What is Mental Health?

-->

What is mental health?

Mental health encompasses many aspects of our overall health and well-being and is made up of emotional, psychological, and social components.¹ Emotion well-being refers to how satisfied an individual is with their current life situation, happiness, and peacefulness. Psychological well-being includes components such as self-acceptance, personal growth, openness to new experiences, optimism, and self-direction. An individual’s social well-being includes social acceptance, personal self-worth in society, and sense of community. Our mental health plays an integral role in how we function on a day-to-day basis and impacts our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It can also determine how we handle certain situations and has an impact on our personal relationships. Mental illness refers more specifically to a diagnosable mental disorder.² Common mental illnesses include anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and schizophrenia. Depression is the most common mental illness, affecting more than a quarter of the U.S. adult population.

When to see your doctor or mental health provider.

Although it may be difficult to recognize when something is impacting your mental health, there are a few signs that may suggest it is time to have a discussion with your doctor or a mental health provider.³

Mood: Mood swings from feelings of “highs” to feelings of “lows” may be a sign of poor mental health. Also, persistent feelings of sadness, depression, or irritability lasting beyond two weeks may be an indication that it is time to speak with your healthcare provider about your mental health. Feeling more tense, nervous, or anxious than usual are also signs of many mental health concerns. Other changes in mood could include the inability to cope with daily problems or stress, feelings of guilt, or excessive anger, hostility, or violence.

Loss of interest or pleasure: A recent loss of interest or pleasure in activities, hobbies, or work that you once enjoyed is a common sign that you may need to discuss your mental health with your doctor. You may also find that it is more difficult to complete tasks or assignments in an efficient manner. Withdrawal from friends and family can also signify a significant mental health problem.

Appetite: Changes in eating habits such as eating too much or too little may indicate that it is time for a mental health checkup. Craving certain types of foods that are high in fat or sugar is also a stress response that could result in lower levels of energy and could have an even more negative result on your mood. A significant amount of weight loss without attempting to lose weight or a significant weight gain could be diagnostic of a mental health problem.

Sleep: Recent changes in sleep patterns or habits may also signify a problem with your current mental health. When faced with higher amounts of stress, people often respond with having trouble either falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night. The quality of sleep could also be impacted and you may find yourself waking up without feeling re-energized. In comparison to not being able to sleep well at night, sleeping more than the normal amount of 7 to 9 hours per night can also be a symptom of a mental health problem.

Feeling of restlessness or being slowed down: You may feel that you are unable to sit still and must always be up moving. You could also experience feeling shaking or have unusual movements. By contrast, you could also feel slowed down and not able to move as quickly or as graceful as you normally would.

Energy: Along with problems getting the appropriate amount of sleep each night, feelings of not having enough energy to get through the day are also common with many mental health problems. Many patients with depression or anxiety issues complain of feelings of significant fatigue and low energy and are not able to complete things that they either must do or want to do.

Concentration: Many mental health issues can contribute to an individual’s ability to focus and concentrate. You can recognize your ability to concentrate by noticing if your productivity levels have decreased, if you’re unable to make deadlines, or if you’re unable to complete simple daily tasks such as housework. You may also find that you are unable to make appropriate decisions in a timely manner.

Physical symptoms: some mental health illnesses may manifest with physical symptoms such as stomach pain, back pain, headaches, and other general body aches and pain.

Preparing for your first visit.

Experiencing even just a few of these signs and symptoms is a reason to see your doctor or a mental health provider, especially if they are interfering with your ability to function on a day-to-day basis. You may choose to discuss your mental health concerns with your primary care doctor or you may go directly to a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. In preparation for your first appointment, you should think about a number of questions that your doctor may ask you. These include:

When did you first notice your symptoms?

Has your day-to-day life been affected by your symptoms?

What have you tried to treat your symptoms on your own?  

Do you notice anything that makes you feel worse? Do your symptoms have a specific trigger?

Have your friends or family members commented on your mood?

Does mental illness run in your family?

What do you expect from treatment?

What medications, supplements, or herbs to you currently take?

Do you drink alcohol or use illegal (street) drugs?

It is important for you to think about the types of questions you should ask your doctor or other mental health provider prior to your first appointment. Examples of the types of questions to ask your doctor include:

What type of treatment will I receive?

Will counseling or therapy help?

Are there medications that will help?

How long will it take for my treatment to start working?

Is there anything I can do on my own to help myself?

Do you have any brochures that I can have to read?

Suicide Prevention.

If you feel that you are in a crisis or having thoughts of killing yourself please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) immediately. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour service available to anyone in need of help.

Where to find more information.

If you would like to find out more about mental health or mental illness, below are a few helpful resources:

American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/

National Institute of Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

American Psychiatric Association: http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health

Mental Health America: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/

National Alliance on Mental Illness: http://www.nami.org/

Maggie Thomas

Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate

College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago

UIC Pharmacy

November 2013

References

1.     What is mental health? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health/index.html. Accessed November 12, 2013.

2.     Mental health. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml. Accessed November 12, 2013.

3.     Warning signs of mental illness. American Psychiatric Association. http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health/more-topics/warning-signs-of-mental-illness. Accessed November 12, 2013.