Many people are ashamed of their struggles with mental health issues, and they try to hide these inner struggles, even in front of those closest to them.
Discovering a mental health crisis in someone closest to you is no easy task.
These crises are likely to deepen gradually, so it is difficult for people to notice their changes.
Here are some signs of a mental health crisis – note that they don't necessarily mean a person is in crisis; rather, we just need to use them as clues, to pay attention to, and to learn more.
01
7 Signs of a Mental Health Crisis
1. Back off
One of the most common signs of psychological problems is that a person is significantly reducing their normal activities.
Types of withdrawal include:
Stay in your own room
Disconnect from a friend
Messages are not replied to
Do not eat
These types of withdrawal may reflect the low energy, low motivation, and low commitment typical of depression, or the fears and avoidances that are prevalent in people with high levels of anxiety.
They may also reflect other issues that people want to cover up.
2. Alcohol abuse and other substance abuse
Changes in the amount of alcohol a person consumes and other substances they use can be a sign of underlying mental health problems.
You can follow the following changes:
More frequent drinking, such as starting most nights of the week
The amount of alcohol consumed becomes larger, such as drinking until the words are not clear
Drink more than others (e.g., six bottles of height-count beer at once, while others only drink one or two)
Alcohol and other substances are often used to alleviate the pain of depression or mental trauma, or to reduce feelings of anxiety. If substance use patterns are problematic, then these may also reflect addictive tendencies.
Be especially vigilant if your family has a history of substance abuse problems.
3. Recent major pressures
While stressful life events are not a sign of a mental health crisis in themselves, they are one of the best predictors of some mental health problems.
These problems include depression, post-traumatic stress, alcohol problems, or excessive anxiety.
Since the outbreak, people's pressures may include:
Lose your job
Confirmed COVID-19
Family members were diagnosed with COVID-19
High-risk occupations, such as public transportation
Care for COVID-19 patients
Business failed
Financial difficulties
It is common for a person to have a delayed response to stressful life events.
For example, some people who survive major trauma, such as life-threatening illness, may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and develop "delayed expression"—meaning symptoms don't fully appear until at least 6 months after trauma.
Prolonged stress, such as long-term health problems or long-term unemployment, tends to have a cumulative effect. As a result, your loved one will look normal in the face of great challenges.
However, as stress increases, our body and mind will eventually struggle, and our nervous system will continue to be highly vigilant. A plan can be made to check your condition regularly.
When a stressor also affects you, it can also be difficult to identify someone's response to a major stressor, such as an epidemic. For example, if you and your family members are facing financial difficulties, you may have a hard time realizing how this stress affects them.
At these times, we may need to consciously remind ourselves to pay attention to the situation of the people around us.
Image credit: Pinterest
4. Difficulty completing your own tasks
You may notice that the people you care about do fewer tasks at home, such as washing dishes or taking out the garbage.
If they still have jobs, they may miss work tasks or miss deadlines more often than before. If you are a student, you may not submit papers and assignments. They may miss scheduled video conferences or be late.
Often, people may have a plausible explanation for every mistake — they can't submit their paper in time because the site is closed; or they miss the morning convention because they set the alarm for the afternoon instead of the morning.
If you feel there are deeper reasons that explain the problem you're seeing, follow your instincts and remember the overall patterns you've noticed.
5. Inability to take care of yourself
When a person encounters major difficulties in life, basic self-care is often one of the first things to do.
They may stop bathing regularly so that there is a pronounced body odor. They may stop caring for their teeth. They may also wear the same dirty sweatpants and T-shirts every day.
You may notice a change in a person's food choices: While most of what they may have eaten in the past was healthy foods, now they may survive on fast food or sugary snacks. They may stop exercising. Their sleep patterns may also worsen.
Unfortunately, these changes can make a person's condition worse, as poor diet and lack of exercise can lead to worse health conditions, which can perpetuate a vicious cycle of lack of self-care.
Think back to the people you know and the other signs you see, has anything changed?
6. Changes in the worldview
You may notice subtle changes in some of the way people see the world.
They may become more pessimistic or cynical and will soon see the bad side of others. Instead of looking at the world with rose-colored glasses, they used mud-colored glasses.
You may notice a change in tone as they interact with you, and a shift in how they see themselves, the world, and others.
It is true that the world has changed dramatically in the past two years. So, consider how this person reacts during very challenging times.
7. Feelings of helplessness
If someone expresses no hope that things will get better, they should pay special attention to him.
The importance of hope cannot be overemphasized.
Words to be aware of include:
"I just don't see any improvement in things."
"I want to give up."
"There's nothing in this world to give me."
"I don't know why I'm trying — nothing works."
"It's pointless – it's never going to get better."
"I feel hopeless."
While none of these claims themselves indicate a crisis, they are noteworthy.
Losing hope reduces our willingness to ask for help and makes us reluctant to put our energy into activities and relationships that make us feel better.
