We all have quirks. We all have our own way of doing things and we all like to have our own routine and structure. This is quite typical behaviour – it’s normal, if you like, for lack of a better word to describe it. We all engage in a set of behaviours that we can easily say is expected. We all eat, sleep, drink liquids, move, think, breathe, connect with others, and experience emotions, among many other things. When one or more of these fundamental daily occurrences become negatively impacted, we can start to feel like things aren’t right. This may only last for a short period of time, however in some instances it can last longer. So how do you know that what you’re experiencing isn’t a phase? How do you know that what you’re experiencing is something you need to pay attention to and get help for?
We’ve put together the following list of early warning signs to potentially developing an ongoing mental health condition that you may need support with. When going through this list be mindful that it is not diagnostic. It is merely here to encourage you to have a think about what is going on for you and whether or not you need support to help you with what you’re experiencing.
Sleep or appetite changes — have you been experiencing dramatic and ongoing changes with your sleep and appetite?
Personal Care and Hygiene – has there been a significant and ongoing decline in your personal care?
Mood changes — Have you had rapid or dramatic shifts in your emotions or depressed feelings?
Withdrawal — Have you been more and more socially withdrawn and/or have lost interest in activities you previously enjoyed?
Drop in functioning — Have you had an unusual drop in functioning at school, work, or social activities, such as quitting sports, failing in school, or are having difficulty performing familiar tasks?
Problems thinking — Have you been experiencing ongoing problems with concentration, memory or logical thought and speech that are hard to explain?
Increased sensitivity — Have you developed, or do you experience a heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells or touch; and are you actively trying to avoid over-stimulating situations
Apathy — Have you been experiencing a loss of initiative or desire to participate in any activities?
Feeling disconnected — Are you experiencing a vague feeling of being disconnected from yourself or your surroundings? Or have you been experiencing a sense of unreality?
Illogical thinking — Have you had any unusual or exaggerated beliefs about personal powers to understand meanings or influence events? Have you had illogical or “magical” thinking typical of childhood but as an adult?
Nervousness — Have you been experiencing an ongoing fear or suspiciousness of others or a strong nervous feeling?
Unusual behaviour – Have you been experiencing any odd, uncharacteristic, or peculiar behaviours?
While this list is not exhaustive, it’s a start. If you’re still unsure then we’re here to help. To make an appointment give us a call on (03) 9882-8874.