Overview

Mental health is a significant dimension of general health and helps in the determination of how we are going to think, feel, and behave in our day-by-day in life. Many times, all of us experience disturbing thoughts or moods that threaten to upset the fine balance of our minds. These may be in the forms of disturbing intrusive thoughts, overwhelming anxiety, or persistent sadness. It is important to recognize those transient moments when feelings or thoughts are beyond the threshold beyond which help needs to be sought in due time. 

In the article, we examine when it is appropriate to seek professional mental health counsel regarding unwelcome thoughts or feelings, as well as several symptoms that indicate when help is required.

Understanding Unwelcome Thoughts and Emotions

Unwelcome thoughts or emotions are experiences that are associated with negative feelings, disturbance, or disruption in a person’s life. These could be states of anger, sadness, guilt, or intrusive thoughts hard to rein in and cognize. Often, such thoughts can be a normal response to stressors in life or challenges, but once these thoughts and feelings become chronic or severe, they may signal deeper mental health issues.

Common Unwelcome Thoughts and Feelings

• Intrusive Thoughts: Intrusive thoughts are those undesired and often disturbing ideas entering the mind of a person repeatedly. They range from petty irritants or minor worries to disturbing visions of violent acts, fears, and damage that one could commit or endure, or the desire to harm themselves.
• Overwhelmed by Emotions: Feelings, in most cases, are sustained sadness, anxiety, or anger that at times becomes overwhelming, giving rise to emotional instability.
• Guilt and Shame: Excessive amounts of guilt or shame, without an apparent known cause, affect self-esteem and overall mental health.
• Hopelessness: The feelings that nothing will get better or that the future is hopeless often accompany depression.

However, all these experiences, in most instances, may occur in one’s day-to-day life; thus, it is the frequency, intensity, and functional impact that will have to be the critical determinants indicating the need for professional assistance.

Signs That You Need to Seek Professional Help from a Mental Health Professional

1. Persistent and Long-lasting Distress

It is normal to feel sad or worried at times. If negative emotions and/or thoughts persist over several weeks or months without improvement, it is an indication that professional consultation is necessary. Prolonged feelings of sadness, fear, and even anger not reduced with time may indicate the presence of an underlying psychological disorder, such as depression or anxiety-related disorders.

Examples:

• Feeling anxious continuously for weeks despite trying to calm down.
• Unresolved grief or sadness many months following a loss or trauma.

2. Intrusive Thoughts Interfering with Life Activities

Intrusive thoughts are experienced by everybody from time to time. However, when these become frequent, distressing, or disruptive to normal functioning, it may point toward such a deeper issue as OCD, PTSD, or GAD. Such thoughts make a person feel ‘stuck,’ unable to focus on anything else. This can be seriously debilitating in terms of quality of life.

Examples:

• Being obsessive about imminent harm to loved ones or oneself.
• Recurring, undesired thoughts concerning past traumatic experiences.

3. Difficulty Managing One’s Emotions

Emotional regulation is also important to mental well-being. Difficulty managing emotions or showing wild mood swings is a warning sign. This may manifest as bursts of anger from time to time, prolonged sadness, emotional numbing, or detachment. Symptoms could also arise with disorders such as bipolar disease, borderline personality disorder, and major depression.

Examples:

• Sudden, intense feelings of anger or frustration over insignificant issues.
• Feeling emotionally numb or detached from events that one would expect to be of an affective concern.

4. Avoidance Behavior

Unwelcome thoughts or feelings leading to avoidance of situations, people, or activities may be a symptom of some form of anxiety disorder or other mental health issue. Avoidance is a common coping strategy for distressed individuals with their thoughts or feelings. As time goes on, the avoidance tends to feed into the problem and narrows the person’s life and ability to function normally.

Examples:

• Avoiding social events for fear of judgment or embarrassment.
• Skipping work or school to avoid feeling anxious or stressed.

5. Coping via Substance Use

A very harmful way to deal with unwanted thoughts or emotions is through self-medication by turning to alcohol, drugs, or other substances. Although substance use may be in the capacity to deaden the emotional pain, very often, it leads to dependencies that result in worsening any underlying mental health issue. If substances are the way one manages their feelings, professional help is highly recommended before further escalation occurs.

Examples:

• Use excessive amounts of alcohol as an attempt to forget intrusive thoughts or emotional pain.
• Escaping into drugs when feelings of sadness or anxiety occur.

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6. Physical Symptoms Without Obvious Medical Explanation

Oftentimes, mental health problems first manifest themselves as physical complaints. Persistent unexplained headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue, among other forms of physical symptoms, may signify that a person is undergoing some emotional or mental disturbance. If such physical symptoms continue to perplex these patients’ doctors, then that might be a very good time to discuss their case with a mental health professional.

Examples:

• Frequent tension headaches or digestive problems accompanying stress.
• Chronic fatigue, despite adequate rest, is matched by emotional distress.

7. Major changes in sleep or appetite

Sleep and appetite are interlinked with mental health. Sudden changes in sleep-sleeping less, waking up too early, or over-sleeping-can denote anxiety, depression, or trauma-related disorders. Similarly, excessive changes in appetite-eating too much or too little-may point toward hegira emotional battles.

Examples:

• Sleeplessness: due to inability to curb racing thoughts or uncontrollable worry.
• Loss of appetite or overeating in reaction to stress.

8. Self-harm or Suicidal Thoughts

One of the most clear-cut signs that someone needs to seek help from a mental health professional is if they have thoughts of harming themselves or suicidal ideations. Immediate intervention is necessary-it is a medical emergency. Contacting a therapist, counsellor, or emergency services could literally save a person with such deep-seated ideations.

Examples:

• Self-injurious behavior to cope with overwhelming feelings.
• Thinking about death or the end of one’s life due to feelings of hopelessness or despair. 

The Benefits of Talking to a Mental Health Professional

Speaking with a professional in the mental health field, such as a psychologist, therapist, or counselor, can have numerous advantages when one is faced with thoughts or feelings that are unwanted. These professionals are obligated to help an individual unravel his or her feelings to find what problems lie beneath the surface and come up with ways to cope. Here are some of the most important benefits that one may receive by seeking professional help: 

• Accurate Diagnosis: The mental health professional is able to diagnose any condition of depression, anxiety, or trauma-related disorders and may provide directed treatment toward that diagnosis. 
• Coping Strategies: Therapy can provide tools and strategies to manage unwelcome thoughts and emotions in a healthy and constructive way. 
• Emotional Support: Talking with a professional gives one a chance to express feelings without being judged, to be listened to, and understood. 
• Preventing Further Issues: Early intervention can prevent more serious mental health crises and allow the individual to regain control over their life. 

When to Act 

Although it may be tricky at times to know exactly when to seek help, generally speaking, one should consult a mental health professional if, over a continuous period of more than two weeks, unwanted thoughts or feelings are present, interfere with daily functioning, or serve as sources of significant distress. The sooner help is sought, the better the possibility of improvement in mental health and the prevention of worse conditions. 

Conclusion 

Unwelcome feelings and thoughts are a natural part of life, but one should always be aware of warning signals when they become overwhelming, persistent, or disruptive. Professionals in mental health provide much-needed supportive services that aid in helping individuals achieve equilibrium and develop coping mechanisms. They can help them have longer, healthier lives. Speaking with a mental health expert is a crucial first step in any rehabilitation journey, regardless of the cause of intrusive thoughts, emotionally unstable sentiments, or uncomfortable emotions.