One in four people in the world will be affected by a mental disorder at some point in their lives, according to the World Health Organization. At the moment, around 450 million people suffer from a mental or neurological condition, which places mental disorders among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
Mental health issues are present in all social, economic, and racial groups and they affect people of all ages, from small kids to the elderly. People who suffer from mental health problems often have trouble leading a happy and fulfilling life.
Many people imagine an anxious person as someone who is repeatedly going through panic attacks. Also, depressed people are usually pictured as unable to get out of bed in the morning. However, the signs of mental health issues are often much more subtle.
Catching the subtle signs of a mental health issue can often prevent them from developing into something more severe. It is, therefore, important not to dismiss these signs as “not serious” and address them before they progress.
Here are some of the most common warning signs that your mental health needs a bit more attention.
- You are less productive
According to Marlynn Wei, a board-certified psychiatrist and therapist, lower performance in the office can indicate a potential mental health issue. Wei also suggested that if a person is repeatedly not showing up for work, missing a lot of deadlines, and falling behind, it might be a sign that there is a mental health issue that needs to be addressed.
- You don’t seem to enjoy things you used to love
It’s okay to find new hobbies, however, if you repeatedly find that something you used to love is no longer bringing you joy, it might be a red flag. For example, if hanging out with friends or working out isn’t bringing you joy anymore, it might be a good idea to think about what’s going on in your life. There is also a term for this feeling – anhedonia, and it means “reduced ability to experience a pleasure.”
- You don’t sleep like you used to
A different sleep schedule might be another sign that your mental health isn’t doing well. Sleeping more or less than usual may be the result of a deeper issue. However, have in mind that sleeping significantly more or fewer hours than you used to can contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. It is, therefore, vital to track any changes in your sleep.
- You’re always tired
Speaking of sleep, fatigue often coexists with mental health conditions. While feeling tired doesn’t mean you’re depressed, the other signs, such as an inability to make decisions or focus, as well as having low energy, should be considered as red flags. This is especially important if you notice that you’re sleeping more than usual, and you still feel tired afterward.
- You start having panic attacks
Whether you experienced only one or more panic attacks, you should never ignore them. Panic attacks can last between a couple of minutes to half an hour. If you are experiencing more of them frequently, you should definitely get some help.
- You rather stay home
Isolation means that you often choose to stay home rather than interacting with friends or family. Isolating yourself is also a sign that your mental health might be suffering more than you think. Besides physical isolation, you should also pay attention to emotional isolation from loved ones or colleagues at work.
- Your appetite changes
When facing extreme stress, some people turn to unhealthy behavior, such as excessive drinking and smoking. However, besides engaging in this type of behavior, if you lose or gain a lot of weight, or if you completely eliminate a workout routine, that might be a sign that your mental health needs more attention. Changes in digestion can also be linked to mental health; for example, irritable bowel syndrome often coexists with anxiety.
Finally, you shouldn’t worry if you feel one or none of these symptoms. What matters is that if you’re feeling “off,” it’s always worth looking into. Also, it’s important to note that it’s not your fault if you’re feeling this way and there are ways to go back to feeling like yourself.
Neurocore has been successfully treating ADHD, depression, sleep disorder, anxiety, stress, and ASD. Neurocore pinpoints clients’ possible anxiety-triggering brain activity using advanced neurofeedback technology that includes qEEG technology and other diagnostic measures to target their clients’ depression symptoms.
Located in Boca Raton, Florida and Livonia, Michigan, Neurocore specialists believe that the answers to many mental health issues can be found in our brains, which means that in many cases, medication is not necessary.