Checking into an inpatient program or making arrangements to attend an outpatient program are both great ways to deal with mental health issues, but they may not be immediately available. With multiple programs to choose from, scheduling considerations, and monetary concerns, it’s hard to get mental health services the instant you feel like you need support.
That’s where mental health crisis centers come in.
Crisis professionals are available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So that whenever you need immediate psychiatric care, you can rest assured that help is ready and waiting.
The question is, how do you know if you need to reach out to a crisis intervention team? When does a bad mental health day become a crisis?
Here are some signs that you need a mental health crisis center immediately.
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1. You Want to Cause Harm to Someone Else or Yourself
It is absolutely vital that you reach out for support right away if you have the urge to harm yourself or someone else. National suicide prevention hotlines are available nationwide. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, but soon, you will be able to dial 988 to be connected to help. Texting services are also available through Lines for Life when you text 273TALK to 839863.
It’s also important to reach out to a crisis service if you feel serious about wanting to hurt someone else. The person on the other line can help you work through your anger and see the situation from a different point of view. They can also provide you with recommended providers in your area who can help you stabilize and get through this difficult moment.
2. You Have Stopped Taking Care of Yourself
There are many signs that you’re not taking care of yourself. You can ignore some of them without really thinking about it, like:
- You feel tired all the time
- You experience brain fog on a regular basis
- You get muscle twitches
If these things become the norm, you’ll slowly but surely discover that you’ve stopped taking care of yourself in other ways. You should seek help when it becomes serious. Some of the more serious symptoms of a mental health crisis include:
- Not eating
- Not taking important medications
- Not going to work
- Not going to school
- Not bathing
Not sure how serious your situation is? If people around you have started voicing their concerns, then it’s a good idea for you to seek help immediately.
3. You Have Lost Touch With Reality
People often joke about going crazy, but if you start experiencing psychotic episodes, then you need help right now. Experiencing a mental health crisis like this is a major sign that you need immediate attention.
If you find yourself dissociating from reality, it can be hard to recognize that there’s an issue. After all, your brain tells you that this is normal. But watch out for common signs of breaks from reality. For instance, feeling overly suspicious, worrying that someone is watching you, or hearing things that aren’t there are all signs of psychosis.
Another way to deduce if you need help is by assessing your comfort level. Even if your suspicious feelings feel warranted, if you’re scared, worried, or anxious and those feelings are interfering with your everyday life, you should reach out to a mental health crisis center.
We Can Help You
No matter how bad your mental health crisis feels, we are here for you. Our Crisis Care program has a variety of treatment modalities to stabilize your mental condition and get you on the path to long-term recovery.
Remember, you can always reach out for help. You can call our admissions staff at (772) 335-0400 for immediate help, and we’ll help you find a solution that fits your needs. Mental health crises can be scary, but we are always here to help.
