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How Do You Know If It’s Mental Illness or “Just Stress”?

Jul 29, 2021 - Nancy Ryan, LMFT

A woman who wonders if it is stress or mental illness. She can find out with help from a therapist in Roseville, CA | Counseling in Roseville, CA can be searched to find a therapist

Mental health disorders, or mental illnesses, are as varied as physical health disorders. They can range from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Mental disorders affect your mood, your thoughts, and your behaviors. They can be minor and easy to manage or they can drastically affect your quality of life. 

Stress can also affect us in a variety of ways. In addition to causing excessive worry, spiraling thoughts, and fatigue, stress can negatively affect our immune system, digestion, judgment, and memory. With everything that’s going on in the world, it’s no wonder it’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the two.

Warning Signs of Mental Illness

Keep in mind that the warning signs of mental illness vary widely; not everyone will exhibit all of the following signs. Similarly, one or more of the following signs does not necessarily indicate a mental disorder. 

  1. Leaning heavily on drugs or alcohol.

  2. Irritability and lashing out against others for no reason.

  3. Extreme highs and lows.

  4. Changes in sleeping patterns or eating habits.

  5. Disinterest in the world; not wanting to do anything or get out of bed in the morning.

  6. Difficulties with friends and family; avoidance of social situations.

  7. Inability to concentrate or focus.

  8. Mental spiraling; uncontrollable racing thoughts.

  9. Extreme worry, fear, or sadness.

  10. Thoughts of suicide.

Stress, Grief, Anxiety, Depression, Frustrated, Shame are all feelings that we have and can be helped by seeing a therapist in Fair Oaks, CA |

Warning Signs of Mental Illness In Children

Identifying warning signs of mental illness in children is slightly different. Developmentally, children are still learning how to identify feelings and emotions, as well as learning how to use language to express themselves. Therefore, the best way to observe children for signs of mental illness or disorder is to observe their behavior.

  1. Acting out and temper tantrums.

  2. Fear of going to bed; fear of going to school.

  3. Not able to make friends or get along with peers.

  4. Aggression and fighting.

  5. Drastic changes in academic performance.

Regardless of whether or not you have been diagnosed by a medical professional, if you are questioning what you are currently experiencing, ask yourself the following questions: 

  1. Is what you are experiencing is negatively affecting your quality of life?

  2. Is what you are experiencing negatively impacting your thoughts, feelings, or behaviors? 

  3. Is it interfering with romantic relationships and relationships with family, friends, and co-workers?

  4. Is it impacting your performance at work? As a parent? As a spouse? As a friend?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, chances are you would benefit from seeking help. Help can be as simple as educating yourself or talking to a loved one. Help can also look like talking to a mental health professional. 

One of the best first steps to take if you are curious about stress and mental illness is to educate yourself. Use credible sources on the internet, read books, and consult with a mental health professional. Our therapists at The Relationship Therapy Center in Fair Oaks and Roseville, CA are here to help and support you in any way we can on this journey. 

Other treatment options for mental health include traditional talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), prescription medications, or some combination of the above. The hope is that over time, as you come to understand the underlying causes of your mental health disorder and learn to manage the symptoms, you will either decrease or completely end medication and treatment. 

Stress, whether short-term or chronic, can also be incredibly hard to navigate. No one should be expected to live with chronic stress in day-to-day life. If you are currently experiencing chronic stress, we recommend the following two things:

  1. Learn coping mechanisms for managing stress. These include getting daily exercise, eating a clean and healthy diet, and incorporating self-care practices such as breathwork, meditation, journaling, and cold plunging into your daily routine.

  2. Identify stress triggers and make moves to minimize or completely cut them out. Common stress triggers include toxic relationships, finances, a loss, or a big life change. 

At The Relationship Therapy Center, your mental health is our number one priority. Regardless of whether you think are currently experiencing stress or a mental health disorder, our goal is to equip you to manage the symptoms and remove the underlying, root cause. Contact our office today to learn more.

 

Other Services offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:

Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples services include: Couples Counseling, Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Our individual therapy services include anxiety treatment, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, codependency counseling and individual relationship counseling. Our therapists offer online counseling in California to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Please reach out to our Sacramento area therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you or your loved ones.