Seek Professional Mental Health Support

While self-help groups can be an effective tool in your recovery journey; we must always understand that majority of these meetings are not being facilitated by clinically trained professionals and should not be substituted for clinical mental health treatment. If you are unsure if clinical mental health treatment is the right next step for you, we have provided a list of common symptoms that may indicate the need for a professional approach:

• Feeling anxious more than normal, having panic attacks, or experiencing digestive issues due to anxiety.
• Feeling overwhelmed with everything or out of control in general.
• Overthinking and finding it difficult to "switch off" from intrusive thoughts.
• Feeling low and more tearful than usual, unsure how to manage these emotions.
• Getting angry more easily or struggling to regulate emotions.
• Experiencing changes in sleep patterns, either sleeping more or less than usual, and having consistent nightmares.
• Experiencing changes in eating habits, either eating more or less than usual.
• Avoiding socializing with others or having more relationship issues than normal.
• Losing interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyable.
• Struggling at work or school.
• Feeling hopeless, helpless, and thinking there's no way out.
• Using substances such as drugs or alcohol to cope with feelings or get through the day.
• Having thoughts of self-harm or feeling like life is unbearable.