When your emotional and mental health aren’t as good as they could be, it can have a huge effect on your daily habits and behaviors. Sometimes, these challenges can become severe enough that people start to feel unable to function due to mental health issues. This can happen gradually, so it isn’t always easy to tell when everyday stress is really something else.
You may withdraw from friends, stop brushing your teeth, or consider quitting work or school. While these signs can indicate that support is needed, labels such as “normal” can oversimplify someone’s experience. People who seem to be functioning fine can still require mental health support.
Help from behavioral health services, counseling, psychotherapy, and residential treatment each support people in getting their functioning back. This article will explore:
“Normal” functioning can be loosely defined as being able to:
If someone is experiencing challenges in these areas of life, it may be due to mental health.
However, we should be cautious about using terms like “normal” and “abnormal.” These terms can create a false picture of the human experience and imply that mental health challenges are strange or uncommon. They can also stigmatize people who need professional support, and this can make some feel ashamed and stop them from getting help.
In some cases, a person may appear to fulfill the criteria above, but is having difficulties that others don’t see. For instance, someone may appear successful at work, maintain a relationship, see their friends often, and exercise regularly.
From the outside, it may not be apparent that they’re using work or exercise as a way to avoid difficult feelings and emotional intimacy. Friends and family may only realize there’s a problem once that person starts to burn out.
Though the focus of this article is how mental health can disrupt normal functioning, this isn’t the only indicator that someone may benefit from treatment. Therapy providers can support people at all levels of functioning, not only those with a serious diagnosis.
Mental health difficulties can disrupt functioning because emotions and thinking influence decision-making, threat perception, pleasure, and other brain- and body-related capabilities.[1]
This is why the symptoms of mental health conditions don’t just include emotional ones. There are usually behavioral symptoms that can help identify conditions like depression, anxiety, or PTSD:[1]
Depression can involve:
This can lead people to stop doing activities they used to enjoy. Those who feel they can’t function because of depression may have difficulty doing basic activities, such as brushing their teeth every day.
Anxiety involves excessive worry and physical tension, and it often leads to avoidance behaviors. People who report that they can’t function because of anxiety are often describing avoidance, which means staying away from people, places, situations, or activities that feel scary or dangerous. These can interfere with normal functioning, such as when someone rarely leaves the house.
Disrupted functioning can also be a response to trauma. It may cause avoidance in the same way as anxiety does, when a given situation is reminiscent of a traumatic event.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might also disrupt functioning if it:
Some people also feel constantly on edge, which can make crowds or sudden noises feel overwhelming.
When mental health becomes debilitating, there are some clear warning signs that you can spot in yourself or a loved one. These include:[2]
If you notice one or some of these signals in a loved one, it may indicate they need more mental health support. Changes that last more than two weeks, or keep getting worse, are a sign it’s time to speak to a doctor.
When talking with a loved one, focus on the specific changes you’ve noticed rather than judging how well they’re functioning. You might mention missed meals, reduced contact, or difficulty keeping up with chores.
Ask what feels hardest and whether they would like help finding support or arranging an initial appointment. If they don’t want help yet, you can keep checking in and let them know you’re there.
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
People who are unable to function due to mental health issues can get a wide range of support. The best treatment for you will depend on your personal preferences, specific symptoms, and the intensity of care required. You may begin with one type of support and move to a different one as your needs change.
Here are three types of treatment available for people experiencing difficulties with daily functioning:
Despite the name, behavioral health services do treat mental and emotional difficulties. But they differ from other treatments in their emphasis on behavior. They often take a behavioral or cognitive-behavioral approach.
Behavioral therapies are a practical approach and may be useful for people who find daily functioning hard. The idea is that taking action first (rather than exploring emotions in depth first) helps improve mood, rebuild routines, challenge self-defeating beliefs, and overcome irrational fears.[3]
There are a wide range of behavioral techniques that may be used in treatment. These include:[3][4]
Behavioral health services can also refer you to a range of other services for more specific issues such as anger management, talk therapies, family therapy, and substance use support.
For some, counseling and psychotherapy are the best forms of support for the challenges they face. The different forms of talk therapy tend to be more insight-based than behavioral approaches, with more self-exploration.
This exploration can help you understand how early experiences have shaped your psychology. Depending on your needs and the therapeutic approach, sessions may explore topics such as:[4]
It’s sometimes necessary to enter more intensive mental health care to receive a greater level of support than you’d get in an outpatient program. Residential programs provide this intensity of care while generally being less restrictive than inpatient services.[5]
You might consider residential care if outpatient therapy hasn’t helped enough, or if staying safe and looking after yourself day to day has become too hard without support.
Residential care may include individual therapy, group therapy, family sessions, and various therapeutic exercises. Programs can also include music and art therapy, yoga, meditation, and animal-assisted therapy.
Residential stays tend to be longer-term, perhaps lasting between 30 and 90 days, or longer. The focus is on helping you regain daily functioning and building routines and support that will help you function better once you return home.[5]
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Anxiety support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
See our residences in SoCal’s Orange & San Diego Counties.
Take a look at our Metro area homes in Washington County.
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A mental health functional impairment can feel painful and like you’re at a dead end. You might feel as though you’ll never get back out into the world or feel like your old self again.
But there is effective support for people who feel unable to function due to mental health issues. Behavioral, insight-based, and residential treatments each take a unique approach to understanding your difficulties.
At AMFM Mental Health Treatment (A Mission for Michael), we offer an intimate, focused mental health treatment experience for adults in home-like settings that are carefully maintained to be peaceful, comfortable spaces. In addition to residential treatment, AMFM Mental Health Treatment also offers multiple levels of outpatient treatment.
Our locations in California, Minnesota, Virginia, and Washington accept insurance and are in-network with many major providers. To check your insurance coverage for mental health care, simply complete our confidential online verification form.
Call us at 866-478-4383 if you would like to start the admissions process or learn more about how we can support your mental well-being. Our compassionate team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide guidance with no obligation.
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At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.
Our reviewers are credentialed medical providers specializing and practicing behavioral healthcare. We follow strict guidelines when fact-checking information and only use credible sources when citing statistics and medical information. Look for the medically reviewed badge on our articles for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
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