7 Subtle Signs You Need Therapy to Improve Your Overall Well-being

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Your overall well-being depends on more than just your physical health. A vital factor you may forget is the importance of your mental health and its role in coping with your daily tasks. Sometimes the early warning signs of something not being 100% are there, but not always easy for you to notice. Depression, anxiety, coping with losing a loved one, and post-traumatic stress disorders can easily affect your mental health.

However, therapy is not just about helping you cope with issues you are dealing with; it can also help you build resilience to stress, improve relationships, and offload traumas from the past. Furthermore, therapy can help you improve your communication skills, encourage you to make good decisions, and kick unhealthy habits.

Read on to find the seven subtle signs that show you that you need therapy to help you improve your overall well-being before you reach a crisis.

1. Loss of Enjoyment and Lack of Function

When you suddenly get no pleasure out of an activity that you always looked forward to, otherwise known as anhedonia, you need to sit up and pay attention. If the feeling persists and an idea that always seemed appealing sparks no interest or joy, then a therapist can help you delve deeper into its cause.

The routine of your daily life is vital to your well-being. However, if you suddenly find it hard to perform the task required, then you need to identify the problem and find a balance. Some of the symptoms you need to look out for include:

Feeling overwhelmed by your emotions

Inability to deal with various critical issues
Difficulty managing routine tasks like cleaning or running errands
Unable to cope with the weight of work or school

Reluctance to maintain relationships with loved ones and friends
Neglecting your basic hygiene or nourishment

2. Changes In Your Sleep Patterns

Another critical sign of a problem with your mental well-being is a change in your sleep patterns. If you suddenly can’t get enough sleep or find yourself battling insomnia, you need to take notice and action.

3. Lack of Energy and Forgetfulness

One of the chief indications of depression is fatigue. However, it does not necessarily present itself as tiredness. Low energy levels, the inability to focus, and finding it hard to make decisions are all signs of a dopamine or serotonin imbalance.

Another sign of depression is forgetfulness, as seen in a 2016 study linking depression to reduced working memory capacity and a slower processing speed. But, again, therapy can help you reduce these frightful symptoms of depression.

4. People Who Care About You Recommend You Seek Therapy

Since we are always the last to notice changes in ourselves, your family and friends can see these changes, especially in behaviors. You might know more about your inner feelings and thoughts, but you should heed the concern of your loved ones when they tell you that you need therapy because of behavioral changes they have observed.

5. You Have Unexplained Physical Symptoms

Aches, pains, and tummy issues don’t always indicate a physical health issue. But, somewhat surprisingly, a mental health issue can often manifest itself physically. Some symptoms related to mental trauma, anxiety, and depression include headaches, back and neck pain, overall body aches, and gastrointestinal issues.

Don’t forget that real physical symptoms from an illness can also place unnecessary stress on you.

6. You’re Isolating Yourself

If you suddenly find that you are withdrawing from your usual activities and prefer to stay at home alone, it is time to look at your mental well-being. This type of withdrawal usually stems from fear of being misunderstood or showing your authentic self to others.

Connect one-on-one with a Psychiatrist

7. Appetite Changes and Excessive Use Behavior

A sudden tendency to overeat or a lack of appetite are both signs that should make you take note of your mental well-being. Overindulging indicates a form of escaping a current reality or self-medicating with food. On the other hand, a 2016 study showed that increased stress hormones often cause a lack of appetite.

If you often smoke, drink alcohol, or use other mind-altering substances to cope with stress and improve your mood, you need to consider getting help. Any overuse of these substances indicates heightened stress levels.

Therapists also warn that other addictions like excessive gambling, pornography, and social media use as a way of coping also indicate a need for help.

Conclusion

The signs above are just some subtle ways to perceive that therapy will benefit you. Others include constant annoyance, feeling stagnant or stuck, struggling to meet expectations, and experiencing trauma or significant life transitions. Furthermore, the isolation most of us experienced during the pandemic has made it difficult for many to normalize their lives again. Get help by finding the right person to discreetly and non-judgementally reduce the burden you carry.