Mental health can be scary, a concern more people continue to recognize, which has seen the social stigma quickly becoming a thing of the past. Today, seeking mental health help in-person or from an online psychiatrist is not seen as a source of shame or sign of weakness. More people continue to acknowledge that giving mental health as much attention as physical health is crucial. Seeing a Bedford, NH psychiatrist can help you in many ways, and among the signs that you should schedule a visit include:
Sleep disruption
Changes in your sleep pattern can be disruptive. If you have a mental health problem, your sleep quality will likely be affected. You may have difficulty falling asleep, and even then, wake up more times throughout the night. You may also wake up too early, which means you won’t get deep stages of sleep, disrupting restorative sleep.
It gets trickier; lack of sleep makes it harder to cope with mental concerns, which worsens the symptoms. You will be trapped in a negative feedback loop, significantly impacting your overall well being. Your psychiatrist can help establish what is disrupting your sleep. With medical treatments and other approaches, they can help you address the disturbances. This will allow you to get back to your healthy sleeping pattern.
Substance abuse
Alcohol and/or drug abuse is common among people struggling with mental health problems. They turn to drugs as a means to cope with their problems. It should raise a red flag if you realize that you need drugs regularly to feel more in control or happy. Substance abuse is usually driven by stress or depression. It requires treatment considering the significant health concerns associated with the behavior.
A psychiatrist can diagnose you, establishing the cause of your mental problem. They then tailor treatments, including therapy, to help manage the substance dependence and the underlying mental concerns.
Physical illness
Are you struggling with physical illness without a specific cause? Recurring physical ailments, including headaches, stomach pain, and other vague pains, could be due to mental health issues. Your physical and mental health is connected, and when one is not at its best, it can affect the other.
The psychiatrist can diagnose such unexplained physical ailments. With their medical prowess, the psychiatrist can treat the underlying mental problems and address the physical symptoms.
Excessive anxiety
Anxiety is a part of life, and not all is bad, especially since, at controlled levels, it can be a driving force. Nonetheless, you should see a professional if you are constantly or excessively worried. This is more so if you are having troubling thoughts, such as thinking about suicide. The chemical changes in your brain may need some medical treatments and therapy to manage the anxiety. This is among the fields psychiatrists can help you navigate.
Not all mental concerns warrant seeing a psychiatrist since they are medical doctors. In some instances, seeing a therapist could suffice, for example, when dealing with a midlife crisis. Nonetheless, it would be best if you did not discount recurring episodes of mood swings, stress, anxiety, or depression, even when temporary. They could signify a serious mental health concern that a professional is best positioned to treat and help you manage. Don’t hesitate to visit the Innovative Psychiatry Center when facing any challenging situation affecting your mental wellbeing.
