There are days when things just go wrong and we get upset or anxious. These feelings and emotions are natural and part of everyone’s life. However, if you notice there is sudden and significant change in your behaviours, feelings and/or thoughts, you could be suffering from mental health issues that require proper diagnosis and treatment from a qualified mental health therapist.

Even though the world has advanced and medical science has the ability to perform miracles, mental health issues are still spoken about in whispered tones. However, mental health problems can be effectively diagnosed and treated so that you can lead a healthy and productive life. Here are five signs that indicate your mental health is disturbed.

Feeling Anxious or Worried Constantly:

It is normal to get worried and stressed on and off. However, if your anxiety is interfering with your day-to-day life and you are unable to function as usual because you feel there is something troubling you, it may warrant a visit to a mental health specialist. If you suffer from racing mind, diarrhoea, palpitations, restlessness, headaches and shortness of breath, you have anxiety. You needn’t worry as this is curable.

Feeling Depressed and Unhappy:

If you suddenly lose interest in doing all those things that you used to enjoy previously or you feel sad, teary and irritable, your mental health is disturbed.

Other signs are not having energy, wanting to constantly sleep, cry at a drop of a hat and fatigued without doing any physical work. It is quite possible you may be dealing with depression, which can be treated with proper mental health counselling.

Dramatic Emotional Outbursts:

Every person has mood changes depending on the situation they are in. However, if you have sudden and significant changes in your mood, like going from anger to happiness within a few minutes or suffering from extreme anger, it shows that your mental health is disturbed.

Sleep Issues:

Most people require anywhere from seven to nine hours of sleep each night to function normally the following morning. However, if you notice a change in your sleep patterns, you should visit a mental health specialist. You may suffer from insomnia, where you cannot sleep at night because all kinds of horrible thoughts invade your mind.

Insomnia is a sign of anxiety. But, you can also be on the other end of the spectrum, where you sleep too much, complaining that you are feeling fatigued. You may not get out of bed the whole day. This is a sign of an eating disorder or depression.

Becoming Quiet and Withdrawn:

Everyone needs time for themselves to recharge their batteries. That is where the ‘me time’ comes in. However, if you withdraw from the world completely and don’t want to talk and spend time with family and friends, your mental health is disturbed.

Many times, people become like this after an emotionally traumatic experience, such as death of a close, loved one. If you refuse to participate in usual social activities and just want to be left alone, you may be having a psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, depression or some other mental health issue.

If you notice one or all these signs, your mental health is disturbed. Don’t neglect it. Seek immediate professional help. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Your family and friends will provide the support you require to get back your mental health.