The public is giving more attention to mental health than before. For years, people have only paid attention to their physical health, ignoring the state of their psychological well-being. However, there was a change in the tide in recent years. The society’s changing attitude towards mental health is slowly highlighting why mental health should also be prioritized.
While there is momentum on psychological well-being, there is a need to provide the public with accurate information. Particularly, there is a need to focus on the different kinds of mental illnesses, its signs and symptoms, and how you can better take care of your mental health.
Kinds of Mental Illnesses and their Symptoms
Mental illness is a condition affecting the feeling, thinking or mood of an individual. It may be temporary or long-lasting. Whichever, mental illness is sure to impact the affected individual’s quality of life.
The following are the most common mental illnesses:
- Depression and other mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use
Most of the people who are diagnosed with mental illnesses usually have these symptoms:
- Overeating or decreased appetite
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Numbness of lack of empathy
- Increased absent-mindedness, anger, sadness or fright
- Extreme mood swings
- Feeling of hopelessness
How Can I Better Take Care of Myself?
The dawn of the 2010s saw a lot of people suffering from mental health issues. The Millennials form a significant chunk of those diagnosed with mental diseases. Factors driving the increase in mental illness diagnoses vary, but medical experts claim it can be prevented. Psychologists recommend following these tips to prevent burnout and mental health issues:
- Get started on writing a diary
- Learning to say “no”
- Practicing yoga
- Creating a list of positive things that happened in a day before going to sleep
Mental health should never take a backseat. As you train and grow your muscles, there is also a need to prioritize yourself and take better care of your mental state starting today. It would also be better to have a regular consultation with your doctor.