Do I Need Psychiatric Medication? 7 Signs That You May Need Mental Health Treatment
IMPORTANT: The signs you see in the below section still need to be further assessed by a practitioner. If you have been experiencing any of these repeatedly in the last 3 months or year, it is always good to seek professional assessment for mental health.
Thinking of seeking mental health treatment, but not sure if you may need psychiatric medication? Here are 7 signs that you can look out for:
Recurring issues at work and in your relationships keep popping up.
You notice that every couple of weeks you tend to fall into the same arguments with the same people. Logically you know that there are solutions to the problems raised and a change of perspective can help both parties. And while you know what you need to do, you find yourself feeling the same way you did the last time a similar issue was taken up. There is a cycle to your reactions and the outcomes of these situations. They always seem to end up the same.
You have a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep.
Without good rest, our moods, thoughts, and actions are compromised. And when we have not been able to get good sleep for several days, this can be a sign of mental health issues. If you notice that you are having difficulty sleeping, call a doctor. Attending to sleep is as important as caring for your mental health.
You have inexplicable anger or irritability.
Anger and irritability are now recognized as hallmarks of chronic depression. If you are easily angered and triggered in situations - whether at the grocery, in traffic, in conversations, with relatives, and so on, then you might want to seek mental health treatment. Anger outbursts are a sign that there is a dysregulation of emotions.
You are stuck in a traumatic event.
Traumatic events in relationships, at work, through calamities, the death of a loved one, or a sudden disaster, can leave a lasting impression. And while most of us can bounce back from some of these events, we might surprise ourselves when we realize that we are in new situations reacting like we are in that same traumatic event. Perhaps it was a bad relationship, and every time you date someone new you hear your ex in your head. When the brain won't turn off the traumatic images, sounds, and thoughts, it is time to seek professional help.
You are unable to put plans into action - no matter how many times you have said you were going to do it.
Examples:
- Unable to clean and declutter the home
- Work output is constantly delayed
- Getting organized is always such a difficult daunting task
- Stuck thinking about the work without doing the work
- Defense mechanisms when asked where your deliverables are
These are clear signs that you need help. Psychiatric medication helps symptoms such as these to allow the brain to get organized and put thought into action.
You find yourself making impulsive decisions and acting on them (such as leaving the chat group, quitting your job, spending money in excess, and substance use).
Impulsive decisions are dysregulated emotions. Much like inexplicable anger and irritability, impulsive decisions that affect relationships with ourselves and others, can be detrimental to our mental health. The inability to manage the surfacing emotion is what makes us turn to impulsive behavior. And while it is normal to buy something we really like at a store, it is not normal to do this consistently and with no aim. How have your impulses affected the way you relate to yourself and to those around you?
You are contemplating suicide.
To whatever degree this has crossed your mind, you must to seek mental health treatment.
Passive Suicidal ideation - imagining being dead (no plans or actions)
Active Suicidal Ideation - thinking about different ways to die or forming a plan
Common fears around #MentalHealthMedication are tied to misinformation and stigma of #Mentalillness. Know that psychiatric medication does not change your fundamental traits and personality. This perception comes from the fact that it works to alter your brain chemistry, which may feel "different" when you are adjusting to the therapeutic effects of the medication.
Psychotropic medication works to achieve a balance of our neurotransmitters, like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. If medication is given for an aching stomach, psychotropic medication is given for the chemical imbalance in the brain. The therapeutic effects are felt in the ease of symptoms over time - allowing an individual to experience life in "full color".
Effects may not felt immediately and dosage must always be discussed with an attending physician. Talk therapy is also advised with a psychologist.
Thinking of seeing a psychiatrist? Visit www.BreakYourStigma.com to view the directory of practitioners in the Philippines.