Is it awkward talking about your mental health with your doctor? It shouldn’t be. Why?
1. We’ve heard it all. Did we say all? ALL. You cannot shock us.
2. Anyway, there’s absolutely nothing shocking about a mental health struggle—especially after the year and a half we’ve all just had. It might be surprising if you DIDN’T feel discombobulated by the experience of living through a global pandemic.
If you lost a loved one or a job, if you spent months in isolation or worry, then you’re likely still dealing with the repercussions even though the weather is warm again and masks are starting to come off. If you dealt with mental health issues already, then you may have felt your symptoms compound.
And you’re far from alone. Almost 40% of American adults experienced feelings of depression and anxiety during the pandemic, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Similar numbers reported troubles with sleeping or eating, and over 10% said they had turned to drugs or alcohol more often. Young adults and minorities saw even worse effects.
“Even before COVID-19, the prevalence of mental illness among adults was increasing,” says Mental Health America. “In 2017-2018, 19% of adults experienced a mental illness, an increase of 1.5 million people.”
Why bring this up now? Because May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which gives us the perfect excuse to remind you that whether you’re feeling a little off or like you’re down deep in a dark hole, your primary care physician here at IA can work in concert with your counselor or other mental health professional to get you feeling better again.
How do you know if it’s time to book an appointment with usfor a chat?
Well, if you’re using drugs or alcohol more often, if you’re having trouble sleeping, if you’re eating too much or too little, if you’re finding daily activities hard to accomplish, if you’re on a rollercoaster of different moods or stuck in a single negative one, it might be time for an appointment.
Not sure? Book that appointment anyway and find out.
Online, Be Well Indiana offers a bunch of resources to learn more and get help.
And nationally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a free, confidential, 24/7/365 National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). You can get advice and referrals for local treatment for both mental health and substance abuse for you or for a loved one you’d like to help.
Speaking of loved ones, if you see signs of struggle in a friend or family member, a website named Seize the Awkwardrecommends doing just that and talking to them about it—head on, like you would any other important subject.
Would you be shy about discussing a friend’s high blood pressure or telling your doctor you sprained your ankle? Well, there’s really no difference.
Mental health is health. You deserve good health. And we’re here to help.
If you’re in immediate crisis, contact the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.