Paying attention to your physical health and symptoms becomes important as we age. Most of us that try to be good parents take our kids for their well child appointments to get them updated on their vaccines and screenings.
It’s also exciting to see how your child is progressing on their growth chart. Oddly enough adults are much more reluctant to do the same regarding their physical health. Many might go years without any kind of checkup or lab work done. Many think doctors’ visits are only required if something is wrong, but doing an annual physical just to make sure there isn’t anything sneaking up on us is important.
For example, you might find out if you are prediabetic or have high cholesterol—which is a big deal. The same is true with our mental health. Annual physicals now also generally do a mental health screening to assess other potential areas of concern. Most times, like annual physicals, generally things are fine and there is no cause for concern. They are considered preventative and meant to catch any physical problems before they become a big deal. Likewise, any mental health checkup done at your physical is essentially the same thing. It is meant just to see if there are any stressors that may be weighing on your mental well-being. Most people generally have stable mental health, however, we can all have occasional fluctuations that may need some adjustments or even more serious intervention.
There are things that cause our mental health to slide into dangerous areas that need attention from professionals. Big life events that we struggle to bounce back from can be triggers for deteriorating mental health. Death and divorce in our family can be huge obstacles. Some people also are at a higher risk of developing mental health concerns. Just like family history is a big indicator in physical illnesses they can also be a precursor for potential mental health problems. For example, if your mom and dad deal with depression and anxiety then there is a good chance it may affect you at some point in your lifetime. So, how do we recognize the potential signs of deteriorating mental health in ourselves or a loved one?
A few things to consider regarding your mental health are listed below.
1--Are you recovering from a big life event?
We can grief all sorts of things not just a loss of a family member or a divorce. We can grieve a lost opportunity, a relocation to a new home, the end of a friendship, etc.
2--Be aware of your family history and how it affected your family.
Don’t consider yourself immune to any mental health problems but be proactive in protecting your mental health with good routines, support system, and good coping skills.
3--Listen. Don’t be defensive when others reach out with concern.
If others tell you that you don’t seem yourself don’t ignore them.
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