In a desperate attempt to raise awareness about mental health issues, people are using certain terminology left-right-and-centre. But is it possible that some symptoms are being exaggerated?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety involves “feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes… recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns and physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat.” This definition does not clarify as to how one can distinguish between a diagnosed anxiety disorder and normal anxiety that we experience in our day-to-day lives. However, in another definition, the impaired ability to function in everyday life and a disruption in relationships are also mentioned. Anxiety and depression tend to go hand in hand. Depression is defined by the APA as an “inability to concentrate, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, low energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt and thoughts of death or suicide.” It is important to note that what characterizes a mental disorder is usually:
- Discomfort caused to the individual as well as others
- Behaviour, thoughts or emotions experienced are considered different from the norm
- They tend to be quite persistent
Therefore, if exams are approaching and you start experiencing some panic attacks, don’t hassle too much! 99% chance is that it’s stress. However, if symptoms persist even in periods where you feel like you cannot pinpoint a cause, seek help. It’s ok to speak out!
Here are some tips as to how you can determine whether what you are experiencing are actual symptoms and which are not:
You lose motivation in what you used to enjoy
This is not such a difficult symptom to identify. If this is persistent, it usually points toward depressive symptoms. It might simply be, however, that you have grown and changed and still need time to incorporate that into yourself. Watch out if it’s consistent, though!
You are experiencing panic attacks
Panic attacks might surface during a stressful period. Remember that stress is subjective, meaning that what you find stressful might not be for others. Keep track of day-to-day activities and routines during this period and jot down emotions, thoughts and behaviours to see if you can identify a pattern. For example, you notice that every time you have a particular lecture, you experience panic attacks. If it persists and you feel as though you cannot cope, do seek professional help.
Have Outbursts become common?
Frequent crying or feeling on edge are two symptoms that signal a change in an individual, usually the ones that are most noticed by others. People might ask what is wrong and this sometimes leads to even more outbursts! Becoming temperamental points at emotional instability, meaning that something might be ‘off’. Take note of changes in diet, medication, habits and the like, which might lead the person to react in such a way. Being indecisive of how to handle a situation might lead to overreaction and overthinking. However, constantly feeling anxious might be a sign of an anxiety disorder so it is important to keep track of possible variables that might lead to these symptoms.
It feels like you’re constantly dazed
Inability to focus or feeling dazed all the time might be a symptom of depression however there are a number of reasons as to why this might occur. First of all, this might be a consequence of a poor diet. It is important that you consume all nutrients to prevent from creating a chemical imbalance. Secondly, it could be that there is an accumulation of stressors that are taking a toll on your mental health and make you feel as though your brain is heavy. Well, technically it is! It is too full of thoughts and you would need to think about revising your routine and incorporating some time for yourself.
Taking too much responsibility of people and events
There are people who suffer from guilt feelings as part of their personality however it could be that this surfaces at a particular period in life. Certain experiences, life conditions or simply growth and change, can lead to a drastic change in character. Taking responsibility for others’ actions and blaming oneself for disappointments is quite common during tough periods. It’s as though people are unconsciously trying to confirm that they are wrong and deserve to feel bad. It’s important to be aware of your behaviour and emotions and try to find a balance between caring for others and caring for yourself. If you make necessary changes in your life and these compulsions persist, do seek help, as it might point towards depression or anxiety.
These are amongst the most common symptoms but there are many more that one might experience. It is important to train yourself to be more self-aware so as to not confuse mental DISORDERS with mental health ISSUES. Moreover, be attentive to what vocabulary you are using and do not use certain labels carelessly. Awareness about mental health has become popular but the distinction between disorders and common problems is yet to be trained. It’s time we start focusing on actually applying the knowledge we have gained about mental health to actively reduce the stigma surrounding it as well as developing skills needed to help others as well as ourselves.
