Speak Up About Your Mental Health
Mental health problems are exceedingly common, especially in women: One out of every two women will experience depression or anxiety in her lifetime. Since so many women experienced isolation and high stress levels during the COVID pandemic, it has become even more important that we be mindful of monitoring our mental health.
As a primary care doctor, I tend to screen for mental health problems in the course of a yearly physical. Or if patients are particularly distraught during routine visits, we will shift our focus to mental rather than physical health. Getting answers to questions about various symptoms, like sleep quality, appetite, energy level, and mood, can be very helpful.
Patients who do not express some pleasure or satisfaction in their lives, either with friends, family, or work, often tip me off to an underlying depression. Overt depression is not always the presentation; oftentimes, patients just feel ill at ease, and they’re unsure why they don’t feel well. While we look for metabolic causes for the symptoms, such as thyroid disease, anemia, or vitamin deficiencies, it’s also possible that mild depression might be the cause. If a patient shows clear signs of depression or anxiety, I call upon a group of experienced mental health professionals for help. Social workers, family therapists, and couples therapists can help with interpersonal and family issues, as well as stresses that are contributing to anxiety and/or depression. Psychopharmacologists such as psychiatrists can help with medication treatment, which can be life-changing and extremely effective. But the stigma of mental health problems often stands in the way of timely evaluation and treatment.
If you feel embarrassed or ashamed about telling your doctor how you’re feeling, remember that depression and anxiety are real medical conditions, and they deserve the same attention as conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
One of the most important benefits of having a primary care doctor with whom you are familiar is that you can feel comfortable and free to discuss mental health issues. Interestingly, as we age, cognitive changes can also present as mental health issues. If necessary, your doctor can advise testing as well as treatment to help distinguish between different possible causes so you can get appropriate care—but you must take the first step by talking with your doctor about how you feel.
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