Why You Should Work With a Mental Health Professional

Seeking help for your mental health is not something you should be ashamed of. According to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 41.4 million people received mental health services in 2020. While there may be stigma surrounding getting help for mental health, more people are beginning to seek treatment.

Signs to Seek Help

If you feel that your mental health is declining, it may be difficult for you to reach out for support. Perhaps you are unsure if you need help. Here are a few signs that it’s time to seek help.

#1 You’re Experiencing Shifts in Your Mood

It’s normal to have occasional shifts in mood; however, if you notice your moods fluctuate consistently, it may be a sign of a mental health disorder that requires treatment.

#2 Your Symptoms Interfere With Your Daily Life

Sometimes mental health conditions can affect your daily life. You may find it challenging to work, attend school, take care of your family, or maintain a social life. It could also be difficult to keep up with caring for yourself and performing certain tasks, such as showering or brushing your teeth. If these symptoms are persistent and interfere with everyday tasks, mental health treatment can help.

#3 Your Coping Skills Are Unhealthy

Everyone has a way of coping with life’s challenges, regardless of whether these coping strategies are healthy or not. When your mental health is suffering, you may turn to unhealthy coping methods as a way to ease your symptoms. However, this relief is only temporary and can lead to more issues like addiction. Working with a mental health professional can help you learn healthy alternative coping mechanisms.

#4 You Have Strained Relationships

Oftentimes when you’re experiencing mental or emotional pain, it negatively impacts your relationships. You may continuously argue with your significant other or have unhealthy friendships. What’s happening inside can spill over to other areas of your life. To salvage these relationships, you may need to seek professional help from someone who can assist in getting to the root cause of your relational issues.

#5 You Isolate Yourself

You might have noticed that you withdraw from activities with friends or family. You may intentionally be avoiding people altogether and isolating yourself. This is common for people experiencing mental health problems. You could also feel sad about the disconnection but not know how to reach out and ask for support.

#6 You’ve Experienced Trauma

Traumatic events can happen to anyone, and they completely change your life. After experiencing trauma, your mental health may plummet. You may feel hopeless and like things will never improve.

Research has proven that trauma is stored in the body. Working with a trauma-informed therapist can help you recover from what you’ve been through.

#7 Your Sleeping or Eating Habits Have Changed

It’s not unusual to experience changes in your appetite or sleep cycle when facing mental health struggles. You may be eating or sleeping too little or too much. Check-in with yourself to see if you’ve noticed these two patterns have been off.

#8 You’re Experiencing a Major Life Transition

Going through transitions is inevitable in life. However, some people are better equipped to handle them than others. Life transitions — like breakups, becoming a parent, or losing your job — can all be stressful and challenging to cope with. Working with a therapist can help you adjust to the changes occurring in your life.

Why You Should Work With a Mental Health Professional

If you’re experiencing any of these signs or others that are affecting your mental health, working with a trained mental health professional can help. There are various types of therapy options available. A therapist can help you manage your symptoms and work through the various life challenges you may be grappling with.

While therapy is often difficult, there are numerous benefits to seeking mental health treatment. Some of these benefits include:

• Increased happiness
• Mental health treatment
• Improved relationships and social life
• Better communication skills
• Learning how to make healthier choices
• The development of positive coping skills
• Assistance in achieving your goals
• Changing negative thought patterns
• Improvement in all areas of life

In therapy, you’ll learn more about yourself, which can empower you and lead to a more fulfilling life. When it comes to seeking mental health treatment, you may feel shame; however, it’s important to remember that you’re doing this for yourself. A mental health professional will be there to listen and guide you through solving your problems. You’ll learn how to manage your symptoms and develop coping skills that you can use when you need them most.

You don’t have to spend the rest of your life struggling or dealing with your problems on your own.

When you’re experiencing mental health struggles, it often feels like things will never improve. You may go through your daily life feeling hopeless and unsure how to reach out for support. Seeking mental health treatment takes a lot of courage and is the first step to a better life. When you’re ready, help is available. At Alter Wellness Care, we provide clients with comprehensive mental health care. We believe in treating both the condition and the whole person, and our services are designed to give you the support you need to live a happier and more fulfilling life. There’s no shame in seeking mental health treatment. With the right help, you’ll notice an improvement in your symptoms. During your time here, you’ll take part in one of our outpatient programs, which will help you work through your mental health concerns. To learn more, call (866) 311-3510.