It happens to the best of us. We start feeling great, then before we know it our mood changes dramatically for seemingly no reason at all. Suddenly you’re crying uncontrollably, unable to stop. Or maybe you feel detached from your loved ones and friends as if they’ve turned against you without warning or explanation. You can’t sleep or focus on anything other than how miserable your life is now compared to what it was just a few days ago.

Maybe you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts for the first time in years -or even decades- but are terrified that this time will be different because now everything seems hopeless and there’s nothing left worth living for anyway. These are signs that might indicate that mental health crisis is looming nearby:

You’re withdrawing from friends and family

When you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling with your mental health, it’s common to start withdrawing from the people around you. You may not feel like being around others or talking about your problems, so you withdraw instead. This can lead to a feeling of isolation, which can make your mental health problems worse.

You’re experiencing changes in your mood

Your mood can be a big indicator of your mental health. If you’re feeling unusually sad, angry, or anxious for no reason, it could be a sign that you’re nearing a mental health crisis.

You’re not taking care of yourself

When you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s common to let other things fall by the wayside. But one sign that you’re nearing a mental health crisis is if you start to neglect your hygiene, food intake, or overall well-being.

You’re having trouble concentrating or focusing

If you’ve been struggling with your mental health, it’s common to have trouble concentrating or focusing. You might have a hard time reading, writing, learning new things, or even focusing on the task at hand.

You’re having trouble sleeping

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by your mental health problems, it’s common to find it difficult to sleep. This is because stress and anxiety often play a role in insomnia. If you keep having trouble sleeping even after trying out different techniques for improving sleep quality, then that could be a sign that you’re nearing a mental health crisis.

You’re talking about suicide or self-harm

It’s not uncommon to feel like hurting yourself when you’re struggling with your mental health—but if those feelings become more frequent or intense, it can be dangerous. It’s always okay to talk about suicide or self-harm if you’re feeling unsafe or like you might hurt yourself.

You’re feeling more irritable than usual

If you’re generally a calm and even-tempered person but have been feeling more irritable than usual lately, that could be a sign that something is wrong. Increased irritability can be a sign of an impending mental health crisis.

You’re experiencing physical symptoms

It’s not just your mood that can be affected by your mental health—your physical health can also be impacted. You might start to experience headaches, body aches, gastrointestinal problems, or other physical symptoms.

You’re having flashbacks or intrusive thoughts

If you’ve been through a traumatic event, you might start to experience flashbacks or intrusive thoughts that cause you to remember the event. You may not want these memories and find yourself trying to avoid anything that reminds you of the trauma, but these symptoms can be a sign that you’re entering a mental health crisis.

You’re engaging in risky behaviors

It’s common for people struggling with their mental health problems to engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse, unprotected sex, reckless driving, gambling, or other high-risk activities. These risky behaviors can put your life at risk—and could even trigger an emotional breakdown if they lead to consequences such as an arrest or dangerous accident.

If you recognize these signs in yourself and think that you’re nearing a mental health crisis, it’s always okay to talk to your psychiatrist in Bhopal or a therapist about it. You don’t have to go through this alone, and there are ways to get help if things start getting out of hand. Take care of yourself—reach out for support, and remember that you’re not alone in this.