Recognizing Mental Distress

Author

Sasha Baldeosingh, MSc. Mental Health Therapist at Lifelong Living Counselling Services

Stress, sadness, anxiety. These are common things we all feel from time to time. However, when these feelings persist and start affecting your daily functioning and sense of well-being, it may be your body asking you to pay closer attention. It may be a sign of mental health issues or distress. 

Emotions are confusing, ammirite? Sometimes it's difficult to determine what's a natural part of a human experience and what is something that needs some extra attention. For this post, we're not going to be looking at mental disorders or illnesses; we are going to be looking at general mental distress that may need attention. This is not an extensive list but includes the more common signs of mental distress.  

Signs of Mental Distress

1. Persistent mood changes - one of the early signs of mental distress is frequent mood shifts. For example, you might find yourself feeling unusually sad, irritable, or anxious for an extended period of time, of feel these emotions come on unexpectedly. 

2. Isolation - When a person is experiencing mental distress, they often withdraw from interactions with people and social activities. Or they might feel like they have to force themselves to interact with others and feel no pleasure from doing so. 

3. Changes in sleep - Insomnia, oversleeping, or disrupted sleep can be indicators of mental distress. Also, poor sleep patterns can further magnify emotional or mental distress. 

4. Physical symptoms - Mental distress can manifest itself as physical symptoms that do not have any other medical reasons for occurring. This includes headaches, stomach issues, muscle aches,  or dizziness. 

5. Difficulty concentrating or completing tasks - With mental distress, you might start finding it hard to complete both simple and complex tasks, make decisions, and manage day-to-day responsibilities. 

Recognizing the signs of mental distress and taking proactive steps to maintain good mental well-being are vital aspects of self-care. If you are experiencing signs of mental distress, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about it to determine the severity and find out if professional guidance will help or if learning self-help techniques would help. 

Please note that the information provided in this post is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. 

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash