Most people do not go for a doctor visit unless something hurts. When was the last time we've given our mental health a check up?
Did you know stress and depression can actually lead to physical symptoms? Head aches, back aches, difficulty with vision, lethargy (tired) and lack of concentration are just a few symptoms that can arise when your mental health is not running at peak performance.
Many people are reluctant to visit the doctor to discuss mental health problems because of the heavy stigma that is attached. People are afraid of being labeled "crazy" or out of control. Some people are worried that their doctor will prescribe them anti-depressants or everyone will find out. It's a big step to admit to yourself and others that something is wrong.
Mental health is the largest over looked part of overall health known to date. Insurance companies are willing to pay for procedures recommended by doctors for depression but are not as willing to help pay for mental health visits. With costs always on the rise, it's becoming more and more difficult for persons to have access to prescribed anti-depressants due to the price. While seeking help from a regular doctor about depression may be benefitial to some, others require more extensive treatments that are just not easily accessable.
Just because you do not think you are depressed does not mean you are not. This is not meant to say if you honestly have nothing going on in your life that makes you feel blue that you are depressed. Some people do have a lot of stress and hardship in their life and they try to "block it out" by telling themselves that they are fine. Allowing your mental health to suffer makes your overall health suffer.
The brain is the second largest organ in the body. Coming in first of course is the skin. When any other organ is having problems they are treated accordingly. The brain should not be any different.
Did you know that a large percentage of homeless people suffer from some form of mental illness? Adequate treatment was/is not available and therefore is uncontrolled. These mental illness's are keeping them from maintaining jobs, holding their families and taking care of themselves.
The progress is somewhat slow but the good news is, is that doctor's and insurance companies are getting the hint. Good mental health is just as important as physical health. Programs are being implimented to make it easier to access care. Pharmaceutical companies are cutting breaks to some people who can not afford their medications. Corporations such as Walmart now have prescription drug programs where medications only cost the consumer four dollars out of pocket for certain drugs.
When your brain suffers, so does the rest of your body. Not only can you exhibit physical symptoms, it also affects those around you. There is no reason to suffer. You do not get a special reward for putting yourself through mental agony. Understand that it's completely normal to deal with depression or any other mental illness. There are avenues out there to seek help, you just have to put forth a little bit of effort. If you can not afford to visit the doctor, contact your local department of health. If you belong to a church, contact the priest or deacon. If doing it for you is not enough to convince you to seek help, think of your family. They deserve a 100% healthy you just as much as you do.
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Rebecca Pillar, Health Correspondent:
Rebecca's column,"Your Health" published every Wednesday to Gather Essentials: Health is a fresh twist on today's health topics.
Rebecca's a nurse, mother of two and enjoys writing and sharing with the Gather Community.
You can find all of Rebecca's "Your Health" articles at www.gather.com/YourHealth Keep up with Rebecca's other postings and Gather activity by joining her Gather network -- just click here sassy5d.gather.com and select the orange “Connect” button on the left-hand side of the page
You’ll find Rebecca and other health correspondents, plus expert guest columnist content and plenty of other health nuts atHealth.gather.com
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Comments: 16
Heh heh. Anyhow, good article.
Please consider publishing your content to the Second Opinion group. Thanks.
Great article to share with others!!
One note on thinking positive and depression-Depression is caused not only by mental difficulties bit also by emotional ones. Doctors often says depression is anger turned inwards. While perhaps, with a lot of hard work we may come to think more positively, emotions come and go of their own volition. We don't have control over them, though many think we do. Others may disagree with me, but I know from my own experience in dealing with my feelings and emotions that they come and go as they darn well please. I can sometimes influence them with laughter and positive thoughts, but they go away when they go away, not because I try to will it to be so. We push our feelings away, or try to suppress them only to a certain point before that suppression will begin to somatize as physical ailments.
When people get treated for depression, both thoughts and feelings/emotions are taken into account, as they are, for instance, in psychotherapy.
Thanks again.