webadminThe present day work culture has a tendency to take the concept of mental health day off at work lightly, compared to a sick day off. However, the fact remains that mental health day offs are as significant as a physically sick day off for an individual’s overall well-being. If a person has the flexibility to take some time off from their daily work schedule for their mental health, they definitely should.
Taking care of one’s mental health should be an integral part of one’s self-care routine. This is the reason why every year May is celebrated as the Mental Health Month. Observed since 1949, it aims to reach out to people through media, local events, and screenings to spread awareness about mental illnesses and reduce the stigma surrounding the same. Taking the theme for 2018, Fitness#4Mind4Body, forward this year also, its observance encourages individuals to focus on staying physically and mentally fit for the future.
Look out for these 9 signs
Staying mentally fit entails things like resting well, talking to a friend, exercising the brain regularly, and practicing mindfulness, among others. Another thing that can ensure good mental health is to take mental health days off from work. Listed below are some signs that indicate that an individual is lined up for a much-needed mental health day off from work:
- Tolerating levels are at an all-time low: If an individual is displaying signs of low tolerance level towards any colleague, is emotionally vulnerable on receiving feedback from their manager or boss, or is often snapping at their kids or better half, then they are due for a mental health day off from work.
- Cajoling self to go to work: If an individual feels that they are constantly coaxing themselves to step out of the vehicle after reaching the workplace, it is a serious indication that something is just not right. According to Jessica Singh, a mental health therapist, this kind of behavior may be a result of anxiety, work-life imbalance, boredom, or lack of mental support at the workplace and definitely calls for a mental health day off from work.
- Feeling sleepless throughout: It is quite natural for people to experience sleeplessness if they undergo immense stress at work. Stress triggers hormones that lead to feelings of restlessness and disturbs the sleep pattern. Dr. Nisha Jackson, a hormone and gynecological health specialist, said that extreme stress confuses the human body thereby making the person feel awake at night and drained during the day. In such a situation, a mental health day off from work can do wonders for an individual’s health.
- Difficulty in managing emotions: If an individual feels angry at the drop of a hat or cries more often without any reason, it is an indication that the person is unable to manage their emotions appropriately. According to Jenn Bovee, a wholeness coach, these are signs that an individual’s coping mechanism is disrupted and it is time to take a mental day off from work to bounce back to their normal self.
- Difficulty in focusing: According to mental health counselor Jovica Grey, if an individual is unable to focus for long and pay proper attention while completing tasks, it indicates that the person needs a mental day off from work.
- Loss of interest: If an individual is finding it difficult to enjoy the small things in life, it may be a warning sign of a burnout. Such an individual stops deriving joy from things that they used to enjoy doing earlier. Marriage therapist, Rachel Wright said that when an individual starts resenting their work, they need to take a break and come back with a fresh perspective.
- Dealing with indecisiveness: When an individual feels unable to make a decision and lacks focus and energy, they should definitely opt for a mental health day off from work. Such individuals find it challenging to make a decision not because they have to take a lot of decisions, but simply because they lack the focus and energy needed for well-balanced and rational decision making.
- Falling sick often: If an individual is falling sick often, it is an indication that something is brewing under the surface. Research has stated that there is a strong connection between an individual’s physical and mental health. In such a situation, fitness coach, Emma Green suggests that one should take some time off from work, concentrate on themselves, get back into shape, and regain the lost balance slowly.
- Finding it difficult to recollect the last time taken off from work: If an individual cannot remember the last time they had taken an off from work, it is a definite sign that there is an issue. Kim Roberts, a mental health and emotional well-being expert, said that it is important to take compulsory mental health day offs from work in order to stay mentally fit and agile. So, an individual should mark their calendars every few months to take a mental health day off from work.
Seeking support for mental health
The overall well-being of an individual is determined by both their physical as well as mental health. Ironically, while people pay great attention to their physical health, they tend to ignore the significance of their mental health. That is the reason why one in five Americans suffer from a mental health disorder.
It is no longer difficult to seek treatment for mental health disorders, now that the diagnosis for these has become more scientific. Also, inpatient mental health treatment centers have become better equipped to help such patients receive appropriate and timely inpatient mental health treatment at credible rehabs.
If you or a loved one are looking for reliable inpatient mental health treatment centers in your vicinity, get in touch with the Mind Health Network. Our team of medical experts will offer you all the required assistance and help you overcome the disorder. You can also call our 24/7 mental health treatment helpline or chat online with our admission specialists to understand more about the various treatment modalities offered at our facilities.
