Recognizing warning signs of mental instability
Mental health — what is this, you may ask? According to Wikipedia, it is the level of psychological well being, or the absence of mental illness. In other words, it is the “psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral stability.” According to society, if you can follow safety rules and moral values you are okay and in good emotional standing.
As you grow up, many of you are told it is not good to show your weaknesses, rather show your strengths, do not allow others to empower you, don’t cry, don’t talk about your feelings, and just show you are capable of doing everything on your own. Over time, this may create a giant wall of insecurities, which may in turn become barriers in life. These barriers may be hard to overcome and may even become the root of feelings of depression, frustrations or low selfesteem. On the other hand, some may take advantage of these barriers and lift themselves up and become successful in life. Pele (a famous soccer player) once said, “Success is no accident; it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing.” Living a hard life may create a thriving sense of achievement, never settling for the standard way of living.
There may have been times in your life when your experiences may now seem as a blur because they were unpleasant or unacceptable, yet you may have learned good
w/ this ad
lessons from them. These may have also brought upon high stress levels, panic, anxiety, and nerves; nonetheless, feeling emotionally stable is very important in order to feel confident in your day-to-day activities. It is the assurance that your daily actions will be done correctly and in accordance with your moral believes. However, it is important to recognize the early warning signs of mental health instability. If you feel you are not being coherent with your day-to-day activities, your emotions, your routines, you must seek help from your family, your friends and/or professional individuals.
Let us explore some of the warning signs of common mental health instability, no matter your gender, age or career. Mental health instability can happen to any of us and we should not feel ashamed about it; rather we should seek help and support from our friends, loved ones and family.
Signs may be, but are not limited to: Eating or sleeping too much or too little; pulling away from people and usual activities; having low or no energy; feeling numb or like nothing matters; having unexplained aches and pains; feeling helpless or hopeless; smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual; feeling usually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared; yelling or fighting with family and friends; experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships; having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head; hearing voices or believing things that are not true; thinking of harming yourself or others; inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school.
All these warning signs come from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ list of mental health wellness and stability.
It is important to maintain a positive mental health in order to stay healthy and well. For this, follow positive activities such as: connecting with others, staying physically active, helping others, eating healthy meals, sleeping enough hours, surround yourself with positive people, seeking medical attention if needed, developing coping skills, most of all spreading love and kindness to others being thankful at all times.
Magnolia Alonzo is the Adult Education Program Coordinator for the South Yuma County Consortium/Somerton School District No. 11.