Early Signs You Should See a Doctor Over Mental Health Concerns

Last Updated on May 25, 2022 by Journal Fact

According to statistics, depression increased by almost 1% among the Singapore population between 2010 and 2016. However, this menace is not just unique to Singapore, as most countries globally reported a steady increase in mental health cases over that period. This article will delve into some early signs and symptoms that could signify the onset of Mental Health problems like depression and anxiety. But first, here’s how you can know you or someone you know needs help.

When Should You See A Doctor Regarding Your Mental Health?

 Mental health problems present symptoms that are similar to some physical health problems. However, you should consult a depression doctor if you constantly have some symptoms. The symptoms could be early signs of depression or other mental health issues such as anxiety:

• Feeling sad or hopeless, or you’re losing interest in things that used to make you happy

• Feeling worthless, guilty or hopeless about your future

• Feeling like dying would be better than living life as it is

• Having trouble sleeping or concentrating because of worry and anxiety

 Other signs of depression could include:

 Drug and substance abuse

 Drug and substance use often comes hand in hand with mental illness. For example, suppose you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health issue like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, among others. In that case, it can be hard to know if the cause is the illness or something outside of your control. In some cases, however, drug and alcohol use may be a coping mechanism for the symptom itself. For example, if someone with depression turns to marijuana because they think it’ll help them feel better—even though it actually makes them feel worse—they may be using drugs to escape their illnesses.

 Suicidal thoughts/Actions and Risky Behaviors

 Some risky behaviors that could indicate underlying mental health concerns are self-harming like cutting and careless sexual acts, which can be both psychological distress symptoms and indicate that the person has been suffering for years without getting treatment; risky sexual behaviors may come from low self-esteem or feeling overwhelmed by life.

Other risky behaviours include excessive spending habits, which could point toward anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder and gambling problems which could signal bipolar disorder or impulse control disorders like kleptomania. A person who displays these behaviours might need help regardless of whether any specific diagnosis exists.

 Emotional outbursts

 Experiencing emotional outbursts could be signs of mental health problems such as depression or anxiety. The outbursts could be characterised by:

• Sudden changes in mood

• Uncontrollable crying

• Anger and irritability

• Quickly getting upset

A tendency to blame other people for your problems could mean you don’t feel good enough about yourself to take responsibility for your shortcomings. However, blaming someone else also takes the pressure off you, which allows you to avoid feeling any negative emotions that might arise if you admit fault or failure.

Emotional outbursts make it easier to avoid taking responsibility. By shifting blame onto other people, you don’t need to admit fault or failure and have those emotions come up. This is especially true when talking about anger and resentment toward others.

 Changes in eating habits

 If you notice substantial changes in your eating habits, it could mean a few different things. For example, if you’re eating more than usual, it could be because you’re stressed out and trying to comfort yourself with food- a condition known as emotional eating. Or maybe you’ve gained weight and are using food as an excuse to avoid dealing with these feelings. On the other hand, if you’re not hungry and have lost interest in eating even though it’s a normal time for meals or snacks, this can also be a sign of depression or anxiety.

 You should talk to someone about your changes in eating habits immediately if:

• You’re gaining weight but don’t feel like eating enough healthy food or exercising regularly; or

• You’re losing weight without trying and find yourself feeling anxious when people ask how much weight loss has happened recently; or

• Your lack of appetite causes problems at home because family members are concerned they won’t have enough food available for everyone else.

What to do when Experiencing these signs

 Suppose you or someone you know displays these signs; it’s good to get help from a doctor or mental health professional. Medical professionals can diagnose depression and other mental health issues by asking questions about your symptoms and medical history. They may also perform some tests to rule out physical causes for the symptoms.

If your doctor thinks you have depression, they may refer you to a mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist specialising in treating mood disorders. A therapist can help treat the symptoms of depression by talking with them about past experiences that may be adding to their problems, their thoughts about themselves and others in their lives, and how they view life events like relationships with others – both past and current ones.

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