STOP IT.
Stop neglecting your mental health.
Being constantly stressed, exhausted, irritated, sad, angry, and frustrated can indicate poor mental health.
It may be a sign of poor mental health. It’s high time you acknowledge these symptoms and figure out the causes of poor mental health.
Good mental health is crucial for a comfortable and happy life. We are surviving in a society where there is always a rush.
Rush to achieve the best.
Rush not to be left behind.
Rush to get it all.
And what are we leaving behind in all this? Our mental health. Working hard for your dreams and an ideal life is okay.
But take a break. Look around. Look at yourself. How are you? Are you happy? Are you feeling good?
Let’s analyze the signs of poor mental health.
What are the signs of poor mental health?
The signs of poor mental health vary from individual to individual. Some may show adverse signs of poor mental health, while some may not show any symptoms at all. Some of the common signs of poor mental health are;
1. Feeling anxious constantly:
It is normal to feel anxious about certain things. Anxiousness is shown when one is about to start something new, is waiting for something important to happen, or is about to experience any life-altering situations. But when you start worrying about everything all the time, even in places not required by assuming negative thoughts, it is something to be concerned about. Adverse anxiety affecting normal functioning can be a sign of poor mental health.
2. Rapid Mood Changes
It is normal to experience mood changes daily. A lot of things contribute to altering our moods. Starting from our hormones to any triggering situations, our moods can shift from one emotion to other. But these change is generally under our control. If you are experiencing a sudden change in moods without any specific reason, getting out of your control and affecting your day-to-day life, it might be a sign of poor mental health.
3. Social Distancing
Who doesn’t like alone time? It is normal to crave some individual time away from people and social interaction to help clear our minds and energize ourselves for the days ahead. But when you are undergoing poor mental health, you might lose the urge to engage with people, even those you love. You might notice days where you are not talking to anyone or barely coming out of your room or house. This is a sign that you need to work on your mental health.
4. Decrease in concentration
A human’s concentration span is less than that of a goldfish. But still, we can remember things and complete our tasks without any issues because we can fixate our minds on our tasks. But if you are finding difficulty in doing something bare minimum, there’s a chance that your mental health is affected. Poor mental health affects our brains, making concentrating or remembering difficult.
5. Disrupted sleep cycle
In our hectic lives, we usually have a disrupted sleep cycle. Sometimes we are busy with our work or give ourselves a break by watching a movie or series, and then just one more hour or one more episode takes over our 8 hours of sleep. Well, it’s not healthy, but it is something we can take care of and control.
But are you in your bed with nothing to do, nothing to watch, just looking at the ceiling, waiting to fall asleep?
But the alarm goes off, and you find another day you cannot sleep. Rather, you doze off during the day, hampering your tasks. This can be concerning. This can be a sign of poor mental health. Something may be hampering your mind and disrupting your sleep cycle.
6. Change in appetite
Sometimes, we don’t feel like eating because we might be tired or full from something we ate earlier. But seeing that you barely eat and still do not feel hungry can signify poor mental health. Stress and anxiety can kill our appetite.
7. Constant hopelessness:
If you constantly feel that you are worthless, or you cannot do or achieve anything, or nothing is going right in your life, there may be a chance that your mental health has been affected. Poor mental health can sometimes lead to increased negative thoughts and self-talk due to decreased motivation and satisfaction in life.
What are the causes of poor mental health?
Mental health illnesses can be brought on by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental aspects; there is no single cause for them. People with a family history of mental illnesses may be more likely to experience one in the future. Mental problems can also result from dietary changes or changes in brain chemistry brought on by substance addiction. Unhealthy thought patterns linked to mental diseases might be rooted in psychological variables and environmental factors, including upbringing and social exposure.
1. Environment
Environmental factors are stressors that people experience daily and are one of the main causes of poor mental health. These stressors include everything from money troubles to having low self-esteem. Environmental factors are more psychologically based, which increases their affinity.
The most common circumstances that lead to the emergence of a mental disorder in an individual are those that elicit sentiments of loss or harm. A dysfunctional home life, bad connections with others, substance misuse, failure to live up to social norms, low self-esteem, and poverty are just a few examples of environmental problems.
2. Lifestyle
It is frequently forgotten that our lifestyle decisions and physical health can significantly impact our mental and emotional wellness. While counseling and coping mechanisms are usually beneficial, our bad or unhealthy lifestyle choices may restrict their effectiveness.
Adjusting our sleep, nutrition, and exercise routines can help us feel better emotionally and prevent mental illness in the future.
3. Biology
People with a family member with a mental disorder may be slightly more prone to get one themselves because mental diseases can run in families. Genes allow for the transmission of susceptibility within families.
According to experts, many mental diseases are caused by defects in many genes rather than just one or a few. Every person’s interaction between these genes and environment is different. Because of this, a person may inherit a propensity to develop a mental disease but not experience the condition. Multiple genes and other variables, such as stress, abuse, or a traumatic incident, which can impact or trigger an illness in a person, interact to cause mental disease, which is how it manifests itself.
