Kathryn Lee, MHC

We can so easily get caught up in the day-to-day activities of our lives: work, family, friends, relationships, bills. How many of us have one day found ourselves to be exhausted, drained, and not really sure of how we allowed things to get so bad? It can be easy to dismiss some red flags when we are “fine” and performing up to standards at work. However, recognizing signs that our mental health may be declining can be a way to prevent our mental health from getting worse.

Here are just 5 signs that your mental health is declining and what you can do about it. 

1. A Desire to Isolate from Friends and Family - If you are struggling with your mental health it can be exhausting to expend emotional energy. Declining mental health may also already be contributing to your desire to isolate and withdraw; socializing is probably the last activity on your mind. 

2. Lacking Empathy - If you feel that you are losing your ability to emotionally connect and reflect feelings with others this can be a sign of a mental health issue, such as burnout, chronic stress, and depression. It might not be that you are lacking empathy completely but perhaps feeling more numb to things that are happening in the world. 

3. Changes in Sleep - If you are sleeping too much, too little, or struggling to get a good night’s rest this can be an indication of a mental health issue. In addition, these sleep issues can also exacerbate our existing mental health issues creating a vicious cycle. 

4. Changes in Appetite - If you have noticed a shift in appetite that cannot be attributed to a physical condition this can be an indication of a mental health issue. Often individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, feelings of shame, guilt, and/or grief notice a shift in appetite. 

5. Unexplainable Physical Symptoms - If your body is in a constant state of fight/flight it can weaken your immune system.  Your physical pain may be symptomatic of something that is psychological. Studies have shown that those struggling with depression, anxiety, chronic stress may also struggle with GI issues, hypertension, chronic fatigue, and aches and pains in your body.

What To Do: 

1. Reach Out to Your Support Network- While this may be the exact thing that you are avoiding, force yourself to reach out to friends and family that you feel can support and listen to you. Isolating only allows you to enable your own negative thought patterns and processes. Let them know you are struggling, and let them support you in this process. 

2. Step into Your Routine - Stick to a routine and make sure you are taking care of your most basic needs: hygiene, food, water, and rest. If this has been difficult for you, create small goals for yourself that feel more feasible (i.e eating a piece of toast, drinking a glass of water, brushing your teeth). 

3. Give Yourself a Break - If you can take off from work, do it and use that PTO! If you are in a position where you cannot take time off try to utilize the time you do have off to rest and recharge. Step out into nature, take some time to journal and reflect, and nourish your body, mind, and soul. 

4. Show Yourself Compassion - You are human. To be human is to feel and navigate the complexities of life. It is absolutely okay that you are feeling the way that you are. Show yourself the compassion to feel the feelings. Consider what you might tell a friend or loved one that may be struggling with something similar. 

5. Speak with a Mental Health Professional - If you are struggling, know that you do not have to do this alone. Reach out and speak with a mental health professional.