A lot of people don’t give very much thought to their mental health … at least until they start feeling like something just isn’t right. Maybe it’s the deepening dread on your daily drive to work. Could be that you’re frustrated your relationship has become more about arguments and less about affection. That thing that happened last week – is that what people call a panic attack?
The simple fact is that your mental health is just as important to who you are and how you’re feeling as your physical health. When we’re worried about or health or tired of putting up with that heartburn, we don’t hesitate to see a doctor. We need to handle our mental health the same way.
So how can you tell whether this is one of those times when reaching out for mental health support is a smart idea? Here are 6 signs that it’s time to reach out.
- You can’t stop thinking about it
No matter how many times people say “just don’t think about it,” your mind won’t shut off. It’s like the same worry or thought is always playing in the background.
- Your quality of life is taking a hit
Maybe you’re not sleeping, turning down plans, or just don’t have the energy to do anything. Life feels heavy, and you’re not sure how to lighten it. - It’s messing with your relationships
You’re more irritable than usual, snapping at people, or pulling away from the people who care about you—and it’s causing tension. - You can’t focus or keep up
School, work, even basic tasks feel harder than they should. You’re falling behind because it’s so hard to concentrate. - You feel stuck or disconnected
You’re either stuck in old patterns or just going through the motions every day. You want something to change but don’t know where to start. - You’ve tried to fix it, but it’s not working
You’ve made changes, set goals, promised yourself you’d push through—but nothing’s improving, and now you feel like you’re failing.
Working with the right counselor can give you a fresh perspective on how you’re feeling and why. Counselors listen to you like nobody else in your life, so they’re able to spot and uncover the roots of what’s bothering you. And yes, they know you’re a good person who just wants to feel better. If you recognized yourself in any of the descriptions, why not get started on feeling better by sitting down with one of our professional counselors? It may be exactly what you’ve needed.