SEEING THE SIGNS
Pay attention to these subtle signals.
Lean In & Listen Closely
Cultural identities and familial histories can play a significant role in our outlook on mental health. According to the SeekHer Shift Report, 80.6% of BIPOC women grew up believing that mental health issues were stigmatized and viewed as a personal deficit. This can lead to an avoidance of addressing one’s emotional needs and seeking help for mental health treatment. Yet, there’s no hiding — there are subtle signs that come from within, and can even impact our physical health.
Long before you’re emotionally aware of your mental health struggles, your body may signal that it’s time to slow down and practice self-care.
5 SIGNS
It’s Time To Slow Down
These might sound familiar if you aren’t tuning into your needs.
1. You have low energy and enthusiasm.
If you find yourself feeling continually tired even when you’ve had plenty of sleep, it could be a sign that it’s time to ask for support. Chronic fatigue is a tell-tale sign that you’re emotionally and physically overworked.
2. You’re having trouble sleeping.
Mental health conditions tend to manifest themselves through sleep-related disruptions. Insomnia and disruptive sleep could indicate an existing condition, and it can also lead to the development or worsening of a mental health disorder.
3. You have sudden mood changes, and feel irritable and anxious in your day-to-day.
Sudden changes in your mood, excessive and persistent periods of irritability and constant anxiety are all signs that you need to slow down and ask for support. When we don’t take the time to rest or give our emotions space, it often leads to erratic or uncontrollable feelings.
4. You’re procrastinating and avoiding tasks — even the ones you love.
Procrastination doesn’t happen because you’re lazy or don’t want to work. In fact, most of the time, procrastination is linked to underlying stress or dread associated with a task. Sometimes, we procrastinate even with things we love doing, which can be an indication that our emotional needs aren’t being met and require more help to cope with our current stressors.
5. Your negative self-talk is deafening.
What does the voice inside your head sound like? If it’s often critical, toxic, or saying things you’d never say out loud, this is a likely sign that you are in need of support. Constant negative self-talk leads to greater feelings of frustration and lack of motivation that can make it even more difficult to ask for the help you need.
Do you need urgent help or someone to talk to?
Call National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988
Text Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
