Have you ever wondered to yourself the possible signs to look out for regarding your mental health? All signs are not created equal, and each person can face mental health challenges to different degrees. Some people especially women we wear many hats from the household to work and often we forego our mental health or delay it until everything else is balanced.

Though the belief is that the only persons at risk for mental health include those who have a family history connected to mental ill-health, this is not the truth. Mental health challenges can be experienced by anyone and can be brought about because of different circumstances ranging from stress at work and home, trauma, physical health conditions, and genetics. 

Regardless of your reality relating to mental ill-health, you can receive help from a professional mental health provider (psychiatrist/therapist/psychologist/counselor). Still, you must have an idea of the signs to know when it is time to get help. There's absolutely nothing to fear, and the sooner you highlight the signs, the quicker you will get the help you need become even better connected to yourself and see improvements in your work and personal life.

Here are some signs to look out for as you seek to safeguard your mental health. 

1. Apparent personality changes. Though balancing work and personal life can result in a subtle disruption in personality for many women, this is where it often starts, and once ignored, it becomes a bit more obvious. It's never wise to put off the changes noticed in personality, and it is often a red flag when this personality change continues for more than six weeks without improvement. 

2. Altered Sleeping Habits. Amidst a heavy workload period, sleep habits can quickly become altered, and you may start to notice that you are getting less sleep. However, when sleep habits turn into insomnia or excessive sleep that makes you unable to get other tasks done, you need to get help. 

3. Change in Eating Patterns. If there is a noticeable increase in eating habits or an evident decrease and lack of appetite, this is another sign that this is connected to your mental health.  

4. Difficulty managing work and personal activities. The pressure at work and home are inevitable; however, when it starts feeling impossible to bear even with implementing routines, this is also a sign that your mental health is under pressure, and seeking help from a professional is the best route to get you back on top of feeling like yourself to tackle work and home affairs effectively. 

5. A difference in thought patterns. It's never a nice feeling to experience unusual thoughts. Seeking help is critical here before suicidal ideations occur and lead to acts of suicide. 

6. Increased Anxiety. It's normal for humans to face anxiety in varying situations. However, when anxiety begins taking over your daily activities (both work and personal life) and how you function, it's time to get help. 

7. Lengthy sad and depressive episodes. We all have sad moments, and hormones as a woman have a lot to play in this department. However, when sad episodes are prolonged for more than six weeks, it's helpful to ensure you are mentally well and not going through challenges you unknowingly put aside. 

Final Thoughts 

Many people are great multitaskers who happily take on their responsibilities in their personal and work life. But at times, this can become overbearing, and the stress of work and home heavily weighs on your mental health. Mental stress is always accompanied by signs that can signal to you when you need to get help. 

Though some of these signs might seem trivial and you believe they will disappear with time, that’s not the case, and it's best to seek professional mental health care to develop new and renewed coping skills and boundaries to get you back to yourself!   

First published on www.biggsisters.com