I Don't Feel Good: Understanding Your Mental Health
Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellness that includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health affects the way a person thinks, makes decisions, behaves, and regulates emotions.
Sometimes, someone may experience symptoms of a mental health condition that can affect their ability to function in daily life and maintain relationships.
What does healthy mental heal look like and what are the warning signs of mental health problems? In this article, we’ll explore possible signs of mental health conditions as well as mental health services that can help people manage symptoms of mental health problems.
Mental health is important for overall well-being
Mental health affects a person’s quality of life, influencing their ability to manage stress, maintain relationships, and even their physical health. For example, people with mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (also referred to as PTSD) are more likely to experience chronic pain, high blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease, compared to people who don’t have post-traumatic stress disorder.
Signs of mental health conditions
People with mental health conditions may start feeling early signs that can start off as a simple, “I don’t feel good.” It can be a simple way to write off a problem we are having, but it can give us the false sense that it will get better over time without any need for intervention.
These are some of the most common signs that you may be having mental health issues instead of simply “not feeling good.”
Difficulties At Work. Our jobs can have a monumental impact on our lives and can extend beyond the workplace. Difficulties at work can be all too easy to bring home with us. When we are struggling with a co-worker or a task, it can follow us home, engulf our thoughts, and impact all other areas of our lives.
When our productivity goes down, it can indicate that something is amiss. This is not about hating our jobs; if there were joy there at any point, productivity might come naturally. When that productivity begins to decline, it may be a sign that something is wrong.
Dark thoughts. Some of us may have a naturally dark outlook. Still, there is typically a distinct difference between having a somewhat cynical or dark perspective and experiencing dark thoughts about ourselves or others.
Depending on certain factors, those thoughts could escalate. Dark thoughts should not be ignored. If you feel like you don’t have any value anymore or don’t want to be alive, these are critical signs to be aware of.
If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, reach 911 or call the national suicide prevention lifeline. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to reach someone. Help is available 24/7 for suicide prevention.
Common mental health conditions
More than one in five adults in the US have a mental illness. Some of the most common mental disorders are anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the world, affecting more than 300 million people. There are different types of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and different types of phobia disorders. People with mental health conditions like anxiety disorders may experience persistent feelings of anxiousness and worry that don’t go away and can interfere with everyday life.
Depression
According to the American Psychiatric Association, every three in 10 adults in the US are diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives. Depression is a mental illness that can have a significant impact on how a person thinks, feels, and they’re ability to function in daily life. People with a mental health condition like depression may experience persistence feelings of sadness and hopelessness that can interfere with a person’s ability to function in daily life.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after exposure to a traumatic or extremely stressful situation. People with post-traumatic stress disorder may experience flashbacks of the traumatic event or disturbing thoughts and emotions related to the event. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, post-traumatic stress disorder affects six out of every 100 people in the US at some point in their lives.
Do you think you may have symptoms of a mental health concern?
Our mental health can impact the way we feel, the way we think, and relationships with friends and family members. Many things can impact our mental health, like physical health and social media use. If you believe that you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, make an appointment with your primary care physician. Your primary health care provider can assess your symptoms, rule out possible physical causes for your symptoms, and help guide you toward appropriate treatment.
Part of your treatment plan may include mental health services, like talk therapy. Sometimes, symptoms of mental health conditions can make it feel difficult to get out of bed or leave the house. With online therapy, you can attend therapy sessions from the comfort of your home.
Studies show that online therapy is effective in treating certain mental illnesses, like post-traumatic stress disorder. Online therapy also has added benefits when compared to in-person therapy. For example, it is more affordable and convenient.
Takeaway
Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being. If you believe that you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition and that you’re having difficulty functioning on a daily basis, contact a healthcare provider. If your treatment plan includes talk therapy, and it’s difficult for you to leave the house, online therapy has been proven effective in treating certain mental health conditions.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do you say I don’t feel good?
