Though millions of Americans live with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or PTSD, many of them struggle in silence due to stigma, fear or uncertainty. But mental illness is not a personal failing or character flaw. It’s a health condition, and like any other medical issue, it can improve with the proper care and support.
Recognizing the Signs
Mental health symptoms can look different for everyone, but some causes for concern include:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety or irritability
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of interest in formerly enjoyable hobbies
- Fatigue or low energy
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Extreme mood changes
- Withdrawing from friends or family
- Feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
These can range from mild to severe and may interfere with your ability to function at work, school or home. It’s time to seek professional help if they last longer than a few weeks.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Mental Health Symptoms
Just like physical injuries or illnesses, mental health can worsen without treatment. Neglecting your well-being may lead to more severe emotional distress or self-destructive behavior.
Many people self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. While these substances may provide temporary relief, they’ll ultimately worsen anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, creating a dangerous cycle that can lead to addiction. That’s why it’s vital to address mental health and substance use simultaneously with dual-diagnosis treatment.
How Experts Diagnose Mental Illness
If you constantly feel overwhelmed, confused or stuck, a professional diagnosis can make sense of your experiences. Remember, the goal of seeking a diagnosis is not to label yourself. It’s to get to the root of your experiences so you can begin healing.
Your health provider may recommend a physical exam, lab tests and a psychological evaluation. These assessments determine whether you’re experiencing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD or another condition.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders provides guidelines that professionals use to make accurate diagnoses. Each illness has different symptoms, but all require care from trained professionals to get back on a healthy track.
- Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder.
- Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder and phobias.
- Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, like OCD and hoarding disorder.
- Trauma-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Personality disorders, including borderline and antisocial personality disorder.
- Substance-related disorders, involving alcohol or drug misuse.
Overcome Stigma and Ask for Help
You can’t self-advocate without understanding your needs. Hope by the Sea’s integrated programs combine medical care, therapy and holistic healing to restore balance to your mind and body. We treat mental health and substance use disorders with compassion and respect. Our California treatment center provides dual-diagnosis programs that focus on long-term recovery, personal growth and emotional wellness.
If you think you might have a mental illness, don’t wait for your symptoms to worsen. Contact us today to begin healing, understanding and pursuing lasting recovery.