Mental health awareness has increased a lot in the last decade and we are better at recognizing when we may need treatment. We also have a better understanding of how to manage our mental health with some simple lifestyle changes. However, there are still a lot of people out there that are suffering from mental health issues that may not realize it or may be too afraid to ask for help. That’s why it’s important that we also learn to recognize problems in our loved ones and try to speak to them about it if we think that they might have a mental health issue. These are some of the most common signs that you should look out for.
Loss Of Interest In Hobbies
If you have a friend or a family member that you used to share a hobby with, but they are no longer interested in it, that could be a sign that they are depressed. In some cases, it’s not a cause for concern because people’s interests change, but when people are suffering from depression, they often lose interest in things that they used to enjoy doing. If you notice that somebody close to you does not take joy in a lot of the things that they used to love, you should ask them if they are feeling ok and if there is any reason for their loss of interest.
Substance Abuse
Often, people with undiagnosed mental health issues will self medicate with alcohol or drugs, and this is something that you need to watch out for. If you notice that somebody close to you is drinking a lot more than they used to and they often drink on their own, that’s a big problem. It’s important that you intervene and help them to find IOP addiction treatment if they need it. If left unchecked, addiction can take over a person’s life and cause so many mental and physical health problems. But if you catch it early, it can be dealt with far more effectively.
Emotional Outbursts
Significant changes in a person’s behavior is often a sign that they are struggling with mental health issues. For example, if they are normally a fairly level headed person but recently they have been having outbursts of anger, that’s not a good sign. It may be the case that they are under stress for some reason and they are not handling it brilliantly. But if it starts happening on a regular basis, that could be a sign that they have a mental health issue. It’s important to remember that this goes both ways as well. If a person is normally very outspoken and confident and prone to emotional outbursts, but recently they have been very quiet and reserved, that could indicate a problem as well.
Everybody has ups and downs in life and if a person’s behavior changes a little from time to time, that isn’t a cause for concern. However, if you start to notice one or more of these symptoms on a regular basis, you should check in with that person and help them find treatments if they need it.