You can practice saying that you don’t feel good by telling yourself that you may not be in a healthy mindset or headspace and reacting accordingly. You may need to communicate to others that you’re feeling unwell; without proper communication, actions and words can easily be misinterpreted by others in your life.
When someone says that they do not feel good, it can mean a variety of things. Even an everyday occurrence like stress and deadlines can lead a person to feel drained, anxious, or otherwise unwell. Chronic feelings of being unwell can lead to a variety of consequences, both mental and physical.
People may try to push their loved ones away when they are feeling unwell. There are many reasons for this behavior - the person in question may already believe that others see them in a negative light, for instance.
Still, times when you feel ill, unwell, or overwhelmed are often those in which you should depend on loved ones the most.
There could be a physical or mental concern causing you to feel unwell, such as a mental illness or a physical ailment. Sometimes, it can be hard to pinpoint why we don’t feel like ourselves, so some people may struggle to identify and communicate these challenges to others.
If you or a loved one struggles with your physical or mental health, talking with people you trust can be an excellent place to start. Seeking out the care and guidance of a healthcare professional can also be a great step to take and will likely ease a lot of the worry you have surrounding your health.
Why do I not feel well?
You may feel unwell for a variety of reasons. These reasons may be either physical, mental, or both.
Identifying the root of your concerns can be tricky. It can help keep track of symptoms, when they occur, for how long, and what you were doing beforehand. This technique can allow you to determine what triggers the issues and how they can manifest themselves.
Signs of being mentally or physically unwell may include:
- Work performance issues
- Losing interest in your passion
- Physical problems, such as abdominal pain
- Relationship issues with friends or loved ones
Why don’t I feel good when I eat?
If you do not feel good when you eat, it can help you try and understand why you feel the way you do. Do you experience physical symptoms like nausea and bloating? Do you feel emotional distress or experience a fear of judgment when it comes to eating?
If you do not feel well when you eat, recognizing it is the first step. By knowing that you are feeling unwell, you’ve already taken a step toward self-awareness and mindfulness. Once you’ve identified you feel unwell, you can begin to figure out what steps to take to get out of a negative headspace.
You can likely begin to improve your relationship with food and other stressors by slowly and mindfully approaching them. Other examples of mental or physical unrest might include:
- Change in sleeping patterns (insomnia or sleeping too much)
- Distancing yourself from friends and family or actively avoiding social situations that you may have usually taken part in previously.
- Lack of concentration on work or passions
These signs may also be signs of a problem that may need to be addressed, like depression or an anxiety disorder.
If you or a loved one consistently feels unwell, take advantage of resources to educate you on mental health issues. Also, seek out care and advice for any medical concern.
What does feeling good mean?
When somebody says that they feel good, their answer will depend on their experiences. There is no one meaning of feeling good.
When people feel like they are in a good mood, they may be doing something that makes them happy, looking forward to something, or otherwise feeling pleasant and happy interacting with others.
What makes someone feel good can vary from individual to individual. For example, someone may feel good about going outdoors and hiking, while another may feel good about staying indoors and playing video games.
The best part about feeling good is the headspace it puts you in. When we feel good, we’re often more motivated, productive, and able to spend quality time with those who matter in life.
Why don’t I feel good when I wake up?
You may not feel good when you wake up because you are physically unwell or perhaps because you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental illness.
If you wake up feeling unwell physically, it may be completely unrelated to mental health. But many mental illnesses can produce symptoms that make us feel unlike ourselves, like nausea, shakiness, an inability to focus, and mood swings.
If you frequently feel unwell when you wake up or in the morning, consult a healthcare professional for an evaluation, potential diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.
What is another word for not feeling well?
Saying that you aren’t feeling well can sometimes be enough to convey to others what’s going on, but other times, it can be hard to put into words how we feel.
Here are some other ways to let others know that you aren’t feeling well:
- “I’m not feeling like myself today.”
- “I’m having a tough mental health day today.”
- “There are a lot of challenging things going on in my personal life right now.”
- “I’m sorry if I seem unlike myself. I’m not feeling great today.”
Being honest and open in your communication, though, will likely go a long way.
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