As with physical ailments, signs of mental illness are not a “one size fits all” and differ among the various diagnoses. Anxiety disorders are most prevalent in the U.S., followed by major depressive disorder (MDD). With anxiety disorders, such as general anxiety (GAD) or social anxiety disorder, you will feel the physical effects of the sympathetic nervous system, more commonly known to be the fight or flight response, and a disturbance in typical mental functions.

On the physical side, you may experience a tightness in your chest and difficulty breathing; your heart rate and breathing rate may speed up, and you will likely feel restless and on edge. You may experience spiraling thoughts that are fearful, sudden panic attacks, or anxiety attacks, which are more gradual. You may feel more irritable, tired, and inclined to isolate. In the case of MDD, you may have episodes or persistent feelings of deep sadness, loneliness, or emptiness.
 
You may equate this low mood to feeling dim as if the “bright side” is unreachable. Since this is a mood disorder, substantial emotional fluctuations will likely occur, often feeling angered, frustrated, and easily provoked. You may not find pleasure in the things you once enjoyed. These mood changes may affect your sleep, appetite, energy level, etc. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the next most prevalent mental illness. It can be further diagnosed as complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) if traumatic events repeatedly happen over a long period.
 
Patients with PTSD may experience flashbacks, in which intrusive memories are re-experienced by the mind and body, causing panic and intense emotions. Specific triggers or people may be avoided. Emotional dysregulation, as well as episodes of dissociation, is also common in those with PTSD. Dissociation is further seen in disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD) and dissociative identity disorder (DID).
 
These episodes may be derealization, where your mind is detached from the world, or depersonalization, where your mind is separated from the body. In either circumstance, you may feel as though aspects of life are unreal or simulated; others explain the experience to feel as though they see themselves from a third person’s view. You may not be able to recall a certain period of time, and at the moment, you may feel on “autopilot.”
 
Dissociation happens as a response to trauma and is used as a protective mechanism when overloaded with stressors. In the case of DID, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, the mind dissociates or “splits” to protect itself. BPD and bipolar disorder are similar in that there are high highs and low lows in mood, though there are many differences between the two disorders. In BPD, these mood swings are short and can last from minutes to days, whereas in bipolar disorder, fluctuations between manic and depressive episodes can last days to months.

Mental health and mental illness are not synonymous terms; therefore, everyone can benefit from mental health services whether or not they have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Mental health is as important as physical health! Everyone deals with emotions, stress, and negative thought patterns throughout their lives, and most are unaware of how much it truly affects them.
 
Mental health services, such as therapy or group meetings, allow experiences to be externalized, understood, and coped with healthily. Further, you will learn coping tools to actively use in your day-to-day life when you are met with a negative experience.
 
For example, a couple is experiencing communication issues and often finds themselves in escalating fights. They want to learn to talk to each other more effectively without fighting, but they don’t know where to begin. Mental health services can help in this situation, allowing a safe space for open discussion that is moderated, and teaches you how to best express yourself, explore your own emotions and reactions to determine root causes, and step away when things are too heated.

Many things can be done to maintain good mental health, and what works for you may not work for someone else. You must be open to exploring your mind, including memories, emotions, behavior, etc. By learning patterns in these areas, you can understand why it happens and how it can be helped.
 
Some people find talking to a loved one stress-relieving, while others find meditation helpful. Numerous skills can be learned to aid emotional awareness and control, such as breathing techniques and small distracting tasks. It is best to optimize your nutrition and activity level, as these things can heavily affect your mood when low.

Our exceptional physicians are here to help you maintain your mental health and can offer one-on-one appointments to discuss your concerns, referrals to specialists and therapists, and write prescriptions for medications that may help you. If you would like to see a doctor about your mental health, do not hesitate to call our office or book an appointment online. We serve patients from West Bridgewater MA, Bridgewater MA, Taunton MA, Middleborough MA, Plymouth MA, Pembroke MA, Braintree MA, Mansfield MA, Stoughton MA, Brockton MA, Wareham MA, Somerset MA, Attleboro MA, Abington MA, and surrounding areas.