room. Do not utilize self help resources to address immediate crisis.
Loss of interest in activities: i.e. If you were accustomed to attending a weekly book club that you used to enjoy and found fulfilling, but stopped attending without good reason to instead spend your weekends in bed or on your sofa.
Apathy/Loss of energy
Loss of appetite/overeating
Oversleeping or lack of sleep
Isolation: The main character Grace in my novel illustrates this behavior and it is recognized by her loved ones. If you have experienced depression yourself or witnessed this behavior in others, then this is an easily recognized trait. I am not talking about "me time" either. The concern with isolation is that it is often misread as being aloof, or people assume you are being selfish, or " living your life," uncertain of the emotional pain the person may experience that causes them to feel disconnected from themselves and others. The concern may be avoiding being a burden to others, not wanting others to see you in this condition, or # 2 apathy or loss of energy. An additional risk of isolation is the lack of self awareness in solitude, and the tendency to maintain faulty thoughts as truth without a sounding board.
Pattern of interpersonal difficulties: Constant arguments and/or conflict with others, low frustration tolerance, or you are easily agitated and irritable...again these behaviors are without being provoked or without having an actual trigger.
Intrapersonal/Identity crisis: You begin to practice negative self talk, you become overly critical of yourself. You may begin to question your existence/purpose in a non-existential philosophical way, but in a defeating manner. Frequent uncertainty of who you are overall.
Low sex drive: Not having the desire for sex or inability to enjoy the act.
Poor decision making: This may include: sexual insatiability, sexual risks/unsafe sex practices, overspending, gambling, no longer paying bills, not addressing health issues, negligence of your children or caregiver responsibilities.
Goal directed Behavior: i.e. Need to remove all of the contents from your cupboards , reorganizing and cleaning at 3 in the morning, while sacrificing sleep.
Pressured Speech: Difficult to interrupt due to an overabundance of thoughts expressed rapidly.
Panic Attacks: Difficulty breathing, chest pains, racing thoughts, sweats, overall feeling of losing control, or feeling of " death" or " gloom and doom."
Flashbacks
Impaired reality testing/feeling as though you are outside your body or in a dream. Experiencing auditory or visual hallucinations which are either persecutory, command, or even soothing. They all indicate an impairment in reality and due to the extent of the impairment, particular a first onset, this person may need inpatient hospitalization for temporary stabilization purposes, then they can return to their outpatient routines, or psychiatry/team-agreed-upon outpatient treatment plans.
Labile emotional state: Vacillating between emotional states. i.e. crying, laughter, anger expressed beyond an appropriate response to a particular circumstance. The emotional responses are unprovoked and spontaneous.
Thoughts of hopelessness/Thoughts or attempts of self harm ( suicidal or non suicidal): In reality this should be number one due to the element of safety. If you or someone is expressing vague suicidal thoughts , hopelessness, or has or plans to engage in behaviors that are low risk yet self injurious, this should not be taken lightly and emergency precautions should be taken, i.e: calling 911 or proceeding to the nearest emergency room. People who repeatedly self injure are more likely to commit suicide and simply the thoughts without a plan or intent is an emergency. This person may be subtly crying out for help ( not to be confused with attention seeking). Ask direct questions, " do you feel suicidal?" Pay attention to a person who is not future oriented and who makes comments about the world being a better place if they were gone. Be concerned about someone who gives away their possessions impulsively as if they no longer have use for it, or someone who stops taking their maintenance medication for a chronic illness. Also be alert for those who may have been in a consistent state of depression but seem unusually cheerful and happily out of character; often this person may have decided to commit suicide and appear happy because their mind is made up and they anticipate executing their self harm act.
I hope this information was useful and helpful to support your concerns about yourself or others. Feel free to comment or if you have further questions, contact me directly via facebook, instagram, or via email.
Thank you, be good to yourself, and be well.
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