If you’re struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. If you’ve been told that it’s ‘all in your head’ and you ‘just need to get over it,’ you’re also not alone. Many people hear that from friends, family members and even the medical profession. As unfortunate as it is, the practice of treating people with mental health problems as ‘less than’ continues. It’s important to remember that mental health issues aren’t all in your head. They usually either manifest themselves as a result of a physical illness, or they eventually cause a physical illness. Either way, they have both mental and physical components.
Recognizing this is important because a lot of doctors don’t see mental health issues as being as serious as physical health issues — and they often fail to acknowledge the interconnectedness of the two. If you have a physical health problem that’s making you frightened, unhappy, angry, or depressed, that makes sense because it’s natural for you to feel that way if you are ill. Finding a good doctor who understands your concerns can help you heal. If you have a mental health issue like depression or anxiety that’s causing physical problems, there’s also help for that.
The important thing to remember is that you might have to look around for the right doctor. Doctors can have different ideas about things, even though they all go through the same basic training. There are good and bad people in any profession, and sometimes you and a doctor just don’t ‘click.’ Maybe your personalities clash or there’s a problem in some other area. What ever it is, find another doctor as soon as you can because your physical and mental health are both very important. Don’t settle for the doctor you have, thinking that you’ll never get any better. You can get the help you need if you don’t give up.