You’re Not Alone: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Brianna Neal, MSW, LSW,
Care Services Coordinator – Social Worker, ALS United Greater Chicago

Mental health is one of the most important attributes that contribute to our overall well-being. Our mental health impacts the way we carry out our day-to-day lives. This includes being able to make healthy choices, interact with others, how well we manage stress, and even how we think and feel.

There are many adversities that we go through from adolescence on to adulthood. Having to maneuver through life and the curve balls being thrown can play a very pivotal role with mental health and how we function. Without the appropriate support and resources needed it is easy to develop negative coping skills and even increase the risk of developing psychological disorders.

It is not always easy to pinpoint those warning signs when noticing your mental health may be compromised. Understand that you are never alone, and help is available.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has dedicated more than 20 years to ensuring the awareness of mental health. SAMHSA celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every year in the month of May to allocate and recognize the many factors that individuals may go through. One of their reasons in doing this is to spread awareness and provide resources for individuals in the communities.

The key to becoming the best version of ourselves, is understanding, “it is alright to not be okay.” However, we do not get to stay stuck there! I have included a few tips below to help recognize warning signs of poor mental health, as well as resources.

Warning Signs

• Changes in mood: mood swings, shifts with emotions, feeling lost or sad
• Changes in sleep: unable to sleep, having difficulty falling back to sleep after waking early, difficulty staying sleep
• Withdrawal: loss of pleasure in activities or going places, isolating from family and peers
• Changes in Behavior: lashing out, poor decision-making, acting out
• Changes in Thinking: difficulty concentrating, confusion, problems with memory or logical thought
• Substance Use: excessive and increasing use of alcohol, drugs, or other substances
• Physical Symptoms: hyperventilating, trembling, excessive sweating, unexplained aches and pains, elevated heart rate

Resources

• SAMHSA: samhsa.gov/mental-health-awareness-month
• Therapy:
  • Grow Therapy
  • Talkspace
  • Psychology Today
• Websites:
  • mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources
  • nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help