The reports from the other health insurers do not paint a different picture either: at the BKK, mental illnesses were responsible for around 15 percent of all sick leave, and within the DAK, the volume of incapacity to work has now tripled in the past 20 years. A depressive episode – a period of being in a bad mood or feeling down – is now the third most common reason for disability. Those affected feel depressed, unmotivated and powerless and lacking in energy.
Nationwide, every fourth adult has the criteria for a mental illness within a year. The most common symptoms include anxiety and panic disorders, depression and problems with alcohol or drug abuse. Source: dgppn – German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology e. V
In the Federal Republic of Germany, almost 18 million people are affected by a mental illness, which also affects their relatives and often leads to severe limitations in the respective phase of life.
How to recognize mental illness
For some people, stress doesn’t seem to bother them at all. They even deal with strokes of fate prudently – without being emotionally cold – while others get into a psychological crisis even with small problems.
It is known that prevention for physical health, resistance and a healthy immune system can be achieved, for example, with contrast showers, vitamins and lots of fresh air. But there is hardly any talk about prevention to strengthen the soul and mental health. But mental resilience, also called resilience, is just as important as physical resilience.
As with many physical and organic diseases, early detection is also extremely important in the case of mental illness. You can recognize the first signs of a mental illness from the following symptoms, for example: Persistent sleep disorders, constant irritability (even with small things), headaches and stomach ache, difficulty concentrating or more frequent social and professional problems and conflicts. In all of these cases, you should seek help. Adequate sleep, plenty of exercise, a healthy diet and social contacts can have a positive and above all preventive effect.
Stress
The term “stress” refers to a natural human reaction to threatening situations. Therefore, the body releases stress hormones to escape this situation, but these only increase the physical capacity for a reaction in the short term. We often lack a kind of valve for releasing tension, which is why the result is a permanent state of tension that makes us ill.
Recognize and manage stress
If you don’t feel relaxed after a long weekend, would like to crawl into bed all day or if you jump out of your skin at every little thing, you have stress. Then it is high time to manage the stress and learn effective ways to do so.
These are important warning signs when you are aggressive, tearful and unable to concentrate. Chronic headaches and cardiovascular problems are also warnings that show you, stop, you have to stop here, you have to do something about the stress.
Because it has been proven that those who can recover quickly after a strenuous time suffer less often from the consequences of stress. Resilient means that you don’t get upset or afraid so quickly, especially in difficult situations, and become more relaxed. A variety of simple methods will help you to do this Coping with stress:
exercises for relaxation – It is often very difficult to “come down” and relax when you are stressed, but Tai Chi, Qigong or Yoga, Qi come into play at exactly this point. The exercises help to let go of the stresses and worries of everyday life and to come to rest. Autogenic training can also help to reduce stress.
Set limits and stick to them – your own needs should be given priority. If you want to manage all obligations and tasks as perfectly as possible, it will harm you and your health. So it’s wise to step back and realize that you can’t do everything (perfectly).