Staying healthy seems like a simple thing to do. With your physical health, you just have to see your doctor once a year for a checkup and maybe once in a while for an illness or other issues. But when it comes to mental health, people tend to have a difficult time figuring out whether they need help, what you need help with, when to get help, and where to get it. Mental and emotional illnesses tend to be more difficult to pinpoint. You may just know that you are not feeling “like yourself” or that nothing seems to interest you like it did previously. Or maybe you are feeling more tired or “out of it” lately. Whatever you are feeling, if you are concerned, it is best to talk to someone right away.
Taking Care of You
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. In fact, the two are connected in many ways because your mental health can affect your physical health and vice versa. Studies have shown that those who suffer from untreated depression, anxiety, or another mental illness are more susceptible to some physical ailments such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and even cancer. Similarly, staying physically healthy can improve your mental health. For example, any kind of physical exercise such as walking, running, or working out will increase the endorphins in your body, which are the “feel good” chemicals your brain releases to make you feel better.
Symptoms to Watch For
No matter what type of work you do, whether you are a CEO of a fortune 500 company, a daycare worker, a lawyer, or a freelance writer, stress can always interfere with your day. It seems like the more technology we embrace, the faster we move and the more we take on. This can cause increased anxiety in anyone. It is important to know that everyone feels stressed out or depressed at times, but if you are feeling this way for more than two weeks or if it is affecting your daily life, you need to speak to someone about it. Here are some symptoms to watch out for:
- Increased agitation or anger outbursts
- Feeling sad for no obvious reason
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Confusion and memory loss
- Difficulty making decisions
- Trouble concentrating
- Sleeping less or more than usual
- Feeling exhausted no matter how much you sleep
- Isolating yourself from family and friends
- Headaches or muscle aches
- Shaking or trembling
- Worrying about everything or one thing all the time
- Lack of sex drive
- Eating more or less than usual
- Nightmares or flashbacks
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or others
Talk to Someone
It is important to get help, especially if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or others. But you are so busy, how are you going to find the time to set an appointment, let alone go to one? Well, that is where online therapy can come in handy. With online therapy, you do not need an appointment and can talk to your therapist anytime you need them, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In fact, you don’t even have to leave your house (or office) because you can do it wherever you are as long as you have a phone, tablet, or computer. Betterhelp.com is one of the top seven best mobile apps for mental health and you can be talking to your new therapist within minutes of contacting them. Give it a try today and you could be feeling better by tomorrow.
Speak Your Mind