Nov 6, 2009

I Think I Have a Mental Health Problem - What Do I Do?

On my Signs of Mental Illness article, a reader said he/she has many signs of mental health problems, and doesn't know what to do. If you're in the same situation -- and we all have mental and emotional health problems at different times in our lives! -- here are a few suggestions...

If you think you have a mental health problem:

  • Find the courage to talk about your symptoms (eg, sleeplessness, feelings of worthlessness, instrusive thoughts, feelings of anxiety or panic, etc). You can't cope with a possible mental health issue unless you start talking about it.
  • If you're uncomfortable with asking for help, read How Do I Ask For Help With Depression? This article may help reduce feelings of discomfort.
  • Make an appointment with your doctor, a counselor, or a psychologist. It's a scary step to take, but the sooner you take control and start focusing on healing, the better you'll feel!
  • Read Help fo Psychological Disorders - it's a brief summary of three types of therapy: Psychoanalysis, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Biomedical Treatments. This article may help you figure out how you want to handle your possible mental health problem.

Remember -- emotional and mental health issues are more common than you think! At some point in our lives, we'll all face instability. The healthiest thing to do is to accept that you're struggling with your mental health (just like physically ill people struggle with their physical health) -- and seek help as quickly as possible. Why live with your symptoms longer than you have to?

Also, PsychCentral is one of my favorite sources of psychology info on the internet. Go there and browse; you may find some useful information about coping with mental health issues!