Do I need psychological help?

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Just as the body can suffer from the wear and tear of daily life, the mind is also vulnerable; in fact, if the mind works, it can also work badly; but it is often possible to remedy this.

Each of us has to face bad days, difficult periods, humiliating defeats or heartbreaking losses. Everyone, from time to time, can burst into tears or have a fit of anger, drink a little more than is allowed. Usually the difficult moments in one’s life mark the beginning of better days. Sometimes, however, a long night of tormented reflection turns into a series of dark and sad days: thatnervousnessthat you felt every now and then does not go away anymore, the desire to drink or worse, to take drugs becomes irresistible. The feeling of having lost or the fear of losing control becomes more and more intense.

 

Is there something wrong? Is it normal to feel this way? Is there anyone who can help me ? People who have toothache or stomach pain often know or can easily find out what it is, what they can do and whether it is time to see a doctor. However, feelings and thoughts are invisible, intangible, ephemeral: they cannot be x-rayed or biopsied, they are more difficult to evaluate. However, continuous emotional suffering, if ignored, can compromise the ability to work, to establish relationships with others and to carry out normal daily activities.

Do I need psychological help?

Admitting that something is wrong does not mean you are a failure, much less “crazy.” Just as the body can suffer from the wear and tear of everyday life, the mind is also vulnerable. In fact, if the mind works, it can also function badly; but when this happens, it is often possible to remedy the situation. Mental health is not the absence of suffering or conflict; rather, it consists in the ability to think logically and rationally and to deal with change, thestress, the losses and traumas that each of us inevitably encounters in the course of life, in a way that guarantees stability and emotional growth.

Generally speaking, people in good mental health value themselves, perceive reality as it is, accept their own limits and abilities, know how to respond to challenges by taking on their own responsibilities and are able to establish and maintain romantic relationships, managing to be on good terms with others, desire a job in which they can express their talent, their preparation, feel a sense of satisfaction for which they believe that it is worth enduring the hardships of life.

However, the boundary between mental health and mental illness is far from clear. Where does eccentricity end and abnormality begin? When does sadness become depression? And at what point does stress take the form of chronic anxiety? What are the ways in which fantasy causes one to lose touch with reality altogether? There are no precise answers.

It is therefore clear that it is very difficult to identify where the line lies between the ups and downs of everyday life and serious disorders that require assistance. Although people talk about “nervous breakdowns” or “madness,” these are not scientific terms and do not have an official definition. Specialists use the term “mental disorder”: it is currently defined as “a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with current suffering, disability, or a markedly elevated risk of death, suffering, disability, or loss of freedom.”

A major American epidemiological study found that 28% of the population – about 52 million Americans – suffer from a mental disorder in the course of a year. Nine million develop a new disorder, eight million experience relapses, and 35 million suffer from chronic symptoms.

The actual number of people affected by serious mental and emotional problems could be much higher, however: in fact, epidemiological studies usually only examine subjects who correspond exactly to the official psychiatric criteria for mental disorders. People who suffer deeply but deviate from the definition and diagnostic criteria for one or two symptoms are not included in the statistics, but – as demonstrated by other studies – they actually run serious risks of developing real mental disorders.

The problems that most of us face in everyday life are not mental illnesses, but difficulties that hinder the path towardshappinessand realization; often, even if they are not as serious and disabling as major depression and anxiety, they can affect everyday life and personal relationships. I remember the most common problems that push people to ask for help:

  • Negative feelings
  • Stress
  • Work related problems
  • Changes and crises
  • Marital and family problems
  • Mourning

How can you understand then if you need help?

A simple rule of thumb is to consider how severely a problem is affecting you or a loved one and how long it has been going on. If the problem is causing you severe suffering or significantly interfering with your work, relationships, or other aspects of your life, then it is advisable to seek help . Symptoms that are not particularly serious or alarming in themselves but that persist for several weeks or even months should also be considered. The sooner someone realizes they have a problem and receives appropriate treatment, the sooner they will begin to recover. However, if you are unsure whether or not to seek help, the following questions may help you make a decision:
  1. Are emotional problems starting to interfere with your work, relationships, or other aspects of your personal life?
  2. Have you been feeling less happy, less confident, or less in control than usual for several weeks?
  3. Do you feel so unhappy that you decided to do something to change this situation?
  4. Have close friends or family members noticed any changes in your behavior or personality?
  5. Have your efforts to solve a problem proved futile?
  6. Are you finding it more difficult to deal with everyday problems than you used to?
  7. Are you focusing less on external circumstances that cause stress and more on yourself and your inadequacy?
  8. Do you feel emotionally confused and unable to change your behavior or external circumstances?

Ultimately, the question to ask yourself is not “ Do I have a mental illness?” or “Do I have serious problems?” but rather “Do I need help right now?” If the answer is yes, seek professional help: therapy can be a tool for change or a source of support when you need it most. At the very least, the psychological equivalent of a check-up can reassure you that a problem is less serious than you feared.

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