I distinctly remember not even knowing what mental health was until I was in college. It is hard to imagine now but I just did not know what it was, and few others did either. I remember first meeting someone with clinical depression in one of my college classes.
The student took time out of class to share her struggles with depression. We were all supportive, but I still did not really understand it. Most previous generations grew up seeing anyone that accessed mental health services as a sign of weakness. They would tell you if you were struggling with something in your mental health then you certainly should not share it. The understanding was mental health was a private thing you did not talk about it. You kept it to yourself. Unfortunately, keeping all the family’s mental health secrets sometimes meant people suffered in silence or used substances to deal with the stress of their condition.
Younger generations hear about mental health more frequently and are also quicker to talk and ask about it. Sports figures including Simone Biles and Michael Phelps have been very public about their mental health struggles and the pressures they faced. When public figures share their struggles, it can be transformative for others to see. Even, some of the people that seem the strongest among us have struggles. It is also true that the pandemic was so traumatic for some that mental health came to the front of everyone’s mind because it felt universally that we were all dealing with anxiety.
The most powerful opportunity to better understand our own mental health is to be open with friends and family. Sometimes sharing our own personal story and struggle can make us feel more human and less like the polished life most of us present on social media. There can be a lot of self-conscious feelings when sharing but it can also be very freeing. It may also free others to share back and feel validated. A great example for myself is when I was a teenager and had been arguing with my dad. He paused the conversation and gently told me to be patient with him. Confused by his statement I asked what he meant. He told me he had never raised kids before, and it was hard raising twins together. I gained respect and empathy for him that day because, it helped me understand better about where he was coming from. He just wanted understanding which is what many of us want going through our daily lives. However, when our friend and family support aren’t enough sometimes, we need to reach out to a professional to get additional help.
Consider these steps to help you know when to get professional help.
1.--Pay attention to what others around you are saying?
Are your friends and family concerned about your agitation level, mood, and/or anxiety? If they care about you then it might be worth paying attention. After all, most of our loved ones just want to help.
2--Is the mental health concern going on for weeks or months?
Most mental health diagnosis require multiple symptoms for a specified amount of time. For example, if you have been dealing with ongoing sadness, agitation, sleep disturbance, poor appetite, and withdrawn behavior for weeks and months it might be time to get help. Most of us have a difficult day or even a stressful week here or there but if you can’t shake it off then it might be time to reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional to be evaluated.
3--Do your annual medical checkups.
When we go in for our physicals each year, they will typically ask you a series of questions and give you some questionnaires that will help them determine if you might need additional mental health support or an evaluation.
4--Be honest with yourself.
Ignoring your mental health is like ignoring a physical condition. It often will get worse before getting better and could cause physical symptoms. So, it is important to pay attention to it.
--Jered B.
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