Mental Health Check: When you feel like a LOSER, consider seeking (professional) help

Failure and loss that make us feel less confident. We may feel like we are running all over the place while doing our best to solve everything. There may also be times when it seems like nothing eventful is happening, as if our life is stagnant and we are merely going through the motions. We may have a job, a family, friends, and interests, but we don’t feel excited or happy. People usually say, “There’s just something missing, and I don’t know what is.”

Here are some points to consider for your mental health check:

1. When you feel LESS MOTIVATED OR INSPIRED that your school, work, and other tasks are significantly affected.

We will not always like studying or working. There will be days that we’ll struggle to complete our tasks or even get started, but when you experience this scenario most days of the week for consecutive weeks, the problem may no longer just be you ‘feeling lazy’. You are the expert on your abilities and habits. Challenge yourself to look at your tasks based on your current competencies. If you were at an optimum level of motivation, and believed that you could finish the task, you most likely would be able to accomplish your daily or weekly goals. So, when you or other people notice that you are not at your best or that you ‘don’t do things like you used to’, maybe it’s a sign that your mental health is declining.

2. When you constantly feel OVERWHELMED.

Cliché as it may be, change is inevitable. We feel surprised, speechless, anxious, fearful, or overwhelmed when we are unprepared. Sometimes, we even feel these emotions even when we’re prepared! While these emotions are natural, feeling overwhelmed for a prolonged time can be a sign of a mental health concern, especially when the feeling is accompanied by negative thoughts such as “I’m not going to get out of this!” or “I’m a mess, and I don’t know how to sort things out!” When we start to believe (or already believe) that no amount of effort or time can help us manage things, it is most likely going to lower our self-esteem and self-worth.

3. When your SLEEPING PATTERNS HAVE CHANGED.

Most clients consult us when they are not getting enough sleep or when they’re not able to sleep as easily as before. While 6 to 8 hours is the average quality of sleep daily, my clients report an average of 3 to 4 hours. When we sleep less or when we have interrupted sleep, our body will do its best to compensate for the lack of time to repair and replenish. Sleep-deprived people usually drink coffee. While coffee usually gives an energy boost, an energy crash also follows. This cycle is dangerous as it may cause caffeine addiction or dependence.

4. EATING HABITS HAVE CHANGED and you (or other people) notice that you gained or lost a significant amount of weight.

Changes in sleeping patterns are often followed by changes in eating habits. I often tell my client that anything that’s lacking (less or loss of appetite) or that’s in excess (overeating or stress eating) is viewed as a warning sign. Combined, changes in sleeping and eating habits are common markers of a mental health concern that may require more investigation as when left unattended, these may lead to other physical illnesses.

5. RUMINATION

Although it is normal to reflect on a situation, when we focus too much and too long on something, we open ourselves to the possibility of sacrificing other things. According to the American Psychiatric Association, rumination is repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings and distress and their causes and consequences wherein the repetitive, negative aspect of rumination can contribute to the development of depression or anxiety and can worsen existing conditions.

While these are only a few signs of a possible mental health concern, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. I hope you can discover a deeper level of courage in you, and inform your loved ones about the type of help you need. You matter. You are worthy. You are important.

Do you have a question about mental health or psychology? Send an email to northluzonmonitor@gmail.com and your question might be discussed in the next article.