Although there have been initiatives towards promoting emotional wellness and preventing mental health concerns, there are a number of factors that act as barriers when one is trying to reach out for help. Awareness on help-seeking behaviour is limited, not just among the older generations but also among the youth. Recent studies on stigma and mental health have found that stigma carries adverse consequences on seeking assistance. Reduced help-seeking is linked to a desire to solve the issue on one's own, a lack of perceived need, limited mental health literacy, financial considerations and stigmatising attitudes.
The actions of the world significantly influence our lives. There has never been a universal reaction to the unpleasant, uncomfortable, or overpowering events that some of us encounter. Humans typically have three fundamental reactions: "fight, flight or freeze" and we often find it challenging to face our fears or uncomfortable feelings. Hence, what we struggle to do is accept our concerns.
As humans with capacities to regulate thoughts and emotions, we often strive to problem-solve scenarios, but the question is—can we always do it by ourselves?
There are times when we find it difficult to deal with certain circumstances and just accept them as it is. Reaching out for assistance is necessary rather than disregarding the circumstance, and being afraid of being judged. Our family, friends, and occasionally (or frequently) professionals from the field may be needed to assist us to conquer the difficulty, but we must first be honest with ourselves about our problems. One might even be willing to seek help but wonder when to reach out to someone. While there is no template for when one could reach out for help, a few common signs might guide one during a stressful situation.
Physical Signs:
Having trouble with sleep - Disturbed sleep, sleeping too long or too little can be caused by various factors, but if one particular problem keeps you up at night, it is best to treat it as soon as possible. For instance, if a person consistently has problems with his employer at work, it may quickly start to negatively affect him.
Frequently falling ill - Stress and emotional anguish may have a negative impact on someone's physical as well as mental health. It can result in bodily pains and headaches, and consulting a mental health expert is suggested if a medical reason cannot be identified.
Difficulty maintaining a healthy appetite or experiencing significant weight loss
Experiencing panic attacks
Emotional Signs:
Finding nothing to be exciting - Reaching out to a professional may be necessary if a person begins to lose interest in activities, hobbies, or anything else they used to enjoy.
Effects of a traumatic event - Traumatic events such as losing a loved one, accidents, losing a job etc. can have a negative impact on one’s mental health. Trauma and grief is difficult to resolve on your own and requires professional support.
Feeling of isolation and loneliness - Reaching out to someone is also necessary if we find ourselves unable to participate in social activities, desire solitude most of the time, struggle to connect with people around us, or feel unwelcome.
Substance abuse - It is generally a warning sign when someone uses alcohol or drugs to cope with their feelings.
Cognitive Signs:
Difficulty concentrating - Changes in performance at work or school may indicate the presence of certain mental health problems. For instance, you might feel distant from your job, which once brought you a lot of happiness, and you might also receive a warning about your productivity from higher authorities.
Lack of motivation - "I’m no good", "I don’t want to go out today", "I might die"
Having negative thoughts - "My problems are too difficult to solve", "Life is too hard", "Everything’s going to go wrong"
Blaming oneself - "It’s all my fault", "I can’t handle the way I feel"
When we are able to acknowledge our problems and seek external assistance, we often observe that while we may be challenged with difficult situations/challenges, the support we receive from our families and loved ones helps us cope.
Benefits of seeking help:
Teaches you to develop coping strategies - With the aid of a professional, a person may be able to recognise better coping strategies and get through difficult circumstances.
Improves productivity - An individual who has learned to deal with obstacles will be able to sustain productivity at school or at work, even when asked to perform under pressure.
Improves quality of life - Attending social events and participating in activities will reduce feelings of isolation and increase productivity.
Improve relationships - Getting help will enable individuals to reconnect with loved ones and reach out to them.
Reduces risk of other medical problems - If a person asks for mental health assistance, the likelihood of experiencing physical health issues like lack of sleep, headaches, etc. will decrease.
As humans, we strive towards doing the best in everything possible. Sometimes, in order to do so, we require help and support from people around us. In order to become better versions of ourselves, we must understand that sometimes we are unable to handle and solve our own difficulties, as much as we would like to. For instance, a newborn could desire to learn how to walk by themselves, but they can't until an adult gives them a hand to grip onto and teaches them to take things slowly.
Everyone will at some time in their lives need someone to hold their hand. Some people may no longer need it at a certain point, while others may always need it, which are both fine.
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