Despair is also a very common experience for those who attempt suicide. While most people who feel hopeless don't try to end their lives, despair greatly increases the risk.
02
How can we respond?
So, if you know or suspect that a loved one is in crisis, what can you do for him?
1. Don't solve the problem alone
First, consider talking to someone who knows the person well, such as another family member, or a close friend.
Let the other person know what you've observed and what you're worried about, and ask them to share any conditions they may have noticed since they came into contact with the other person.
You may have a hard time knowing how to deal with a possible crisis, so it's a good idea to work with others.
While it's important to protect personal privacy as much as possible, at some point, security issues should be a priority.
So, if you respect your loved one's need for privacy, share as much information as possible to describe your concerns.
2. Talk to the person you're worried about
Whether or not you're going to talk to someone else, discuss your worries with the person you're worried about (assuming there's no obvious reason to stop you from doing so).
Choose a time that's convenient for both parties (unless the other person keeps putting you off) and describe what you're seeing as unbiased as possible. Then invite them to respond.
Your goal is to let them know you want to help and work with them as a team to solve problems.
For example, you could say, "I recently noticed that you drink every night of the week, and usually drink several at a time. This looks very different from the previous situation and I've been worried about you. Have you been okay lately? “
This description is more likely to elicit a positive and cooperative response than something like "You've been drinking too much lately." Are you an alcoholic? "Question it like this.
These conversations are generally difficult, so be prepared to accept a series of answers. For example, the other person might:
If the other person thinks he's been doing well lately, he may think that you're confused by asking him
Angry, maybe because your worries aren't grounded, or maybe it's because your words hit the bull's-eye
Tell you that your concerns are well-founded and tell you about your TA's recent situation
You may become defensive because you feel ashamed
3. Be prepared for shame
The problem of shame is very important because it is often accompanied by psychological difficulties and often prevents a person from making their inner struggles public.
Shame can be particularly prominent when a person is not taking responsibility for it and is already feeling guilty about it.
Noticing these, and letting them know you've noticed them, amplifies this feeling of guilt and shame.
If they're not proud of their actions, such as excessive drinking, they may also feel ashamed and may hear condemnation from your concern.
Therefore, you need to be as clear as possible: no matter what they are struggling with, you love and support them.
4. Be mindful of your own anxiety situation
Be aware of your own anxiety about other people's problems.
When we worry about someone, we may produce energy between conversations that are not beneficial.
For example, if the other person seems to be somewhat shy, we may get angry, making them more reluctant to share.
Of course, it's unrealistic to expect us to be completely calm, but simply recognizing the anxiety we feel about their situation can help us deal with it more effectively.
5. Talk to the other person about how you can help
If there is a crisis, you can discuss with the other person how they want you to help them.
The methods you can choose from include:
Listen as much as you can
If you don't need professional help, help them come up with an autonomous plan to deal with the crisis
Ponder whether there are other resources that might help, such as holding "anonymous mutual aid groups" for people who are treating alcohol dependence.
Provide practical help, such as taking on some responsibilities and making time for them to receive treatment
Search for some counselor or other professional who can help
Accompany them to a consultation if they wish
6. What if they don't want help?
Just because a person has a crisis doesn't mean they're ready to help. If they refuse to ask for help, keep the following guidelines in mind:
Try to stay calm. Responding to their anger with their own anger may reduce, rather than increase, their likelihood of getting help.
Take a long-term view. Just because they're not ready right now and won't turn to help doesn't mean they won't in the future. The premise of this principle is that there is no emergency, such as the risk of self-harm.
Stay supported. Make sure the other person knows your love and basic positive attitude, and you love and support them whether or not they get help you think they need.
Remember, the final decision is in their hands. We are very reluctant to see the people we care about not being helped. Pay attention to ideas like "They have to get help" or "I have to convince them to seek treatment." The best thing you can do is encourage them to take care of themselves. Even for children, they should feel like they are part of the decision-making process.
Take care of yourself. You may also need additional support in the crisis of your loved one. Go find the company of those closest to you. If you find it helpful, don't hesitate to seek counseling. A counselor who knows you well may be able to instruct you on how to deal with the crisis of your loved one.
If you're feeling exhausted while helping those around you and want to seek the help of professionals, our Psychological Assessment service is a great option.
Our Psychological Assessment can support you with:
1. The international standard psychometric scale system and 1v1 in-depth interviews help you explore your mental state efficiently;
2. In a warm and safe environment, help you understand what kind of mental health services are needed;
3. A professional case manager will match the appropriate mental health plan for you;
4. Mental health support for more than 3 months, during which time you can communicate with the assessment consultant if you are confused about psychological services;
5. Help you be more clear about which issues are the most noteworthy, what their possible causes are, and, if you need to seek the help of a counselor, what kind of counselor is best for you.
The data shows that after the "psychological assessment" into the psychological counseling, the consultation matching degree is effectively increased by 5 times.