In times such as
these, nothing is more critical to protect and more easily swept away than your
sense of your own mental health.Icons are passing on, wars are waging on, and life goes on - but with
the daily challenges of loss, sudden fluctuations in the economy, the challenge
of finding or keeping a job, the stress of it all can challenge our own sense
of solid ground upon which to rest.
During times of continual stress, often from unanticipated
sources, we can find ourselves changing in ways that may not be good for us,
and yet go unnoticed, by no one but us.
And just as those in the military who used to suggest the absence of feelings was a good thing are now clear that asking for help is
a powerful tool along the continuum of healthy self-care.
Here are some behaviors suggest you may want to seek help or
support:
1-You experience changes in your energy levels in
such a way as to interfere with your daily activities and responsibilities.
2-You have thoughts that are very different/frightening
for you.
3-Friends who are otherwise sources of comfort for
you, now feel annoying or even burdensome.
4-If you have family/close friends who have an
illness, recognize that you are affected by their illness;
seek support for
yourself.
5-If you/a coworker/a family member begin to behave
in ways that seem out of character pay attention.Seek help.
6-If you or someone close to you experiences a joyful event without the joy, seek help from a mental health professional.
7-If you find yourself consistently preferring
your own company to those of others; you may be having a problem.
8-It is so very human to change your usual
behavior when confronted with something/series of things that challenge your
emotional equilibrium; give yourself a break, seek support, and do not try to
go it alone.
9-Employers/managers etc. should be mindful of
employers exhibiting any of the above behaviors.
10- Pay attention to any/all
changes in behavior; whether you define them as good or bad, and check in
with 1) yourself 2) those close to you 3) perhaps a medical and mental health
professional for a 2nd opinion.