Everyone has days where they don’t feel like themselves. It’s okay to sometimes feel down, upset, low or fed up but the key word is sometimes.
If you find that you’re having more sad days than happy days, it’s not okay to stay that way. You deserve to live a happy life and it’s up to you to put things right.
You can exercise more and eat better and take up a new hobby but if things are still swirling around your head, something’s got to change. It can be hard to know when to look for outside help but the sooner you do it the better.
Here are three signs that it’s time to talk to someone about your mood:
1. It’s affecting your sleep
We need sleep to function properly, it’s as simple as that. If you’re going to bed each night and you find your heart racing, your mind racing and your body in a constant state of tension, you’re going to be exhausted and emotional the next day.
As a result, every small inconvenience or problem will seem ten times bigger and things that you might normally brush off will upset you far more than you should.
2. It’s affecting your appetite
When you’re anxious or upset, the tension often settles in the pit of your stomach which is actually an ancient physiological response to threat. In other words, we feel threatened and so it’s preparing us for fight-or-flight mode.
Having a churning or knotted sensation in your stomach doesn’t lend itself to eating so you find yourself eating less and losing weight at a time when your body needs to build up strength and energy.
3. It’s affecting your social interactions
Worry and anxiety can develop into fear and paranoia if you don’t deal with what’s causing the problem.
If you get to the point where you don’t want to go to school or meet up with your friends, it’s time to tell a parent, carer or trusted adult how you’re feeling so you can get the support you need.
You can also contact Childline at any time, day or night, for a free and confidential chat about whatever’s on your mind. Call 1800 66 66 66 or live chat on childline.ie.
