Dr. Anisa Shomo
Herald Beauty Contributor
Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health disorders affecting people in the US. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that in 2019 there were 19.4 million adults (7.8%) in the US had at least one episode of major depression. Episodes of major depression were more common in young adults aged 18-25; people who describe themselves as being of two or more races and ethnicities; and women. Many people do not seek help for depression; thus, the numbers are likely much higher. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affects 6.8 million adults (3.1%) of adults in the US. NIMH estimates that less than half of the adults (43.2%) affected by GAD seek treatment. There are other types of depression and anxiety disorders. People are often affected by more than one disorder, such as experiencing anxiety and depression at the same time. There are 3 major barriers to treating mental health disorders: 1) people do not recognize the symptoms and/or ask for help 2) screening for depression and anxiety usually occurs at annual wellness visits which many people do not schedule or they may not be experiencing symptoms at that time 3) treatment barriers such as minimizing problems due to stigma, the price of therapy or counseling, having time to go to appointments, etc.
Once someone makes it to treatment, what kind of advice do they receive? I recently interviewed Dr. Robert Pulliam (he/his) who is board-certified in Psychiatry and Family Medicine. His top 3 tips:
- Get some sleep! Most adults need 7 hours of sleep on average. Ask your doctor for help if you have trouble sleeping.
- Work on being mindful of your mood. Consider starting a mood diary to start reflecting on how you feel each day and things that are impacting your feelings.
- “Fake it until you make it.†Even if you are not in the mood to do the things that you usually enjoy, continue to do those things because it helps your brain chemistry reset itself.
The full interview is available on the Health is Love #WellnessWednesday . If you are experiencing any changes in your mood or your ability to sleep, ask your doctor for help. You do not have to do it alone.