If you call me up, one
of the first things I’ll ask you is if you’ve had a medical checkup
recently. If you haven’t, I’ll suggest
you see your family doctor. Why?
Because depression can be a side effect of a medical issue.
Almost everyone I know
is feeling stressed these days. The economy is bad, money is tight and most
people are trying to fit a job, a family, and a personal life into too few
hours.
It makes sense
therefore to put down any feelings of depression to stress, anxiety and other
problems.
However, depression can have its roots in medical issues.
Take a
look at this list:
#1 Depression can be a
side-effect of taking medicines used to treat acne, asthma, high blood
pressure, HIV and other conditions. Even some birth control systems are linked
to depression now.
#2 Depression can be
the result of pain, even low-level pain. Exactly how this works is unclear, but
if you have had an accident, have back pain, arthritis or some other condition
that hurts, be aware that it can have a mental health effect too.
#3 When your thyroid,
a gland in your neck, isn’t working properly, you may feel tired and depressed.
Other symptoms can include constipation, rough hair and skin, muscle pain,
problems with your weight and feeling the cold. It’s easily diagnosed and
treated by your doctor.
#4 Although the links
are uncertain, there is some evidence that diabetes, heart disease, arthritis,
kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus, and multiple sclerosis (MS) may put you at
greater risk of depression.
#5 If you’re on a
diet, or you have diarrhea, you may be missing nutrients and this can lead to
depression. Chugging supplements may not be the best solution, either.
Supposing you do go
and see your doctor and you discover a medical issue, does that mean you don’t
need to see a therapist? As usual, the
answer is maybe.
Take the thyroid
problem, which is quite common. For some people, taking the meds to fix their
thyroid means their depression about their micromanaging boss, their hassles
with Great Aunt Judy and their angst ridden teenage son suddenly become
manageable.
They did have stresses
in their lives, but they find the thyroid malfunction has been sapping their
usual bounce and confidence. Once
that’s fixed, they’re good to go.
Others find that when
the thyroid is fixed, they still need help to cope with the boss, the aunt and
the teenager. So they need the meds and a therapist to help them make effective
changes.
The bottom line is
this: every person is different, every case is different so the idea is that
you get as much information as you can so that you can make an informed
decision and take the action that works out best for you.
Seen your doctor and not sure if you want to pop a pill or go for therapy? Click here
Now, about avoiding those crooks.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors specialising in mental health, so they do medical tests.
Therapists, counsellors, and psychologists are not medical doctors, so we do not do medical tests.
(Disclaimer: yes, some therapists have PhDs and are called doctor but they're not medical doctors. And some medical doctors do not become psychiatrists but become therapists instead - but it's super rare! As rare as albino crocodiles.)
A therapist, counsellor or psychologist will never do pee or other medical tests. If we think you need it, we suggest you go and see
your regular doctor. There’s no need to be fancy - just go and see someone
sensible, tell them you’re depressed and ask them to check if there’s maybe a
medical cause.
Crooks will demand you
do in-house pee tests (and some really cheeky beggars hire nurses to do blood
tests!) and while they’re gleefully adding charges to your bill, they talk
grandiosely about your results. Super nasty ones then sell you supplements too,
promising amazing results.
In short, seeing your family doctor before you see a therapist is sensible and if you see a psychiatrist, you’re in safe hands too. But if a non-medical doctor wants to do medical tests, my advice is don’t walk - RUN!
Still hesitating about your options? Click here to read about Self-help vs. Professional Help: Knowing When to Call In the Mental Health Expert
And if you've come to a decision and you want a therapist, reach out and text me.
