Mental health is a tough thing to navigate for everyone. It’s not simple, and it’s not easy, which is often why it is so overlooked by people. Many people don’t like to deal with things that can’t be put into a distinct category or tied up with a neat bow, and mental health falls into this category. However, if you are someone who suffers from mental health problems or knows someone who does, it is essential that you understand some of the most common triggers. When you know what the triggers are, you will be able to avoid them as much as possible, which will be necessary to keep your mental health in check. Down below, we will be looking at these triggers, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.
Past Struggles
The first trigger is past struggles. It is super easy for past struggles to trigger poor mental health in someone. One of the issues with this is that it is not always possible to forget the past, even though someone might desperately want to. If someone suffers from PTSD, this can trigger depression, anxiety and a whole range of mood disorders that may make them act out of character. It is never easy to deal with the things that have happened in your past, especially if they made you feel a certain way that you didn’t like.
If you are struggling with your past, then you might want to consider going to some kind of talking therapy. It isn’t for everyone, but some people find it extremely beneficial. It is often the case that you want to talk about it, but you don’t know how or who to talk to. A professional will be able to talk through what happened with you, and they will be able to help you potentially move past these things that are holding you back.
Toxic People
Another trigger for mental health is toxic people. These people have an awful effect on everyone around them and can cause mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. This is particularly common if it is a family member or a partner as they often gaslight people and make them feel as though they are going crazy. It is crucial here that you get rid of this person or these people as soon as possible. They don’t care about you, and all they are doing is harming your mental health further. It doesn’t matter who they are, how long you have known them or what they have done for you in the past; if they are harming you mentally now, they need to go.
Poor Physical Health
Mental and physical health are connected, so if you want to look after one, you need to look after the other. As such, poor physical health can be a trigger for mental health, especially if you are used to living a certain way. You should be doing your best to eat a balanced diet, workout a few times per week, drink enough water, get enough sleep and make sure that your body is taken care of in every way that you can. The worse that you let your physical health get, the worse your mental health is going to be right along with it.
If you are struggling with your physical health, then we suggest that you talk to a professional. Work out what area you are struggling with and speak to the appropriate professional to get the help you need. For example, you might need to speak to a doctor about treatment for excess acid, or you might need to speak to a personal trainer about your workout regime. It really could be anything, but you need help if you are struggling.
Isolation
When you start to feel bad, one of the things that a lot of people do is retreat into themselves. Instead of telling anyone what is wrong and trying to face the problem, you may just isolate yourself so that you don’t drag anyone down with you. However, if you were only feeling minor symptoms before, isolation is going to blow them right out of the water. Handling things on your own is never easy, and it is also not necessary. There is always going to be someone who wants to help you, but isolating yourself from them will make your mental health worse. We know that this isn’t what you want, so you need to learn to open up instead of shutting down when you feel isolated.
Other People’s Happiness
As wrong as it sounds, one of the most common triggers for mental health is seeing other people being so happy. It makes sense, after all, because they have something that you want. You will always find something that others have that you want and don’t possess if you look hard enough, and this is a trigger on its own. Or, the fact that they are happy and carefree when you have so much to do, so many struggles etc., can be a huge trigger for many people.
It’s essential to try and remember that the grass is not always greener. Just because they are happy in this moment does not mean that they don’t have their own struggles. It’s not possible for you to know what happens behind their closed doors despite the appearance they give to the world. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will find it easier to cope with, but know that there is more to every situation than meets the eye.
We hope you have found this article helpful and now understand more about some of the most common mental health triggers. When you understand some of the triggers and why they impact mental health, you might be able to avoid them, helping keep your mental state under control. It’s not always easy, but knowledge is power, and in situations like this, it is the most powerful you will ever be. We wish you the very best of luck here.
