Your body, mind, and behaviors can often give you a clue about your mental health. One or more of these signs could be a symptom of a mental health condition. Keep reading to learn about the most common indicators, and how you could benefit from care.?
- Pain: If you’ve been suffering from chronic back pain, headaches, or other pain, it may be directly tied to your mental health. When we are anxious or depressed, our brains anticipate and process pain differently
.?
- Digestive problems: the gut is often called “the second brain
,” which means your mood can have a significant impact on your digestion, and contribute to gastrointestinal issues like indigestion. If you have persistent digestive problems, your mental health may be playing a role.?
- Irritability: If you’ve noticed you have a short fuse lately, it could be related to your mental health. Studies have found that over 50% of people with depression reported feeling hostile, grumpy, and argumentative. (1)
- Apathy: You don’t feel particularly sad or down, but you also don’t feel much of anything at all. Making decisions can feel impossible, or you find that you don’t care enough to make a choice at all.?
- Difficulty concentrating: Trouble focusing on work, entertainment, conversations with others, tasks around the house, or other day-to-day activities can be indicative of depression or anxiety.?
- Increased drinking: Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism for symptoms of depression or anxiety. If you find yourself reaching for alcohol every time a problem arises or to improve your mood, it may be indicative of a more serious condition.?
- Difficulties with your routine and self-care: Showering, running errands, and preparing and eating regular meals can feel like an uphill battle when you’re stressed, anxious, or depressed. You may notice yourself avoiding these activities or doing them less often.?
- Skipping activities you usually enjoy: If you’ve noticed you haven’t been up for an outing with friends, getting together with loved ones, or hobbies you enjoy, it could be a sign that you may be depressed. Anxiety can also make you miss out on things you love, due to nervousness, feeling bogged down by worry, or just not feeling like yourself.?
If you are experiencing one or more of these signs, you could benefit from care. Use Quartet’s free services
to find the care you need.?
(1) Judd, L., Schettler, P., Coryell, W., “Overt Irritability/Anger in Unipolar Major Depressive Episodes Past and Current Characteristics and Implications for Long-term Course,” JAMA Psychiatry, Volume 70(11), 2013: Pages 1171-1180.
