How To Seek Treatment For Your Mental Health

Written By Lewis Robinson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

It can be tough to identify when you're experiencing mental health issues. Oftentimes people can become chronically depressed or anxious without even realizing what's going on. And once you've figured out what the problem is, getting treatment for it can be a really difficult step. Here are a few tips for getting started on your mental health journey.

1. When You Need Help

There are many conditions and levels of severity when discussing mental health, so it's important to understand just how serious your problem is and when you should be getting help for it.

There are some signs to look for that commonly come up when mental health issues are spiraling out of control. Things like feeling confused constantly, having extreme highs and lows of emotion, and substance abuse can all point to the increased severity of an issue.

It's also a good idea to consult others in your life and ask if your behavior has changed significantly. Sometimes we aren't the best judges of our own mental state, so having others who can recognize when we've taken a turn for the worse and can Google "ADHD treatment NYC" can be helpful. Another great way to recognize when you need help is to keep a journal where you document your thoughts and emotions. 

2. Where to Go 

The next step can be really difficult, depending on your situation. Often when we are depressed or suffering greatly from mental illness, it can feel impossible to take the steps to get help. But it doesn't have to feel impossible.

If you have a doctor you're seeing regularly, they can meet with you to help you find out what the next steps are. Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist or a psychologist and suggest that you get therapy or medication.

If you don't currently have good insurance to cover treatment, local health departments can often offer mental health services on a sliding scale that will fit your financial needs. Don't hesitate to look into your options and realize that help is out there.

3. Who You Should See

Terms like "therapy" get thrown around a lot, but it turns out there is a variety of mental health professionals you can consult for your issues. A counselor is a mental health professional with a master's degree and a certain amount of experience to help you talk through your problems, while a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat mental illnesses.

Psychiatrists also have the ability to prescribe medications, so if your condition is severe enough, you may end up needing this option. There are also social workers, who perform essentially the same function as a counselor, and psychologists, who are as qualified as psychiatrists, in addition to offering therapy.

It can be confusing at the beginning to decide what you need, but finding a care provider who is a good fit for your needs is essential to improving your mental health. 

4. Knowing Yourself

When you initially see your doctor and speak to a mental health professional, they'll have all kinds of questions about how you've been and what you think your problem is. It's important for you to be able to express what you've been experiencing so that your doctor or psychiatrist can prescribe the right treatment.

It can be uncomfortable to discuss your thoughts, and it might be tempting to tell half the truth once in a while, but being completely truthful is vital to ensuring that you receive the care that you need.

5. Types of Therapies

There are many different forms that therapy can take, and it can be a good idea to do some research so you know what your options are. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, for instance, is one of the most popular forms since it helps individuals change their mindset and take action to better their lives.

If you ever feel like your therapy isn't helping or could be improved, don't hesitate to ask about changing treatments. Getting help for mental illness can be challenging, but it'll always be worth it to take control of your mental health. 

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Written By:

Lewis Robinson is a freelance writer and expert in health and fitness. When he isn’t writing he can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash