If you’ve been stuck in isolation, or you are suffering with your mental health, it may be necessary for you to seek additional support. With the added stress, fear, and anxiety around the world surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, whether you have been disconnected from friends and family, worried about the state of the world, or have lost a job, more people than ever are struggling with their mental wellbeing. When you are feeling overwhelmed, and struggling with your mental health, it can be particularly challenging to ask for help. However, asking for help should not be seen as a weakness, and instead, should be encouraged. Seeking the right kind of support for what you are going through can significantly improve your symptoms and mental state. Here are some top tips for seeking support when you are struggling.
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#1 Finding the right time
It is important to know there is no right time. If you are struggling at all, you should seek support. You don’t have to wait until you reach a certain point, and you certainly don’t have to wait for your symptoms or condition to be more severe. If you are unsure whether to reach out for help or trying to deal with things on your own, it is always a good idea to reach out for support, especially if you are worrying more than usual, having difficult thoughts and feelings, your day-to-day life has been impacted by your symptoms and conditions, and you are struggling to enjoy your life.
#2 Where to find information
You can find a wide variety of support and resources just with a few simple searches on the internet. These resources are usually written by medical professionals and can point you in the right direction for options, and referrals. Alternatively, you can speak to your family doctor. This can seem scary at first, but getting the right treatment for your needs is vital for your recovery. Whether you are struggling with substance addiction, low moods, or anxiety, your family doctor is a great place to start. Unfortunately, mental health illnesses will not go away on their own.
#3 What kind of support to seek
There are a plethora of different support options you can choose from, depending on what you would like help with and what style of support you prefer. Some of the most common mental health problems and treatment options have been outlined below.
Talk therapy
Talk therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), counseling, interpersonal therapy (IPT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MCBT), is a kind of treatment popular for a wide range of mental health problems. It is often used for those struggling with depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as it is used to identify the route issues that are causing a person emotional distress. Talk therapy is also used to complement other therapies.
Treatment centers
There are treatment centers located all over the country, and are there to support people through a range of issues, and tend to focus on intensive in-house programs that run on a long-term basis. They usually combine a range of different techniques to tailor the support to the individual. Depending on what you are struggling with, will depend on the type of center you use, for example, if you struggle with occurring mental illness and substance use, you may opt for dual diagnosis treatment centers.
Medication
Medication is often a course of treatment prescribed by your doctor, to help ease and manage the symptoms of your mental health illness. The type of medication, and the length of time you take them, will depend on what you are struggling with, for example, you can be prescribed antidepressants for depression, anxiety, or OCD.
Support groups
Support groups are hosted by volunteers and are located all around the country. They typically aim to bring together individuals who are suffering from similar problems, so that you can better understand them, learn from the experiences of others, and build a strong support system. When you are struggling with your mental health, it can often feel lonely and isolating. Support groups are a great way to stay connected and support yourself through your struggles. You don’t have to share at a support group, the level of participation is entirely up to you and how confident you feel. This is often the factor that puts people off going, but it doesn’t have to be.
Seeking support is daunting, but taking that step to seek support is an excellent first step to recovery. With the right type of help, you will be able to manage your symptoms and feel much better.
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