Know Your Mind
Feeling anxious or stressed? Discover your mental state with a quick psychological test today!
In today's fast-paced world, mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress are becoming global challenges. These are no longer concerns for just a few but are realities that anyone must face, so how can we recognize these challenges and take the necessary steps to protect ourselves? Here's a comprehensive guide on anxiety, depression, and stress, along with practical ways to deal with them.
Anxiety: Beware of Overwhelming Worries
Anxiety manifests as excessive worry and tension, often accompanied by physical discomfort. Common symptoms include:
Emotional
Individuals with anxiety may experience persistent feelings of unease and fear, excessive worry about future events, and impatience or panic when faced with decision-making.
Physical
Symptoms include a rapid heartbeat or palpitations, shortness of breath or chest tightness, and physical reactions such as sweating, trembling, or digestive issues like diarrhea and nausea.
Cognitive
Anxiety can make it difficult to concentrate and may lead to avoidance of social situations, further impacting one's daily life and overall well-being.
Depression: The Lingering Shadow of Low Mood
Depression in Malaysia is also a major concern due to the prevalence of depression has increased from 1.8% to 2.3% in a decade. Depression is more than a temporary feeling of sadness. Key symptoms include:
Emotional
Individuals with depression may experience persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, and feel an overwhelming sense of despair regarding the future.
Physical
Depression often results in sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or excessive sleeping, significant changes in appetite (including either a loss of appetite or overeating), and chronic fatigue or low energy levels.
Cognitive
Depression can manifest as self-doubt, excessive feelings of guilt, and low self-worth. In more severe cases, individuals may experience heightened suicidal ideation. These symptoms can significantly impair daily functioning, relationships, and overall mental well-being.
Stress: The “Invisible Strain” of Modern Life
Stress is a natural human response that we developed in order to be aware of, and protect ourselves from, danger. The term 'stress' varies in meaning from person to person. It encompasses a wide range of experiences, both positive and negative, such as job changes, relationship breakdown, marriage, workloads, isolation, aging and many more.
Prolonged exposure to stress is associated with an increased risk of developing mental health disorders such as anxiety disorders and depression.
Stress is a psychological and mental health response to challenges that feel overwhelming. Symptoms include:
Emotional
Stress often leads to heightened emotional responses such as anxiety, worry, irritability, frustration and mood swings. Some individuals may experience feelings of sadness or depression as a result of prolonged stress..
Physical
Stress can also manifest physically, leading to symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, gastrointestinal issues, poor appetite and sleep disturbances.
Cognitive
Stress can impair cognitive functions such as memory, attention and decision ~ making abilities. Individuals may find it difficult to concentrate or make sound judgments when under stress.
Understand Yourself
How to Differentiate Normal Mood Swings from Mental Health Issues?
At least two weeks or longer, possibly persisting for months or more
One month or longer, often persistent and unrelated to specific events
Temporary, lasting minutes to a few days, typically resolves without significant intervention
Persistent sadness, helplessness, hopelessness
Excessive worry, tension,or fear
Temporary fluctuations in mood such as mild sadness, irritability, or frustration without prolonged distress
Low energy, sleep disturbances, significant weight or appetite changes
Increased heart rate, muscle tension, hyperventilation, fatigue
Mild physical discomfort (e.g., occasional fatigue), but symptoms do not persist or impair functioning
Severe impairment in performing daily activities
Noticeable reduction in efficiency or avoidance of stressors
Minor impact on daily functioning; able to maintain regular routines and responsibilities effectively
If your symptoms persist for a long time, consider going to a psychological center to see a psychologist for a professional evaluation.
What is DASS-21?
The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) is a standardized screening tool designed to measure the severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress. It consists of 21 self-reported items to identify individuals experiencing emotional distress and to monitor changes over time.
There are several other psychological assessments designed to address specific mental health and developmental needs:
Depression Test
Evaluate signs of depression to determine if you may need professional support.
ADHD Test
An ADHD assessment evaluates a child's or adult's behavior across various settings to measure key domains, including inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and oppositional tendencies.
Behavioral Assessments
Assess a child's behavior to evaluate a broad range of behavioral patterns and emotional regulation, including emotional lability.
Adaptive Behaviour Scales
Measure a child's level of adaptive functioning across domains such as communication, daily living skills, motor abilities, and maladaptive behaviors, providing insights into developmental and functional capabilities.
Intelligence Tests
Provide a standardized and reliable assessment of intellectual functioning, aiding in the evaluation of conditions such as intellectual disability, giftedness, learning difficulties, or other cognitive concerns.
Autism Rating Scales
Evaluate autism-related symptoms and their severity through structured, quantifiable ratings based on direct observation and/or caregiver reports.
These tools offer a holistic understanding of your mental state. Visit a life care diagnostic medical center to consult a psychologist for tailored recommendations
Psychotherapy and counseling services offer a structured and confidential environment to support emotional growth and resilience. These services are tailored to address a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and other mental health challenges, fostering improved well-being and personal development.
Personalized sessions addressing anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and self-esteem issues.
Develop effective coping strategies, build resilience, and foster personal growth for children and adults.
Improving communication, resolving conflicts, and building emotional connections.
Strengthen relationships, rebuild trust, and navigate challenges like infidelity or life transitions.
Enhancing family dynamics, addressing parenting challenges, and resolving conflicts.
Promote understanding, improve communication, and create a harmonious and supportive family environment.
Comprehensive talks and training services tailored to corporations, schools, universities, and organizations. These programs focus on critical areas such as stress management, mental health awareness, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and leadership development.
Customized training for organizations and companies
Stress in the workplace is a significant contributor to mental health challenges. To address this issue, we offer corporate training programs focused on stress management, mental health awareness, conflict resolution, and time management.
These programs are designed to help employees and management create healthier work environments and improve productivity. By collaborating with businesses and organizations, Valley Psychological Center ensures that psychological well-being is a priority in the workplace.
Empowering Schools and Universities
Students and educators face unique mental health challenges that require tailored support. Valley Psychological Center collaborates with schools and universities to offer interactive workshops and training programs covering topics such as emotional intelligence, resilience building, and academic stress management.
These programs are designed to provide students with practical strategies for personal growth and academic success, while also supporting educators in creating positive learning environments.
Prioritize Mental
Health Today!
Mental health shapes every aspect of our lives—from work efficiency to relationships and overall happiness. Here's how to start:
- Understand your mental state with psychological testing.
- Seek professional support through a psychologist center or therapist.
- Advocate for mental health awareness in your community.
Contact VALLEY PSYCHOLOGICAL CENTRE (016-9853039) to take the first step toward a healthier mind. Together, let's build a society that values mental well-being.
