JUNE 2012 ISSUE
MIND|Mental
When to call a shrink
Are your friends not picking up your calls because they’re tired of your whining? Are you over-tipping the bartender just so he would spend more time listening to you? Maybe it’s time to see a therapist. But how do you know when it’s time to seek professional help? How do you know it’s not just PMS or midlife crisis?
Everyone experiences stress or depression at one point in their lives. Every person is familiar with anxiety, anger, sadness, confusion, embarrassment, fear, and helplessness. But people with mental disorders experience these feelings more intensely and more gravely. These episodes can progressively grow worse and interfere with daily functioning.
HEALTHY BEHAVIOR
- negative feelings begin to subside after a few days
- gets better, even if briefly, when something good happens
BEHAVIORS FOR CONCERN
- episodes last for weeks, months or years
- good or happy events do not change the situation
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