How do you know you have mental health problems? Are you afraid to ask for help or do you attempt to "fix" it on your own?

Sir, I am sorry your shrink was missing a few of his/her own marbles missing. We all have issues, and the point of professional help is to receive better tools to navigate the mental landmine. However, they are also people with flaws, and some of those flaws are lack of adequate training and too much bias getting in the way of good service.
You are doing a great service to yourself by facing your demons, rather than pretending they are not there. I recommend listening to the Huberman Lab podcast; the guy provides easy to comprehend information on how the brain works, how thoughts can be manipulated and how you can "control" your physiological responses to stress (and how to heal). It saved my life, and it is not a metaphor.
I don't know you, so I hope you don't get triggered, but not drinking and meditating are also great ways to start resetting your mind. GO out and meet people (don't stress about what someone has to say, idiots are also part of life's journey - it tests your patience) and enjoy the healthy food Europe has to offer; the chemicals in American food can set you back many years.

SrA Elena Merriman - Hey, the shrink I had was good, she wasn't missing anything. She knew how to add a little light humor into her exams. Treating Vets over 20yrs , she had her shit together. You were not there for the entire exam.

I apologize for misunderstanding you!!! I think I was projecting my experience into it, along with a grave misunderstanding. I know there are great people out there, but some of the ones that came my way made great errors, and although I attempt to see all angles, it shows that I still have underlying issues to address (learning never stops). I am happy for the great care you are receiving.

SrA Elena Merriman - My shrink has delt with a lot. That was her ice breaker. She understood and gave me lots of good advice. She helped me understand my demons and how to control things on my own - being here in Europe, she has delt with many vets who live far away from any kind of support. It takes a special person to work over here.

I actually came down a very hard road, and I did it alone and the benefit is that I had learned a lot (not an expert). I asked this question because I wanted to start a conversation, as many people are still not reaching for help out of fear, guilt and bias over what mental health represents (lack of understanding). I do wish someone would have asked me if I needed help, but even medical professionals ignored me and if it wasn't for my maternal instincts and faith, I would have jumped over that cliff (not proverbial) a long time ago. I personally believe that asking for help is the strongest thing a person can do, but while in the mist of the mental chaos, I found it hard to express how I truly felt (it was an overwhelming sense of dread). Things are changing some, but most people still don't know how to help, how to respond, or their own individual issues are so strong that it is impossible to show empathy.

1Lt, I agree that many runs to the labels to get sympathy and use it as a crouch to not do their job. Mental health is a very broad spectrum from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Each individual receives medical care and I hope the providers will be more in tune with what a soldier needs in terms of care.
The biggest issue I see in terms of the "mental health" issue in this society is the lack of opportunities for young people to learn what it means to be a decent human being, how to self-regulate emotions, how to interact with other people, and how to handle alone times. What I deem as common sense is no longer the case and while I can sit in a dark room alone for days, the newer generations freak out if they don't have something to entertain them. They practice emotional detachment, rather than work on building meaningful relationships.
I do not believe that most people need a shrink. I believe that there is no longer a village to help raise individuals with morals, respect for different opinions, and self-reliance. I am a girl and don't consider myself tough, but it is a very sad thing when a 'man' acts like a PMSing girl because of a difference of opinion and can't even use a hammer (my brother's friend/coworker).
I am not sure if you got triggered by the way the question was posed (I can see why it could have been rewritten differently), but while it is easy to point the finger and say that some people just need to grow a set, it is also important to understand that many do not have the tools to help themselves and as a result, they get closer to that proverbial edge. While the temptation is to give some the last push and put them out of their misery, we should show kindness and patience and show them the way. Mentoring is a lost art and it is not too late to start again. You seem like an intelligent and smart man who can make an impact in young man life by mentoring and showing them how to be strong and of moral fiber.

SrA Elena Merriman Thanks for posting your question. You seem new to RallyPoint. Welcome, glad to have you.

Please understand that being critical does not equal being triggered. I have been fortunate enough to grow in such a way that I can speak clearly and sharply, using passion without emotional hostility. However, on social media where verbal and body cues are absent, we lose much of this.

I'm not saying "grow a set," as in tough it out. I'm saying become less-self centered. I'm agreeing with you in part, that mental health is attached to stigmas about being broken or weak, but disagreeing with how the topic was introduced and taking your question further to speak against the common perception that service members are a victim of something. It is within that subject that the concept of strength should be discussed, specifically alongside the virtues of duty and gratitude.

Each generation has problems. Emotional detachment is a good way of describing some of the more recent ones. Meaning, emotions are still present in young people, but they are no longer connected in meaningful ways, or processed to the mature development of a community. I think you're on to something. From there, I would argue for religious development, not the elevation of secular ideology, but that's my personal opinion and not related to your original question. And to that, I think your comment shows a different perspective than your original question. I look forward to your other posts.

Lt. You are correct in mentioning that the inability to have a face-to-face conversation makes it hard to account for facial expressions and reactions. I hate the word "trigger" because it implies a lack of control, and it is not always the case. I love to explore differences of opinions because I always learn something new, and also because 'my voice' is actually something new (trauma); I don't always express what I mean to say (a learning process).
I believe that all generations have their struggles and their strengths, but emotional intelligence is slowly slipping away, and it is reflective of the new societal struggles. I hear grandparents saying that too much social media will rot a child's brain, and it is so true. It rewires the brain, it disconnects the child from emotional cues, there is no concept of self-efficacy and self-control, and history is being repeated because of ignorance.
The military community has the great advantage of learning how to communicate and be part of a team, so mentoring is something we should all attempt to pass on.
I believe in the development of the mind, body, and soul; the last one is often ignored. Hypocrisy in the church has pushed many away and religious teachings have won over spiritual matters. Religion has brought much pain, suffering, and discontent to the masses (I grew up Orthodox and Protestant), and much of the damage has been well hidden for years, but spirituality is what saved my life. Spirituality goes back to the way of life for many tribes, and they live in peace of mind. They have reverence for this life and a deep connection with the things we ignore. They have many lessons we can learn from if we choose to do so, but for many it has become a sacrifice to walk away from the devices.
Thank you for the conversation so far!