Mental health checkup!
Take a check up from the neck up! Mental health is just as important as physical health. When you injure yourself, or have pain, fever, rash or any other types of physical symptoms, you seek help. You may visit your doctor, urgent care center or the Emergency Room. Mental health is no different. When we don’t feel well because of mental illness it’s because something is off with our brains.
Mental illness is a condition that affects our thinking, emotions and behaviors. It can be impacted by our environment, past and present trauma, as well as biology. Just like with physical illnesses, there are many types of mental illnesses. You are likely familiar with terms like depression, anxiety, ADHD or eating disorders for example.
How do you know if you have a mental illness?
If something feels off about your thoughts, feelings or behaviors, you may want to ask yourself: have things changed with my mind and I don’t feel as well as I used to? Do things not feel like “my normal”? Are there thoughts or feelings overwhelming me that I don't want to feel anymore? Is this thought or behavior normal or not normal?
There are many different things that can affect your thoughts and feelings. It may be a normal reaction to something that just happened - a loss of someone you cared for, new medications, a physical illness. But if your feelings or thoughts are not related to a normal reaction, seek help — and consider seeking help even if it is related to an event.
The key take aways are to remember that mental illness is different for everyone and is TREATABLE! Some things that can help are making changes, therapy, medication, and support groups. Just like having a physical check up or making a doctor’s appointment for a physical ailment, focus the same attention on your mental health: Take a check up from the neck up!
Mental Health America has some screening tools which can get you started. This is an informational resource, not a crisis support line. For immediate help reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or text “MHA” to 741-741. After the test you will find resources to help you understand and improve your mental health. You are encouraged to share your results with a mental health provider if your screening indicates you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness.
Your brain is the boss of your body - make sure you are taking care of your brain like you take care of the rest of your body!
Source: MHAnational.org
