‘White January’ warns of signs and when to seek professional help in mental health

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There are signs that warn of disabilities and disorders that indicate that something is not going well with mental health

There is a scientifically proven fact that is the immense capacity that human beings have to adapt to the most diverse situations, thanks to neuroplasticity, the ability of the human brain to shape itself in the face of different daily demands. But not all humans react the same way to the same or different situations.

And there are signs that warn of disabilities and disorders (insomnia, digestive problems, mood changes, body aches, learning problems and lack of concentration), and that indicate that something is not going well with these people’s mental health.

The White January Campaign raises awareness about mental health and the attitudes that should be adopted by those who recognize the signs. With the theme “Mental health while there is still time, what to do now?”, the campaign talks about the need to seek professional help.

“What do I do when I can no longer share, love, care, celebrate or even vent about how I feel? What to do when I have difficulty deciding on something or even overcoming it? When I can’t learn and have difficulty starting over? When I no longer have energy or pleasure?”,

lists the psychology professor at Faculdade Santa Teresa, Gabrielle Ehm.

According to the professor, these signs warn about mental health and that it is time to seek medical help, to rule out organic factors and, from there, begin psychiatric (if necessary) and psychotherapeutic monitoring.

“Lack of enthusiasm, chronic fatigue, stress, anxiety, feelings of sadness, anguish, guilt and lack of pleasure in usual activities should not be considered normal but something that should be evaluated by a mental health professional”,

alert.

The professor assesses that today we understand more and talk about comprehensive health with mental health as part of a whole that involves physical and social well-being, also in what is called quality of life.

“The White January campaign aims to provide broad knowledge about mental and emotional health, taking into account its influence on the physical, social relationships of an individual and their relationship with themselves”,

says the teacher.

In addition to recommending the assistance of a specialist doctor or a psychologist, the teacher also gives some tips to improve quality of life and mental health, which can be adopted individually.

• Spend quality time with family/friends
• Seek professional development (take courses, seek growth),
• Find/discover new hobbies
• Practice solitude (take a moment for yourself)
• Practice self-care (eat correctly, maintain quality sleep, take care of your body and self-esteem)
• Planning the future (dreaming and planning)
• Build long and short term goals
• Taking care of your physical health (practicing physical exercise regularly)
• Consult a doctor regularly.

*With information from consultancy

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