Do I Need Support?
Learn the Changes to Look for in Your Mental and Physical Health
Signs Something Might Be Off
Avoiding or Delaying Change
You may recognize something isn’t working, but feel unmotivated or not ready to address it.
Life Impact
You might notice changes in your routine, responsibilities, relationships, or ability to follow through.
Ignoring the Signs
Even when something feels off, it can be easier to keep going than to pause and address it.
What Are the Warning Signs?
- You’re using more or more often than you planned
- You’ve tried to cut back or stop and couldn’t
- It’s becoming harder to control when or how much you use
- Your responsibilities at work, school, or home are being affected
- Your routine is starting to revolve around using or recovering
- You’re using to cope with stress, anxiety, or difficult emotions
- You feel guilt, regret, or frustration after using but keep going back
- You think about using more often than you want to
- Friends, family, or others have expressed concern
- You’ve found yourself in risky or unsafe situations while using
What Are Substances?
Alcohol
Is a depressant, dulling the senses and a person’s reaction time. If used every day, if someone cannot sleep without it, or if infrequently used but in excess, alcohol can pose significant risks.
Sedatives
Are a category of drugs that dulls a user’s senses. Examples include Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium); and Barbiturates, such as butalbital (Fiorinal or Fioricet).
Opioids
Are narcotic painkillers, usually prescribed for extreme pain by a medical facility. They are highly addictive even in small doses.
Cannabis
Is the genus name for Marijuana, a mind-altering (psychoactive) drug that acts as a sedative. It is commonly referred to as “weed”.
Stimulants
Are a category of drugs that stimulate the brain and nervous system. They include drugs like Methamphetamine (“Meth”), Cocaine (or Crack Cocaine”, MDMA ("Ecstasy"/"Molly"), and many more.
Nicotine/Tobacco
Is a stimulant that is commonly found in tobacco, vaping, or e-cigarette products. It is highly addictive, with potential for addiction comparable to substances like cocaine and heroin.
Hallucinogens
Are a category of drugs that cause a user to see something not usually visible to the human eye. They include drugs like LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms), PCP (Phencyclidine), Ketamine, DXM (Dextromethorphan), and many more.
Inhalants
Are a method of consuming drugs that generally act as depressants, dulling a user’s senses. Examples include volatile solvents like paint thinners or gasoline, aerosols like spray paint or hairsprays, gases like propane or Butane lighters, and nitrites like “room odorizers” or "snappers".
What Are the Warning Signs?
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities you once enjoyed
- Feeling sad, anxious, irritable, or overwhelmed more often than usual
- Sleeping significantly more or less than normal
- Struggling to focus, make decisions, or complete daily tasks
- Experiencing noticeable changes in appetite or weight
- Losing motivation for work, school, or personal responsibilities
- Using alcohol or substances more frequently to cope with stress
- Feeling hopeless, emotionally numb, or disconnected from others
What Are Mental Health Challenges?
Anxiety
An emotion characterized by apprehension and somatic symptoms of tension in which an individual anticipates impending danger, catastrophe, or misfortune. The body often mobilizes itself to meet the perceived threat: Muscles become tense, breathing is faster, and the heart beats more rapidly.
Trauma and Stress-Related Issues
A group of mental health conditions that arise from experiencing or witnessing traumatic or highly stressful events. These disorders can cause significant distress and impairment in daily functioning, and may include conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, and adjustment disorders.
Grief
Characterized by intense and persistent grief symptoms which are not only distressing in themselves but also associated with problems in functioning. Thus, those who meet criteria for prolonged grief disorder constitute a group of bereaved persons who are significantly disturbed and disabled by their grief.
Psychotic Conditions
A collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. During an episode of psychosis, a person’s thoughts and perceptions are disrupted and they may have difficulty recognizing what is real and what is not.
Depression
A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.
Symptoms from Substance Use Conditions
A disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you're addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
Behavioral and Personality Conditions
A mental health condition where people have a lifelong pattern of seeing themselves and reacting to others in ways that cause problems.
Various Emotional and Psychological Issues
Characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior. It is usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of functioning.
Healthy Expectations
If you have a healthy mental and physical state, you should be able to:
- You can handle everyday stress without becoming overwhelmed
- Your emotions are present, but not controlling you
- You’re able to maintain relationships, following through with promises
- You can adapt when life gets hard
