Mental health impacts us all in a negative or positive way. In recent years we have been indirectly impacted by the pandemic,
many people have had a change in sleep, appetite, ability to socialize, irritability, and even leaving the house. These are all symptoms of anxiety or depression. If you’ve experienced anxiety, you know it can be debilitating.
Unfortunately in our culture, we are taught not to talk about our emotions. You have heard phrases like “it’s all in your head” or “that’s mental”, but as a professional, I want to tell you that anxiety and depression
are a problem of brain chemistry, specifically serotonin.
When it is not treated properly it can escalate to more serious problems and in
moments when we ignore it; it can culminate in suicide. By educating ourselves
we can begin to break the cycle and thus not pass it on to the next generations.
The first step is to seek help from a professional trained in therapy. The
most common is cognitive behavior therapy. This helps them process
emotions and develop coping skills so they can dare to handle problems. Additionally, sometimes medicine is necessary. It can help stabilize symptoms of depression and anxiety by balancing
serotonin.
The important thing they have to know is that there is a remedy. If you or someone
close to you is suffering from anxiety or depression please contact a
mental health professional. It’s time to make a change.
By: Wendy Santiago, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner