When to Seek Help

If you’re concerned that you or someone you know is living with mental health problems, it might help to speak with a medical or mental health professional. Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can signal a problem:

+ Early Warning Signs – Younger Children

Displaying aggression or being disobedient
Throwing frequent temper tantrums
Performing differently in school
Receiving poor grades despite making strong efforts
Worrying excessively or feeling anxious, such as refusing to go to school or bed
Seeming hyperactive – in constant motion, restless
Experiencing persistent nightmares

+ Early Warning Signs – Preteens and Teenagers

Struggling to perform daily activities or handle problems
Eating or sleeping much more or less
Frequently complaining about feeling sick or reporting aches and pains
Rebelling against authority, missing school, stealing, or vandalizing property
Worrying excessively about gaining weight
Feeling sad or negative for an extended period, coupled with lost appetite or thinking about death
Often exploding in anger
Abusing drugs and/or alcohol, or smoking

+ Early Warning Signs – Adults

Eating or sleeping too much or too little
Pulling away from people and usual activities
Having little or no energy
Feeling numb or as if nothing matters
Having unexplained aches and pains
Feeling helpless or hopeless
Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on-edge, angry, upset, worried or scared
Yelling or fighting with family and friends
Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
Thinking of harming yourself or others
Unable to perform daily activities, such as getting to work or school, or taking care of children

Early Diagnosis and Treatment Matters

Even very young children may show early warning signs of mental health conditions, and these problems may be clinically diagnosable. Youth with mental health disorders often can experience difficulties in a variety of settings, including home, school and the community. Unfortunately, fewer than 20 percent of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need.

Early mental health support can help a child before problems interfere with other developmental needs. Generally, the sooner mental dysfunction is diagnosed and treated, the sooner symptoms can improve, and the greater the likelihood of preventing more severe mental illness.

Research has shown that, on average, it takes about 11 years from the time a person starts to experience mental health symptoms to the time when they access treatment. This means that many are suffering in silence. Talking with a doctor or mental health professional about how you’re feeling (or encouraging your friends and loved ones to do so) can make a difference and ensure that your struggles are addressed sooner rather than later. Our staff at Here For Texas has seen firsthand the positive difference that mental health support and treatment can have on individuals. Don’t suffer in silence. We are here to help.

If you or someone you know is ready to start their journey toward mental wellness, call the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line at 972-525-8181, Monday through Friday, 10a.m. – 6p.m. for information, support, and mental health resources. Se habla español.

+ What are signs that someone is struggling with mental health or emotional issues?

Common signs that a person needs help dealing with emotional issues or a mental health problem include:

Depression or apathy that interferes with obligations or participation in social activities
Lack of coping skills for day-to-day problems or extreme reactions to certain situations
Extreme highs (mania), including rushed thoughts, bursts of energy, sleeplessness and compulsive behavior, e.g., excessive spending or promiscuous sexual behavior
Severe anxiety or stress that is out of proportion to the triggering situation
Constant feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Increased use of alcohol or drugs

Often, a decline in one’s emotional health can lead to isolation. The person suffering may feel ashamed or become secretive to hide the problem. If it seems the individual has “dropped off the face of the earth” or is behaving in an unusual manner, it could signal a problem.

+ How do I know when it’s time to seek help for mental, emotional or behavioral problems?

It’s time to reach out when issues are causing problems in your life, but you don’t know what to do, how to cope, or how to make the necessary changes.

There are some signs that suggest the need for diagnosis, therapy, medication or other treatment by a mental health professional. Signs include alcohol or drug abuse, feelings of loneliness, depression, marital or family relationship difficulties, sexual problems, anxiety, unexplained physical problems, eating disorders, self-esteem or sexual identity issues, employment difficulties, and an inability to set or attain goals, among others.

Do you feel stuck or have a sense that you are continually losing ground? Are you dealing with extreme job stress, struggling to adjust to a new situation, or facing challenges in your relationships? Sometimes we need a mental check-up, the same way we need check-ups for our physical health.

Working with a mental health professional can help you find productive solutions. If the issue or condition affects daily life, creates obstacles to achieving goals, or interferes with quality of life, it’s time to get help.

+ What are signs I should seek professional help for my child who is struggling?

Seek outside help when:

Your child seems anxious, depressed or angry beyond his or her years
Your child is endangering himself or threatening to harm himself
Your other children are unhappy, frightened or upset by their sibling’s behavior or a parent’s response to that behavior
The child’s behavior is interfering with his daily life or the family’s functioning
Disagreements about how to handle a child’s problems put a strain on your marriage or partnership
As a parent, you don’t know what to do