How to Spot the Warning Signs of Declining Mental Health

Don't wait until your mental health has declined before seeking help. Always seek help from a professional as quickly as possible, this will prevent further decline and avoid potential long term mental health issues.

To try to establish your mental health wellbeing keep a record of your behaviours in the following areas:

• Monitor your sleeping patterns. Have they changed, either by sleeping too much or too little.
  
• Has your appetite altered? Are you eating too much or eating much less than usual? This can become apparent through significant weight loss or gain.
  
• Have you noticed a marked decrease in libido.
  
• Are you having thoughts of being a failure in your own eyes or in the eyes of others?
  
• Do you feel a sense of hopelessness in whatever you do? do you feel as though nothing will change for the better.
  
• Do you sometimes have thoughts of being better off dead or of no longer being here.
  
• Do you worry excessively? Are you unable to control these cycles?
  
• Do you catastrophise? Feeling as though something bad is about to happen, therefore being constantly on edge.
  
• Do you struggle to relax? Which results in being restless or fidgety.
  
• Do you struggle to concentrate?
  
• Do you become more easily irritated or angry?
  

From the list above ask yourself how well you are doing in these areas of your life. If you have been experiencing problems in any of these areas for a period longer than 2 weeks then it is advisable to speak to a professional to help guide you back on track.

Completing a questionnaire such as the PHQ9 and GAD7 can be beneficial and helps psychologists identify in more detail an individual's mental health wellness. The scales can be used to identify how mild, moderate, or severe any disturbances might be. It is important to note that this would not be sufficient for a diagnosis of depression or anxiety; further clinical interviews would be required to support a diagnosis.

Contact the London Psychologist Clinic for more information about psychological assessments and talking therapies if you require private psychological advice.