One in four people will endure troubling mental health at a certain juncture in their lives, whether it is created by stress stemming from life events (marital woes, job insecurity, bereavement) or internal factors (genetically inheriting specific characteristics, brain chemistry issues, or environmental exposures prior to birth).
Within professional settings, people often neglect or miss the warning signs typically associated with mental health concerns due to a variety of circumstances: colleagues are engaged and busy with their work duties; managers are preoccupied with the company’s operations; and those who suffer from mental health, if they realize that this is the source of their drawback, are hesitant to speak up because of the stigma that is unfairly tied to the illness.
Dealing with these mental health worries, employees can encounter greater difficulties in fulfilling their tasks because there is a tremendous impact on their ability to direct adequate attention to the job.
James Lamont DuBose of Woodland Hills, California, a highly prominent American television producer, filmmaker, and entertainment industry executive who overcame his own bout with depression in the past, reveals some of the clear indicators that you or a co-worker is struggling with mental health concerns and how to push beyond them.
Significant Symptoms
According to James DuBose, there are a number of outright signs that could be linked with mental health problems including anxiety, irritability, a negative mood that is long-lasting, difficulties concentrating or with memory, sleeping in excess or not enough, extreme mood swings, lethargy towards completing daily routines, feelings of sadness or emptiness, suicidal thoughts, paranoia and a suspicious mindset, a tendency to be alienated from others, alterations in appetite, enhanced sensitivity, alcohol or drug abuse, increased anger or hostility, sex drive changes, and a lack of understanding or relating to people.
Knowing the hints of mental health issues is greatly empowering, something that James DuBose didn’t immediately catch in himself because of a dogged determination to his work.
“For many, the journey into deep depression is like falling off of a cliff, but for me, it was a long time coming,” James shared. “When you’re constantly working, it’s easy to focus on your professional obligations instead of looking after your mental well-being. It wasn’t until 2015 that I had to face the fact that it was all a facade. I had never addressed my internal issues and at this point, there was no staving it off. I knew if I didn’t get the help that I needed and acknowledge the issues I had, I’d likely face severe consequences in the future.”
How to Help Yourself and Others
Research has proven that early intervention is vital in combatting mental health issues, James Lamont DuBose notes, often succeeding in minimizing or delaying symptoms, preventing hospitalization, and improving the overall prognosis.
If you or a co-worker is overwhelmed by any of the previously listed common symptoms, you are encouraged to seek out a mental health expert or another similar professional for an evaluation, receive support counseling in regards to daily life and strategies for stress management, and accept thorough monitoring that might uncover conditions which require more urgent care.
By contacting health care specialists and turning to his personal support system for additional assistance, James DuBose was able to vanquish those depressing forces.
“I reached out for help from my support system and health care professionals,” he said. “I realized, through therapy that I had been filling various voids in my life by staying busy. It was this process of confronting myself head on, with the assistance of a therapist, that helped me overcome my depression.”
Treatment should be individualized, based off a detailed assessment for each person, with individual and family counseling, vocational and educational support, medication, and the inclusion in a problem-solving group amongst multiple families all representing practical options to stop early symptoms from developing into a grueling illness.
Also, as James DuBose’s case illustrated, family members are pivotal to the process and should be involved throughout its progression.
James DuBose Shares Simple Self-Care Tips
Battling strains on your mental health, you might witness noticeable improvement through social care experimentation. You or the person whom you are assisting can benefit from stepping out of the house, preparing meals, shopping, managing your money, and joining friends or family for a public interaction. All of these actions are intended to diminish your seclusion, boost your spirits, take your mind off the mental grind, and allow for inner reflection.
James Lamont DuBose has achieved this, subduing those feelings of anxiety or stress, and continues to do so by carving out time for himself. He believes that too often, we get stuck on this endless hamster wheel and forget that we are here for a purpose greater than ourselves. He spends time in the morning praying, journaling, repeating affirmations, and other healing practices to maintain his mental health. He says that if we don’t take care of our physical and mental selves, it’s only a matter of time until we have a breakdown.
His holistic approach, which centered on physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, was instrumental in recovering from a mental illness. James is adamant that you confront and grapple with these problems quickly. “The sooner you stare your demons in the face, the sooner you can become the person you were meant to be. It’s natural to run away from discomfort, but I encourage everyone to embrace it before it catches up with you,” says James DuBose.
Online Resources
Although the subject of mental illness can seem too immense and information-packed, James DuBose assures you that the wealth of sources available online creates a fine entry point into the discussion.
You can learn at your own pace, utilize self-help guides, and gain extensive knowledge that will perhaps determine why your behavior has spiraled. After learning this relevant information, you can begin your process of recovery and gain a multitude of coping skills that will help you defeat any future obstacles. Many people have bounced back from this challenge when the proper support, information, and help is given to them.
