How to Know When to Get Help for a Mental Health Condition

Don't Ignore Subtle Signs 

How do you know if you or a loved one are just having a bad week or if it might be something more? In the U.S., 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 6 youth experience a mental health condition each year. What's important to keep in mind is mental illness presents very differently in each person. Depression may look like not getting out of bed or showering for one person while it's hidden behind a smile in another. Anxiety can range from panic attacks to appearing ultra-organized. Mental health conditions look and feel different for everyone, which can make it difficult to decide when to get help from a mental health professional. 

Don't wait until you're "bad enough" to get help. 

If you aren't feeling yourself and it is concerning you or your loved ones, it's time to reach out to a professional. It can be confusing if you are a high-functioning person who goes to work every day, fulfills commitments and is professionally successful, but silently struggles. It can be easy to brush off symptoms as not "bad enough," but the truth is, it's much easier to treat mental health conditions in the early stages and not waiting for a crisis. Ignoring symptoms will not make them go away.

Pay Close Attention. 

If you're not feeling well, it's easy for the days to blend together and not realize just how long symptoms are present or how your daily routine is changing. Small changes can still be warning signs if they become permanent. The easiest way to keep track is to keep a journal. If you notice symptoms or changes in mood/behavior lasting two weeks or longer, consider discussing it with your doctor. Here are some things to pay close attention to: 

• Self-Care: Maybe you still shower, but are you putting in the same effort you always have when it comes to grooming and dressing? Have you stopped caring about your appearance? Are you skipping parts of your daily self-care routine? 

• Sleep: Are you sleeping too much? Are you falling asleep during the day or during activities? Is it hard to fall asleep and/or stay asleep? Are you experiencing insomnia? Make note in your journal about how long you are sleeping each night and if you're napping during the day. 

• Procrastination: There are things we all dread doing, but are you putting off as many things as you can as often as you can? Is the laundry piling up or the dishes? Are you meeting your work or school deadlines? Are you late for appointments and meetings? Are normal everyday things harder to do and more overwhelming?

• Concentration: Are you having trouble following conversations? What about watching TV or reading a book -- does your mind wander to the point you don't know what you just saw/read? What about your memory? Are you forgetting things all the time?

• Social Life: Are you turning down invitations, ignoring phone calls/texts and staying home as much as possible? Taking some down time is healthy, but if withdrawing from others becomes the norm for you, it's a problem. 

• Fatigue: Are you always tired no matter how much you sleep? Does your body feel physically exhausted? Your limbs may even feel heavy. 

• Feelings: Take note if you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, negative, panic, depressed, agitated, angry, etc. Also make note if you feel emotionally numb or just "off," but aren't sure exactly how to describe it. 

Treatment

Once you decide you want help, it can be hard to know where to go. Mental Health America has created this guide to help you. You can also use The Hub's resource guides and support group guide to find local providers. Be sure to visit our Mental Health Month web page for more resources.

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