Knowing the warning signs of depression and anxiety

Do you ever wonder if somebody you know may be struggling with depression and anxiety, but you are not sure?

If so, here are some things to look for when someone you know may be having a difficult time with their mental health.

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Feeling sad and depressed on a regular basis
• Trouble concentrating
• Change in eating habits
• Talks of suicide
• Loss of interest and social withdrawal
• Lack of energy and persistent tiredness
• Feelings of guilt and regret
• Changes in their appearance and behaviors
• Increased use of drugs and alcohol
• Easily agitated and always irritable
• They seem out of touch of what is going on around them
• Their physical health starts to go down hill
• Frequent mood changes
• Unusual behavior
• Excessive fears, worries, and anxieties

One or two of these symptoms alone can’t predict a mental illness but may indicate a need for further evaluation.

If you think something is going on with someone you know or care about, then try to talk to them and encourage them to seek some kind of help if they need it. You can also talk to a counselor who can give you advice on what you can do to help the person who may be struggling with their mental health.

What can you do if the person you know does have a mental health issue and refuses to get any help? If this is the case, your next step is to try to convince the individual to seek treatment.

Here are five tips on how you can convince the person you know to get help for their fears and anxieties.

1. Talk to the person instead of talking at them: Nobody wants to be lectured or yelled at. The person who is struggling is scared and they need some encouragement in overcoming their fears and resistance to getting any assistance. Treat the person the way you would want to be treated if the roles were reversed.

2. Find out why the person won’t get help: Ask the person who is struggling to list the main reasons why they will not get assistance. It might take a few tries, but try to find out what is stopping the person from getting treatment for their mental health problems. Fear and frustration are huge factors for not getting help.

3. Address the fears that the person may have: Once you get the reasons why the person is hesitant to solve their problems, the next step is to find ways to help address the concerns the individual may have.  Addressing one’s fears and concerns may convince the person to take some action that will get their life back on track.

4. You can’t manage your mental health all by yourself: A person’s anxieties and other mental health issues can be difficult to manage and more than likely he or she will need some guidance. Remind the person that going it alone or making excuses will only make things worse.

5. Offer to go with them: It can be very scary for the person to seek the services of a counselor for the first time. The fear of the unknown can be very intimidating. Offer to go with the person as they start the process of getting treatment. A person who is struggling will feel better if they have someone they trust who accompanies them as they start their recovery.