Archive for month: June, 2014

Mental Health for Teens: Top Signs Your Teen Needs Help

Mental health for teens is a topic that needs to be dealt with sensitivity and care. Teenagers, nowadays, are under a lot of stress and pressure. Whether it from their friends who want them to be “cool” or from parents and educators who want them to be “mature and responsible”, the demands on a young mind are many and can lead to mental health issues, like anxiety, eating disorders, depression and others.

Here are the top signs your teen may need mental health help:

Physical Symptoms of a Mental Health Condition

Most mental health conditions manifest in both psychological and physiological symptoms. If you notice your teenager frequently complaining of headaches, bodily aches and pains, or stomachaches that can’t really be explained away by tests, it can be a sign of depression or another mental illness.

Other physical symptoms could include a decrease in energy levels and a lack of interest in personal grooming, something which most teens generally lay a lot of emphasis on.

Moodiness and Behavioral Changes

Teenagers with mental health concerns may also, exhibit symptoms like mood swings, withdrawing from social interactions, losing interest in activities that usually engaged them or have difficulty concentrating.

Please note that sometimes, normal teen behavior also displays this as a natural part of teenage “angst”. It is only when it goes on for too long or seems too severe to you, that you should be concerned.

Violent, Negative or Destructive Behavior

Teens with mental health concerns may display aggressive, self-destructive or violent behavior or have suicidal thoughts and may voice them. They may be exceedingly negative towards others and may express a lack of confidence in their own selves.

Reports from School or Community About Changes in Behavior

If you start getting reports from school or community members about your teenager failing or missing classes, not showing up, misbehaving or acting “odd” on a regular basis, it can be a sign that something is amiss. Again, this can be part of normal teenage rebellion but if it goes on for too long or is too serious, it’s time to take action.

The teen years can be tumultuous, to say the least. Vigilant, involved parents and educators can identify signs of stress, anxiety and depression. Learn more about different types of mental health problems by trying out some mental health disorders symptoms quiz or any other mental health assessment.

Disclaimer: This article is strictly for informational purposes and not intended for medical advice. Consult with a professional at a mental health facility for medical advice and any possible need of mental health services.

Mental Health: How Spiritual Health Can Help Mental Health

Mental health is all about being healthy and at peace inside. Spiritual health also, refers to your inner well-being and nurturing your spirit, which is the essence of who you are and your life purpose.

Naturally, the two are closely interlinked.

Being mentally healthy and spiritually strong means that you work on the wellness of your mind, soul and spirit. And both of them, impact your physical well-being and help you stay away from various types of mental health problems.

How to Experience Mental Health and Spiritual Well-Being

Being spiritually strong doesn’t mean that you spend your entire day in prayer or meditation, though the two can be part of your spiritual well-being routine.

Spiritual wellness can mean different things to different people, with some considering it to be more religion centered while others focusing on the qualities of finding meaning, defining purpose and infusing calmness into one’s life.

Being spiritually strong is more about strengthening your inner self and feeding your mind and soul with wholesome food- positive thoughts, quiet time, connection with others.

Spiritual wellness can lead to good mental health, by helping you reduce stress, experience greater calm and lesser anxiety, and by giving you the confidence you need to handle everyday interactions with ease.

Simple Spiritual Wellness Steps to Improve Mental Health

1. Spend some quiet time everyday. This can either be through meditation, breathing exercises, walks or runs, or just sitting and sipping your first cup of coffee in complete silence and contemplation.

2. Feed your mind and soul with positive thoughts. Affirmations, positive books and reading material, spiritually centered podcasts, take your pick!

3. Go with the flow. Our hyper-productive modern society believes in packing every minute of the day with activity. Learn to go with the flow and not get stressed out when things don’t go according to plan. Being spontaneous can be joyfully freeing and liberating.

4. Practice spiritually strengthening behaviors, like forgiveness, non-judgmental thinking and receptiveness. This is more long term and can take practice but, like nearly everything else, can be done!

5. Spend some time in caring for others. You can simply reach out to a friend who may be feeling a little lonely or help an elderly neighbor with grocery shopping or volunteer at the hospital. Doing things for others has great feel-good value and can help you experience a sense of purpose and peace as you perform them.

Improving your mental health can go hand-in-hand with working on spiritual wellness, so spend some time today looking within and reaching out. Connect with the mindsetmax community on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest to find more actionable ideas on being mentally healthy and strong and share some mental health resources or a mental health assessment that you found useful.