Mental Health Warning Signs and When to Ask for Help
Intro
In order to thrive in any and every area of life, you need to be emotionally and mentally sound. How can you make good decisions if you are not mentally prepared for the choices? Mr. Lawrence Fianko joins us once again to discuss how to keep out minds healthy.
Guest Bio
Mr. Lawrence Fianko is a mental health and addictions therapist and the CEO & co-founder of Educational Communities Worldwide. He has been helping those who struggle with mental health and addiction for over four years.
Q: What is the difference between emotional health and mental health?
Mental health involves changes in emotions and behavior, while emotional wellness involves becoming aware of your emotional stressors [things and situations that stress you out]. I think that you should be able to know what you are dealing with in order to deal with it in the most effective way possible. They are connected, but you cannot treat them in the same way.
Q: How do we tell the difference between being sad and having depression?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression is defined as, “a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.” Some signs of depression are lack of motivation, sadness, poor eating habits, sleeping problems, low self-esteem and have a lack of pleasure in activities that you used to enjoy. Suicidal thoughts and self-harm are also large triggers of depression.
Now, most of these symptoms also occur when you are just feeling sad as well. It is more concerning when these symptoms are frequently or constantly present. According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; available online), when at least five symptoms are sustained for over two weeks and are present on most days during that period, then you are probably struggling with depression.
Q: What some things we can do to get our mental health back on track?
If you do the self-assessment (or have a professional doing it, which I would recommend), the first thing I would do is find a therapist to work with you. I think it is very important to find a therapist that you can meet on a weekly basis. Having someone who is trained in mental health guide you in recovery is essential.
Do not isolate yourself. Being alone give room for negative thoughts to enter your mind. Make time to be around friends and family. It helps to help those around you, as well. When you help other people, you tend to stop thinking about your own problems. Support groups are also a good idea for those struggling with mental health.
The last thing I would do is medication, because there are so many other alternatives to help you stay in a positive mindset and deal with your mental health. Some of these would be physical activity (going to the gym, running, yoga, etc.), listening to uplifting music, finding a hobby you enjoy, but there are many other things to try before medication.
Q: How can we help others who are struggling with mental health?
The simplest thing to do it to be there for them. When you see that people around you are depressed or are isolating themselves, reach out to them. Look for the signs of depression, because many people who struggle with that will not seek help. They will isolate themselves. Encourage them to seek help and make yourself available to help them.
Summary
Do not wait to address your mental health. Do something about it today! Do not just grab for medication to solve your problems. Find someone to help you and keep you accountable. Make some life changes. Find a therapist who can guide you towards recovery. Seek ways to thrive in your mental health!
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