Psychological Distress and Your Mental Health

Mental health issues are becoming increasingly common around the world, with 7 out of 10 people affected in one way or another. Psychological distress, which can lead to serious disorders like anxiety and depression, has a huge impact on your everyday life and relationships with others. If you’re experiencing psychological distress, or if you’re concerned about someone else who might be, here are some mental health tips to make sure you don’t get too stressed out...

Information on psychological distress in English

A person may be experiencing psychological distress if they are feeling hopeless, helpless, or worthless, among other symptoms.

There is no single cause for mental health problems; it is generally the result of a combination of factors. It is usually not possible to identify the one thing that causes a person's mental health problem. However, there are some risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing a mental health problem.

Stress, Anxiety & Depression by Mind

Stress, anxiety, and depression are all very common mental health issues that can develop at any stage of life. Stress is the feeling of being under too much pressure or not having enough control over your life. Anxiety is the feeling of being worried about things you have no control over. Depression is when a person feels sad for an extended period of time with no reason why.

Overcoming Psychological Distress: NHS Choices

If you're feeling down, anxious or stressed, it can be really helpful to know about some of the things that might help. The NHS website has lots of useful information on how to look after your mental health.

Overcoming Psychological Distress: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidelines on how to identify, manage and reduce psychological distress in adults. The guidelines recommend that health professionals should assess patients' mental health at every contact with them, offer brief interventions as required and consider referring to specialist services. These interventions will be tailored according to individual needs. For example, for people with social anxiety disorder, the NICE guidelines recommend cognitive behavioural therapy or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.

What are symptoms of psychological distress?

It's normal to experience psychological distress, especially if you are under stress or experiencing a major life event. However, when the distress lasts for more than two weeks or starts interfering with your day-to-day life, it may be time to talk to a mental health professional.

What is another word for psychological distress?

It can also be called mental health problems, emotional distress, or emotional pain. The terms are not interchangeable. Mental health problems (or psychological distress) refer to a mental illness or disorder that is characterized by changes in mood, thought patterns, perceptions, or behaviors that are associated with distress or impaired functioning.

Conclusion

It is important to know the difference between mental health problems, which are defined by a disorder of the mind or brain, and emotional distress which is defined by feeling unhappy or unable to cope. Emotional distress may be temporary, in response to a situation like a death or illness, but it does not have long-term effects on mood. On the other hand, mental health disorders can lead to persistent symptoms that affect daily life such as depression, anxiety, PTSD or bipolar disorder.

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