Mental health isn’t a dimension or a dichotomy. In fact, it goes beyond the mere fact of either being healthy or sick. That’s because there’s a whole range of possibilities between absolute well-being and illness.

For this reason, you might present certain symptoms that worsen your quality of life without actually constituting a psychological disorder. Nevertheless, it’s essential to pay attention to these signs of poor mental health.

We can all improve in certain areas. In fact, the perfect human being doesn’t exist and we can all work on ourselves to be happier and function better.

Signs of poor mental health that you shouldn’t ignore

Sometimes,  you experience difficulties in your daily life that affect your well-being. However, because you’re so focused on your routine and your responsibilities you end up normalizing them. Therefore, in this article, we mention some important clues that you may have overlooked.

Procrastination

Have you ever heard the saying “don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today”? Well, people who procrastinate, do exactly the opposite. Indeed, their mantra is “don’t do now what you can leave for later.” Indeed, procrastination consists of postponing pending tasks and obligations and dedicating time to any other more pleasant, but unnecessary activity.

If we were to look at it on a superficial level we might attribute it to laziness or lack of will. However, as a rule, it’s due to insecurity and a need for perfectionism. In fact, if you perceive tasks as too complicated, don’t feel capable of completing them, or of reaching your own expectations, you might choose to put them off. Thus, if you have a tendency to procrastinate, you may need to work on your mental rigidity.

Disorder and disorganization

Some authors suggest that a certain level of disorder promotes creativity. However, in many cases, it also seems that this lack of order, if it becomes pronounced in physical spaces, is a reflection of the same problem in mental spaces.

Along these lines, research was conducted that suggested disorderly people are more dissatisfied with their lives and are less productive. In addition, this disorganization can lead to anxiety, poor concentration, and sleep disorders, especially if it occurs in the bedroom or workspaces.

Therefore, if you want to ascertain the state of your mind, take a look at your surroundings. That outer chaos may be a sign of inner turmoil and lack of direction.

Physical symptoms

Sometimes, you forget that your mind and body are deeply connected. However, physical symptoms can often be a sign of poor mental health.

There are multiple conditions more or less directly related to your emotional state which arise or are exacerbated by an internal state of stress, nervousness, or conflict. Among the most common are the following:

• Gastrointestinal problems.
• Migraines and headaches.
• Itching, dermatitis, and other skin conditions.
• Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
• Bruxism and muscle aches.

In some cases, there are organic causes that give rise to the appearance of these symptoms. Alternatively, they might be derived directly from psychological discomfort. Therefore, it’s always important to see a doctor and undergo any relevant tests. As a matter of fact, there are various psychological treatments that have been shown to be effective in reducing pain and discomfort in many of these conditions.

Tiredness

Fatigue is a subjective and ambiguous manifestation that can have a multitude of causes. However, when it’s prolonged and persistent and isn’t due to physical illness or excessive activity, it can be an indication of poor mental health.

We generally associate fatigue with depression and other emotional disorders. Indeed,  feelings of exhaustion, apathy, and lack of will are some of the most common associated symptoms. However, tiredness can also be the result of a high level of anxiety.

This is because your body isn’t designed to remain on constant alert. In fact, the physiological and mental activation processes that are triggered and prolonged end up exhausting you and leaving you exhausted. Therefore, if you constantly feel tired, remember that your psychological state may be related to this.

Frequent conflicts

Finally, poor mental health can sometimes be due to how you relate to others. In fact, if you experience constant conflict with different people and in different areas, there’s probably an underlying reason.

As a matter of fact, irritability often masks sadness, fear, or dissatisfaction. Therefore, your susceptibility may be due to internal wounds that need to be healed.

Of course, there may be other reasons that lead to disagreements and arguments, such as a lack of assertiveness or social skills. In fact, if you haven’t addressed some of your inner issues you might misperceive or interpret the comments and attitudes of others.

Poor mental health can have many faces

When you think of poor mental health, you tend to imagine a person who’s sad, distressed, or out of control. However, the signals are sometimes far more subtle. Aspects such as your surrounding environment, the relationships you maintain, or certain bodily sensations, can all be signs that something isn’t right. Furthermore, health is a global concept that permeates all areas of your life.

Therefore, if you can identify any of the previous circumstances in your life, take the opportunity to analyze what’s happening in your life and how you can improve your situation. Above all, remember that there are trained professionals who can help you in this process.

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