All of us face struggles at some point in our lives. These struggles can be caused by stress in the work environment, problems with a romantic partner or with a family member. These problems can cause symptoms of different types that require the attention of a qualified psychologist, symptoms such as:

• • the emotional such as depression or anxiety,

• • behavior problems such as having trouble getting rid of useless things or drinking alcohol too often, and

• cognitive symptoms such as annoying repetitive thoughts, ruminants, or excessive worry.

Sometimes these obstacles in life can be alleviated by taking more care of yourself, and perhaps talking about problems with a trusted friend or family member. But there may be times when these steps do not solve the problem. When this happens, it is logical to consider seeking the help of a qualified psychologist. To take this step it is important that you value the answer to two important questions:

1. 1. Does your problem worry you a lot? To assess this answer, think about whether that problem hangs around your head longer than necessary or if you try to downplay it in front of other people even though it actually makes you feel bad.

1. Is that problem interfering with some aspect of your life? Of course, if your previous answer has been affirmative, you will be aware that your quality of life has been somewhat affected. But to assess the interference, you must consider whether that problem has caused your work or academic performance to have decreased significantly. If it is a matter that takes up a lot of time, even if only mentally, perhaps your social life has also been altered since due to that problem you have had to reorganize your life to adapt to the problem.

An affirmative answer to either of these two questions suggests that you may need to consider seeking the help of a professional psychologist. It is clear that the idea of ​​starting therapy is a completely personal decision . If you are wondering if therapy might be helpful to you, keep in mind that many psychological problems have been shown to be treatable with short-term therapeutic approaches , so the efficacy and effectiveness are widely demonstrated.

Symptoms to watch out for

As human beings, we all have idiosyncrasies and weaknesses that make us unique. Often there is a fine line between people with extravagant personality traits and people who are at the edge of a mental disorder in the making . If your problems affect your life, it is time to consider the idea of ​​asking for the help of a professional who evaluates the state of your mental health. We are going to see 10 behaviors that can help you make this important decision.

1. 1. You have difficulties to cope with life in general or you have trouble coping with the day to day

It is possible that you notice that the energy that you had a while ago you do not have now, and that it is difficult for you to perform in your life as you did before. If you do a medical exam and the results are normal , you do not have anemia , for example, or any other deficiency or disease, it is possible that the origin of that fatigue is emotional.

1. 1. You have sudden mood swings

Some psychological disorders involve significant fluctuations in mood. The changes can be rapid, as in borderline personality disorder , or they can occur over several days or weeks, as in bipolar disorder . The use of drugs and / or alcohol and certain medications can also contribute to creating erratic moods.

1. 1. You feel sad, depressed, or depressed most of the time

This may be a warning sign for the depression , mental health disorder that affects millions of people of all ages worldwide . Although occasional feelings of sadness are a fundamental part of being human, it is abnormal when those feelings last for a long time or when they become chronic . If you have symptoms present such as poor concentration, sleep disturbances , lack of energy, or feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, depression is a likely clinical diagnosis.

1. 1. You worry excessively or feel anxious most of the time

Anxiety or irrational fear is a common symptom of many disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD, generalized anxiety disorder , the PTSD , the social anxiety disorder and phobias. Anxiety can be paralyzing, and its constant presence can wreak havoc on health, sleep, and other aspects of daily functioning.

1. 1. You can’t get rid of the shock caused by past or recent traumatic events

Any traumatic event can turn your life upside down and cause serious emotional damage. Unwanted images and memories sometimes get stuck in the brain , leaving you with a terrible feeling of being trapped and with no way of getting ahead. Any minor event can trigger these memories and leave you feeling anxious and hopeless.

1. 1. You contemplate suicide as an option

Suicidal thoughts and actions are primarily associated with major depression and other mood disorders. If you have these kinds of thoughts, it is imperative that you seek professional help as soon as possible .

1. 1. You use alcohol and other drugs and medications to numb emotional pain

When you turn to things outside of yourself to deal with, or avoid, problems that concern you, it usually indicates the presence of a serious underlying problem. The use of substances or activities as a means of escape can lead to abuse and other addictive disorders . Instead of alcohol and drugs, some people rely on gambling, sex, and other behaviors that get out of control until they become addictive and negatively impact life.

1. 1. You have trouble managing anger

Irritability, hostility, rage, and frequent outbursts of anger can indicate the presence of a mental health problem. The anger not only drains the emotional and physical energy, but also has a negative impact on health, relationships and work . Unresolved anger can also easily lead to substance abuse, physical and emotional abuse of other people, destruction of objects, and self-destructive behavior.

1. 1. You have irrational fears that interfere in your life

The irrational fears may involve a variety of things, including the fear that others will observe and follow an extreme fear animals like dogs or spiders, and fear of situations like getting on a plane or social situations. Irrational fears can become obsessive , leading the sufferer to have insistent thoughts that create great anxiety and harmful behaviors.

1. 1. You have an abnormal and problematic relationship with food and eating

A distorted body image is a red flag for the early stages of an eating disorder . The eating disorders tend to consume a significant amount of time and energy, but more importantly, can cause serious health risks in the long term, can even be fatal in extreme cases.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

The symptoms mentioned are fairly general, but cover a wide range of possible signs of mental illness or disorder. If you feel identified or identified with any of them, or several, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a psychologist to evaluate and diagnose you. Without a doubt, this is the most appropriate way to face, overcome and recover from those problems that anguish your life.