How is Your Mental Health State?

In everyday life, it’s easy to overlook our mental health. We often focus on our physical traits or external achievements, not focusing on the more basic signals that our mental state might need attention. Just like checking in on our physical health with regular doctor visits, it’s important to assess our mental health every now and then. This can help us catch potential issues early, prevent burnout, and make sure we are maintaining a healthy, balanced life. In this blog, we’ll explore how to check on your mental health state and recognize warning signs. 

Why Checking Your Mental Health Matters

Mental health is vital to how we think, feel, and act. It influences our ability to deal with stress, relate to others, and make choices. Just like physical health, mental health can vary based on internal and external factors. Life events, stress, trauma, and even everyday challenges can impact our mental well-being. Regularly checking in on your mental health helps you understand where you are emotionally, and provides the opportunity to seek support or make changes before things could possibly get worse.

By being cautious of your mental health, you can prevent issues from becoming more serious and fix them in a healthier, more proactive way. Checking in doesn’t mean obsessing over your thoughts or emotions, but it means you are maintaining a level of self-awareness that helps you with your life, clarity and emotional state of mind. 

Signs That You Need to Check In with Your Mental Health

Before diving into the steps of checking on your mental health, it’s helpful to recognize when you might need to take a closer look. Here are some common signs that indicate it’s time for a self-check-in:

• Mood Swings: If you notice dramatic shifts in your mood—feeling overly irritable, sad, or anxious—without clear external triggers, it could be a sign to pay closer attention to your mental health.
• Increased Stress: Feeling overwhelmed or like you’re constantly under pressure is a key indicator that your mental health may need some TLC.
• Fatigue: Mental exhaustion can manifest as physical tiredness. If you’re feeling drained, even after a full night’s rest, it might be a sign that your mental health needs attention.
• Difficulty Concentrating: If you’re struggling to focus at work, school, or even in social situations, it could indicate underlying mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
• Social Withdrawal: If you’re isolating yourself from friends, family, or activities you usually enjoy, it’s important to check in and assess why that might be happening.
• Physical Symptoms: Headaches, stomach issues, muscle tension, or frequent colds can be physical manifestations of mental stress or anxiety.

Self-reflection is one of the most effective tools for assessing your mental health. It involves taking a quiet moment to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. You can ask yourself a series of questions to assess. 

How have I been feeling lately? Am I stressed, happy, anxious, excited or sad? 

Is there anything that might have caused me to feel the way I am currently feeling? 

Am I participating in activities when giving the opportunity to do so?

Are my relationships with others healthy and strong? If not, why might that be so?

These are the questions that can help you quickly learn about your current mental health state. 

Mental health is deeply tied to our emotional patterns. If you’ve been feeling off, it can help to keep track of your thoughts and emotional responses. Ask yourself, are you experiencing negative self talk, constant worry, or constant feelings of hopelessness? How do you respond to stress or setbacks? Keeping a daily or weekly journal can help you identify patterns in your emotional and mental health that you might not have noticed otherwise. By keeping a daily or weekly journal, not only will you identify patterns in your emotional and mental health, but you will also be able to be more honest with yourself and others as time goes on and you continue to write in your journal.

Try to pay attention to any recurring negative thoughts or beliefs that may reveal a mental health concern, like anxiety or depression. The goal is not to judge or criticize yourself, but to gain insight into how your mental state may be impacting your well-being. If or when you do learn about this mental health concern, it is important to understand that you are not alone in this and you can easily find the help you need by seeking a site like ThriveSpace.