4. Abuse
Through a complex interplay of cultural, familial, psychological, and biological factors, treatment in childhood and adulthood, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, marital violence, and bullying, has been related to the development of mental disorders. More generally, adverse or stressful life events have been linked to the main causes of poor mental health, including mood and anxiety disorders.
Although exposure to a single big trauma might occasionally result in psychopathology, including PTSD, the most significant dangers seem to come from a cumulative mixture of such experiences over time.
5. Substance abuse
Many mental problems can be brought on or worsened by substance usage, especially chronic substance abuse.
Cannabis, alcohol, and caffeine consumption are all linked to mental illnesses. More than 300 mg of caffeine may exacerbate anxiety problems or contribute to anxiety. Illegal substances can activate specific brain regions that may impact adolescent development. Cannabis has also been shown to make depression worse and lower motivation in users. Alcohol may harm the brain’s ” white matter, ” essential for thinking and memory. Because so many people engage in binge or excessive drinking, alcohol is an issue in many nations.
6. Physical Illness or injury
Physical factors like illness, trauma or persistent discomfort can negatively impact mental health.
Mental health can be affected by the kind and extent of an injury. A traumatic brain injury can lead to increased depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mania, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Compared to the general population, those with specific disorders had a higher incidence of mental illness. They frequently experience overwhelming, hopeless, or future-related worry. Fortunately, even if we can’t fully fix the underlying health condition, treating the symptoms of mental illness and lowering the symptoms can help improve our quality of life.
What are the effects of poor mental health?
1. Chronic diseases
Numerous chronic diseases and depression have been linked. Diabetes, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis are a few of these diseases. Additionally, schizophrenia has been associated with an increased risk of respiratory and cardiac conditions.
Dealing with a chronic illness can also be challenging for those with mental health issues.
2. Sleep problems
Sleep disorders, including insomnia or sleep apnea, are more prevalent in those with mental health issues. It might be challenging to fall or remain asleep when you have insomnia. Breathing issues brought on by sleep apnea can make you regularly wake up.
3. Unhappiness
Poor mental health can affect brain work and frequently impair a person’s capacity for joy and happiness. These emotions may intensify to the point where one cannot explain them. They could make it difficult for someone to go about their daily lives normally.
4. Suicidal thoughts
With an average of 130 suicides daily, it is the 12th most common cause of death in the US. Untreated mental illness is the primary cause of the great majority of suicides. Over time, mental illness might make someone less motivated to live, or it can impair one’s judgment to the point where one can no longer see any other option.
5. Increased unhealthy habits
A person with a mental condition may be unable to care for themself properly. That shows up sometimes in their eating behaviors, while other times, it shows up in their sleeping patterns or how they care for themselves. Obesity or malnutrition can result from poor eating habits. Chronic weariness and irritability are just a few symptoms of poor sleeping habits’ cascading effects on the body.
What are the ways to achieve good mental health?
If you are witnessing signs that you might be undergoing poor mental health, there are ways by which you make yourself feel good and enhance your mental health. Some ways or habits can help you stay happy, focused, satisfied, and calm.
1. Being physically active benefits the brain just as much as the body. Regular physical activity or exercise can significantly improve mental and emotional well-being, reduce stress, and enhance memory and sleep.
2. Deep breathing, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation can all help lower stress levels.
3. As you go about your day, take time to unwind, reflect, focus on the good things, and be kind to yourself. Put them in writing because it’s easy to forget. If you need to lift your mood, think about them later.
4. Sleep is the best way for our bodies and minds to regenerate. Take a break from screen stimulation hours before night to improve sleep quality. This includes time spent on TV, phones, tablets, and laptops. Instead, think of reading or calming music.
5. Your mental health depends on the quality of your relationships. Therefore develop good relationships. They can provide you the chance to share positive experiences, offer emotional support, and enable you to help others. They can also help you develop a sense of belonging and self-worth.
6. By increasing self-confidence, elevating self-esteem, developing a sense of purpose, and fostering connections, learning new skills can also benefit your mental health. There are various methods to incorporate learning into your life, even if you don’t have the time or need to.
7. Your mental health may increase if you focus more on the present situation. This encompasses your body, your thoughts, and feelings, as well as the environment.
This awareness is known as “mindfulness.” You can have more fun and learn more about yourself by practicing mindfulness. It may alter your perspective on life and how you respond to difficulties for the better.
Final Thoughts:
These were some causes of poor mental health and ways to overcome them. One must take care of their mental health. Understanding the signs and symptoms of poor mental health can be life-saving. If you need professional assistance, don’t wait and go for it. Various mental health professionals and institutions can help you by making a proper treatment plan per your requirement.
Don’t ignore your symptoms. Don’t let them grow on you. You can talk to people you trust and make them aware of your feelings. You don’t have to deal with all the negative thoughts alone. It is not easy to open up, so give yourself time. Don’t be hard on yourself. Self-love is the key to good mental health. Go slow. Set achievable goals. Specific short-term mental health goals can help you. Click here to know more.
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