Adulting and Mental Health
Ask yourself these questions to determine if you might need support for one of these common mental health concerns. Answering Yes to the questions does not diagnose you with that problem, but it may help you figure out if struggles you’re having may be linked to a mental health challenge.
Consider if any of the following experiences related to Anxiety sound like you:
- Are you struggling to finish important tasks because they feel overwhelming and stressful?
- Do you often feel panicked or stuck?
- Do you avoid connecting with others because of how they might judge you?
- Does worrying make it hard to get things done, enjoy yourself, or sleep well?
- Are you avoiding things you want or need to do because you feel anxious?
These are all possible signs that anxiety may be causing problems in your life. The good news is there are proven treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy and medicine that can help.
Consider if any of the following experiences related to Inattention and Hyperactivity sound like you:
- Do you have trouble focusing on your work or schoolwork so much that it affects your performance?
- Is it usually hard to stay organized and keep track of your things?
- Do you get easily distracted when doing things that require focus?
- Do you often act before you think?
If you answered Yes to all or most of these questions, it may help to consider medication or behavioral strategies like organizational skills to help with attention and concentration.
Consider if any of the following experiences related to Low Mood sound like you:
- Have you been feeling down, sad or depressed most days?
- Have you been spending less time doing things you usually enjoy and are you having difficulty enjoying them?
- Are you finding it hard to motivate yourself to get things done?
- Are you having feelings of guilt or worthlessness?
- Have you noticed changes or problems with your eating or sleep?
If you are noticing some or all of these signs in yourself, consider talking to someone you trust, doctor, or other professional about it. As with anxiety and attentional difficulties, there are treatments that can help. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Consider if any of the following experiences related to Substance Use sound like you:
- Does using substances get in the way of your ability to do school, work, or personal tasks?
- Have family members or friends expressed concern about your substance use?
- Do you spend a lot of your time using or thinking about using substances?
- Do you use substances more than you plan to?
If you feel like any of these experiences are getting in the way, the good news is that there are treatments that can help. For more information on getting started with therapy, check out our other videos.