Mental health can have a significant impact on the quality of life we live. Low self-esteem, negative self-talk, and self-harm scars are all real impacts of mental health disorders. If you or a loved one is suffering, you may be wondering what are some ways emotions affect your health, how to stop dissociating, or is depression a disease or a state of mind? At the very worst, you or a loved one may have wondered what happens after a suicide attempt or what happens after a failed suicide attempt.
What is Depression
If you’re wondering is depression a disease or a state of mind, it most certainly is a disease. Mental health is nothing to overlook. If you or a loved one are suffering, we advise you to seek out care right away to avoid the worst outcomes. Clinical depression is experiencing a chronic miserable or gloomy mood. People often want to disengage or cancel activities that they previously enjoyed.
It can be hereditary or other causes can include different roots of distress from social, biological, or psychological sources. It’s often case by case, and a healthcare professional can help you manage depression. Chronic sadness can impact sleep, weight, and energy. Those with depression may need more sleep because they are drained. Depression may impact daily behavior as well as concentration levels. Depression is linked with suicide and suicidal thoughts.
Self-harm is dangerous. People who hurt themselves often do so because it feels good or releases pent-up negative feelings. To avoid self-harm scars, do not be afraid to ask for help from a doctor. If you are under 18, don’t be scared to open up to a parent, teacher, or doctor. We are on your side and are here to help you achieve peace of mind. Our patient’s safety and health are at the top of our concern. The thought, is depression a disease or a state of mind, should be now clear.
What Are Some Ways Emotions Affect Your Health
Those who suffer from low self-esteem and negative self-talk often experience those feelings worsen when they don’t get help. Penting up these emotions can lead to self-harm. At its worst, self-harm or mental health disorders could lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. Unfortunately, it can be hard to help those who self-harm because it is often done in secret. If you think someone you know may be harming themselves, it is best to reach out to someone who can help. Always be sure to check in with your loved ones and remind them they are not alone.
People who have good mental health are aware and in control of their thoughts and feelings. When they experience triggers or an emotional event, they find ways to cope and go on with life. On most days, they feel good about themselves and can maintain positive relationships with family, friends, or significant others.
On the contrary, those with poor mental health may feel stuck and can’t move on or manage certain behaviors like negative self-talk. They have trouble maintaining good relationships and can’t handle stress triggers. Often, day-to-day activities are too much to take on or deal with. They also likely have low self-esteem and find it nearly impossible to cope.
Dissociation is a coping mechanism for those battling mental health disorders. It causes a person to find temporary relief by disconnecting themselves from reality. At some point, the coping mechanism becomes unhealthy and, in some cases, difficult to control.
How to Stop Dissociating
When you experience dissociating feelings, you feel disconnected from your body, reality, and environment. Through a mental process, those affected lose their sense of identity. They may forget who they are, their memories, and what makes them themselves. Some disorders that require medical treatment are depersonalisation disorder, dissociative amnesia, dissociative identity disorder, and dissociative fugue.
We all have likely felt dissociated. A minor form is daydreaming or losing touch with reality while reading or watching a movie. You may snap back to reality and go about your day as normal. But those who frequently dissociate can use the feeling as a coping mechanism for trauma, anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Like all things, when something exceeds moderation, it can become a problem.
Those who dissociate are not dangerous, and trying to bring them back to reality often pushes them more into dissociating because reality is what they are trying to escape. Acceptance and support are key when communicating or trying to help someone who is dissociating.
Those who dissociate may recognize it happening but may feel like they can’t control it. There are steps to take that can bring you out of dissociation. If you or a loved one is suffering, here is how to stop dissociating:
- Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is one of the most important factors for mitigating or healing any illness, disease, or disorder. The same goes for how to stop dissociating. Sleeping can help your brain feel more alert and in control.
- Aim for daily exercise. Physical activity can make you more aware of your surroundings. When you move your body, you are literally developing more bodily awareness and grounding yourself. Exercise is an organized and healthy way to bring you back to reality. Yoga is a great exercise routine to take on that focuses on staying present and breathing through difficulties.
- Apply grounding techniques. Grounding yourself can immediately connect you to the present moment. These techniques can be beneficial for those who suffer from PTSD, flashbacks, or anxiety.
- Acknowledge what is triggering you and manage your stress. This can often seem like the hard part for those who dissociate. But breaking it down is like ripping off the bandaid. Once you can identify your triggers and develop a game plan to manage the stress they cause, you can meet relief.
- Manage your anxiety, so it is not overwhelming. Similar to step 4, acknowledging your anxiety and seeking treatment will help you no longer require the unhealthy coping mechanism.
You can stop dissociating and control your thoughts. By developing healthy coping processes and dealing with your emotions, you can find presence in your daily life. Tackling the root of mental health can be the start of a healthier life. Also know that you are never alone in your battle.
If managing your mental health is overwhelming, healthcare professionals like us specialize in helping people handle their stress, triggers, anxiety, or depression. We work with our patients hands-on in Hialeah, Florida, to provide comprehensive internal medicine care. Give us a call today and schedule an appointment with one of our specialized care providers.
