top of page
Writer's pictureSarah Dalechek, MD

What is Mental Health?

Mental Health is the level of psychological well-being or an absence of mental illness (1). Mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease (2).

Oceanview Psychiatry is the place to go for help with your emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Your mental health influences how you see the world, how you react to others, and how you perceive our internal state and thoughts. If you are insightful into these processes, you will be more able to cope with life challenges.

Your thinking, mood, and behavior can be affected if you experience mental health problems during your lifetime.


Factors


There are several factors that play a role in the development of our mental health, including:

  • Biological factors like hormones, genes, etc.

  • Psychological factors like your environment, friends, family, etc.

  • Trauma or verbal/physical abuse

  • History of similar mental health issues

If you are looking for a psychiatric evaluation from a Doctor in Charleston, SC, please book an appointment with us. This is the place to go to learn more about yourself and to develop emotional intelligence.


Early Warning Signs (3)


The following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign

  • Eating or sleeping too much or too little

  • Pulling away from people and usual activities

  • Having low or no energy

  • Feeling numb or like 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

  • Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school


Mental Health and Wellness (3)


Positive mental health allows people to:

  • Realize their full potential

  • Cope with the stresses of life

  • Work productively

  • Make meaningful contributions to their communities


Ways to maintain positive mental health include:

  • Getting professional help if you need it

  • Connecting with others

  • Staying positive

  • Getting physically active

  • Helping others

  • Getting enough sleep

  • Developing coping skills

As you can see, mental health is very complex and it has a huge impact on how satisfied we are with ourselves and how fulfilled we feel in life. Contact us today to learn more.

References:

2 National Institute of Mental Health, 2011

3 https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201. Last Updated: 04/05/2019.

64 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page