When Should You Ask For Mental Health Support?

You may or may not want to acknowledge that you need mental health support, but asking for help from a trusted person or a therapist can help you heal quicker.

Mental health is a very important issue, but many take it for granted. Some don’t believe in it because they have grown up thinking that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Others believe that it is only a modern-day trend. There are so many myths surrounding mental health that even if one has gone to see a therapist, they may refrain from telling their family and friends about it.

Everyone goes through challenging situations; everyone is entitled to their opinion, and life is complicated. We all have happy and sad moments, and then there are unexpected situations in life that force us to get a reality check.

Life has a way of testing you, and sometimes you get into complex situations that you simply don’t know what to do. You lose trust in yourself and others, and everything seems to be going against you.

The fact is that when you face unprecedented challenges, you cannot see the positive aspects of life. There is numbness everywhere, and you may feel worthless. The worst part is what you are allowing to happen to yourself. You know that something has changed within you, but you are hiding from the world. You know you should talk to someone, but you are afraid of being judged.

Disclaimer: All content in this post is for general health information only. Please consult a specialist physician before trying any new exercise, diet, or health advice. There are no affiliate links attached to this post. 

My personal struggle

I went down the rabbit hole once, and I had difficulty understanding what was happening to me. It was during the lockdown, when I was sleeping for at least 12 hours a day. I had recently lost my job and my students were not responding to dance classes due to the pandemic. I was tired all the time, and it felt like I was floating and numb. I no longer felt like watching the news. I had forgotten to listen to music, and I wasn’t dancing. My feet had stopped tapping to any rhythm. 

But I am terribly moody, so one day, after getting terribly bored, I started baking. I found lots of easy baking recipes on Pinterest. I baked in the afternoon after having lunch and when the room filled with the aroma of baking goodness, my spirits lifted. Of course, I found respite in chocolate and dough. I baked muffins, cakes, pancakes, and pies, and had them with my evening tea. I took delicious photographs and shared them with my friends and family. Guess what? Two of my dance friends had also started baking and shared pictures of their creative and lovely-looking cakes. I was excited to talk to them after a long time and to find a common interest. 

While I am still recovering, I know that sharing one’s thoughts, especially with close ones, can be very difficult. If you have also been through a difficult situation, take a moment, take a deep breath, and ask yourself these questions.

Do you feel like something is out of place, but you cannot describe it?
Is there a difference in your schedule lately?
When was the last time you went out with your friends or family?
What do you NOT feel like doing?
Do you often lack interest in making yourself presentable for the day?
What and how much are you eating and drinking throughout the day?
Can you close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you? 
What do the colours surrounding you make you feel? 
Are you experiencing difficulty controlling your emotions?
Are you having self-sabotaging thoughts because you have lost the purpose of life?
Do you have trouble sleeping or sleep too much because of fatigue?
Do you imagine negative responses from people and situations and panic easily?
Have you noticed an increased heart rate, sweating, or nausea?
Do you end up overeating and drinking and suddenly not feeling hungry at all?

These are all the questions I started noticing in myself one day and wondered, “what has happened to me?” There were drastic changes in my mood, behaviour, and habits. Slowly my personal and professional life started suffering.

Try to identify mild and serious symptoms

Before asking someone for help, there are simple methods that you can apply to identify mild to serious symptoms of mental health issues.

Write down your thoughts

People use journals for different reasons, but the most important thing that journaling does is bring awareness. Create separate sections in your journal to record your daily schedule, total rest time in a day, and your daily diet.

Who do you want to ask for help?

Write down all the options for help that are available to you. Do you feel comfortable asking for help from a family member, a friend, or your partner? The other options for help include therapists, support groups, and anonymous helplines. 

List the things that are scaring you and preventing you from asking for help and replace any negative words with positive ones. Write down the changes you would like to see in yourself as well as your wishes, dreams, and goals. 

While these are some ways to identify symptoms of any underlying mental health issues that need to be addressed, it is always better to visit a mental health expert. Some things that can help you decide to ask for help from a therapist are:

Ask a friend to accompany you. 
You don’t have to stick to one therapist if you don’t feel comfortable. 
Call your therapist only when absolutely necessary rather than strictly following a schedule. 
Be specific about the questions you want to ask a therapist to get more clarity. 
You can maintain boundaries and inform them that you are not comfortable sharing certain private details. 
After returning from the therapist’s office, practise meditation before sleeping.

Final Thoughts

Mental health is increasingly becoming the most widespread problem affecting adults as well as children. Hesitation in asking for help for various reasons is natural but not a solution. There may be many problems, but there are as many answers to all your questions. Remember that you are not alone, and talking to someone can make a lot of difference.

References

Seeking Mental Health Care: Taking the First, Scary Step

https://psychcentral.com/lib/seeking-mental-health-care-taking-the-first-scary-step

Mental Health America’s support group facilitation guide. (2016).

mhanational.org/sites/default/files/MHA%20Support%20Group%20Facilitation%20Guide%202016.pdf

Mental Health Warning Signs and When to Ask for Help

https://jedfoundation.org/resource/mental-health-warning-signs-and-when-to-ask-for-help/