How Can You Recognize The Early Warning Signs Of Mental Health Issues?

World Mental Health is recognized yearly on the 10th of October to raise awareness of mental health issues. Although conversations around mental health are developing, there is room for a lot of progress.

What you need to know:

• What are the early symptoms of mental health issues?
• How to prevent mental health distress from progressing?

It can be challenging to understand the symptoms of mental health distress as it differs in different people. But recognizing early signs can help you help your loved ones. Sometimes these symptoms subside, but when they do not go away, people wail until years for correct identification, medication, counseling, and social support.

What are the early symptoms of mental health issues?

Take a look at the early symptoms of mental health concerns and steps you can take to prevent its progression:

• Extreme mood changes can be among the many early signs of mental health issues. Mood changes can either be momentary feelings such as a sense of sadness which later turns to happiness, or chirpiness or longer periods of a specific emotion. If your mood and resultant behavior become unpredictable in the future and you feel prolonged sadness or dejection, they may give rise to depression or bipolar disorder.
• Identify mental health issues starting with emotion regulation. Many people suffer from generalized and social anxiety or feel stressed in situations and events. However, it should be looked into if there is a prolonged sense of fear and anxiety. Similarly, extreme outbursts of anger can tell a lot about an underlying mental health condition. Anger is also a common symptom of people who have an obsessive-compulsive condition.
• Lack of energy and constant fatigue despite a whole night’s sleep can be linked to depression and anxiety. Anxiety can make people feel in a constant state of ‘flight or fight mode’. However, this wears away when your energy is draining. This behavior also reflects in an unusual drop in their day-to-day functioning.

• Avoiding friends and family and shutting yourself off from social ties is a subtle indication of having mental health issues. People with depression may feel too tired to socialize, and those with anxiety may feel anxious to leave their safe spaces.
• Sleep and appetite can change along with a decline in personal care.

How to prevent mental health distress from progressing?

If you know people who exhibit these behaviors, follow these tips to prevent their mental health issues from progressing:

• Although people suffering from depression and anxiety withdraw from their social network, try to stay close to them and care for their overall well-being.
• Encourage them to stay active. Make plans to exercise with them or participate in physical activity, as it can help release endorphins, reduce depression, and relieve stress.
• Ensure they eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Certain foods like dark chocolate, chamomile tea, green tea, chia seeds, and salmon are popularly known as stress-relieving foods.
• If they do not open up to you, take them to a therapist or counselor since it is okay to ask for help to resolve these issues.

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