A MENTAL HEALTH DAY OR WEEK: 8 SIGNS YOU NEED TO TAKE ONE

Basically, you take a mental health day or week to give your emotional and psychological health self-care. Mental illness is as common as the flu. In fact, statistics show that 43.8 million adults in the US experience some form of mental illness in any year.

You need a mental health day or week as much as you need a sick leave. Read on to find out when you need to take one. 

1. YOU ARE UNABLE TO SLEEP

Mental stress can lead to sleeplessness even when physical exhaustion sets in. Usually, you cannot sleep when you go to bed or feel the need to sleep all the

time though you have been lying in for a while. There is a pea-sized structure in your brain called the hypothalamus. This part of your brain contains a bunch of nerves that control your sleep. That is why the state of your mental condition can affect your sleep pattern.

2. YOU CAN'T FOCUS

When you are mentally overloaded you cannot concentrate on work or any other activity you set yourself to do. You may make mistakes, lose track of stuff or be

forgetful. These are tell tale signs that you need to unplug so you can improve your focus.

3. YOU ARE ALWAYS ANXIOUS

Are you experiencing panic attacks and racing thoughts? Is it in your marriage, career, business, relationships, family or finances? Then it's time for a mental break. Anxiety is a surefire sign that there is something wrong, mentally, and

it may take its toll on you physically as well. You may have palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath and abdominal discomfort because of your anxiety.

4. YOU ARE EASILY IRRITATED

It's okay to lose your cool every now and then. After all, it's only human, and some people or situations just ask for it. However, if you find yourself snapping all the time at the slightest provocation. Or having rows with friends, family and

colleagues at work over trivial issues, you may want to reconsider your decision not to take a mental breather. Chances are you have a lot of steam bottled up you need to let off.

5. YOU ARE ALIENATED

Grappling with the demands of work or business can disconnect you from your social circle. You may have too much to do to spend quality time with family and

friends. Being detached from everyone else will eventually lead to self-inflicted isolation and loneliness. At this rate, having a mental health day or week is in order. You will need it to reconnect with those who love and support you.

6. YOUR ENERGY LEVELS ARE LOW

Do you often feel the need to drink lots of coffee or energy drinks to power you up? Then you need to schedule a mental health day or week  ASAP! The energizing effects of caffeinated or energy drinks don't last long. Besides, they will leave you feeling more exhausted after a while. But taking some time 

off work to rest, detox and hydrate can just be the energy booster you need.

7. YOU FEEL DEPRESSED

When you get the blues, know that it's your brain signalling you to make some changes in your life. So, whether it's office drama or your boyfriend giving you a

hard time or your finances taking a nosedive, you need to spend some moments doing things to uplift your spirits. It can be very liberating and refreshing.

8. YOU ARE ALWAYS SICK

Too many visits to your doctor could be a clear sign that your overstressed brain is taking its toll on your body. When the brain gets tired, your body picks up the

signal. And this shows in the form of repeated minor illnesses such as common colds which never seem to go away even with medication. In this case, you are long overdue for a mental health day or week.

Now that you know when to have a mental health day or week, we are sure you're itching to know how to have one. Well, stay tuned for our next blog post on ten ways to have a mental health day or week.

By Nana Ama Afoa Osae I Writer I GreatWonderful Team

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