Sometimes, it is painful to see where the world is going. To see people struggling with financial losses, injuries, deaths of their loved ones, and non-economic damages – all of which leads to upsetness.
For example, a week ago we experienced a tragic happening. Someone in the mall, where we were also shopping for a birthday celebration, tried to jump off the moving escalator. It caused panic all of a sudden. The official team was called and the bruised individual was taken to the nearest hospital.
Since we are reporters and have to make notes for our blogs, we tried to follow up on the case. While researching, we found out the person who tried to harm herself was going through acute depression.
That was pretty devastating, for sure. So much that we thought of addressing “Depression and Anxiety: Is it Treatable by Internists”
Let’s see what we have covered in this blog for you.
Table of Contents
- An Overview of Depression and Anxiety
- How Does Anxiety and Depression Affect Your Life?
- When and Why to Consult an Internist Specialist for Depression and Anxiety?
- How Does Internist Doctor Near Me Help in Mental Health?
- Internist Physicians Role in Mental Health at Indus Medical Associates
An Overview of Depression and Anxiety
There are several types of mood disorders. However, the most common ones in the United States are depression and anxiety. What these two disorders can do to a person? Well, it can really suck up energy, make the person go into a forever guilt and hopelessness zone, and have a prolonged sadness phase.
On the other hand, when it comes to anxiety keeps an individual worried and nervous about situations and actions that might happen in the future. Since these disorders are not entirely alike, they can still emerge simultaneously.
For instance, in depression or anxiety, one symptom is common – both may cause impatience, edginess, and distress.
Here, you can question: Is it normal to worry about the future and have a sad day?
The answer to it is – yes. You, as a human, can experience both these feelings and still get away with clinical depression and chronic anxiety disorder through internist physicians (also known as therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists).
Another question that may pop into your mind is – When do these mood disorders become risky for someone’s mental health?
See, whenever such emotions take a toll on your mind, doesn’t leave you alone and just seep into your system. That’s the time when you must search for “internist near me” and look for an immediate internist doctor near me.
Let’s go deeper and get familiar with what exactly are depression and anxiety, how internist medicine helps in taking care of them, and how they affect anyone’s normal life.
A Brief Introduction of “Depression”
How does depression make you feel? It has several breaking points and effects on a human’s body, mind, and soul. The best way to figure out if you are depressed or not is to check the symptoms below. If you have more than one or more than that, please go to the nearest internist.
Constantly worried about the future (anxiety) and upsetness
Loneliness and bleakness
Interest in what you liked before loses its value and charm
Significant loss of energy
Routine changes considerably; you don’t eat or sleep normally
Concentration and focus become troublesome
To know if you really have depression, it is best to keep a check on it for at least 15 days. If one or more than one symptom/s appears daily, please visit the internist specialty. The doctor will suggest blood work to diagnose if your moods change because of medical conditions like thyroid issues or not. If not, the internist will regulate moods through medicines, counseling sessions, etc.
An Introduction to “Anxiety”
First things first, it is imperative to understand that there is nobody on earth who doesn’t think or worry about the future. But when it becomes too much to the point that everything about the future seems to bother you, it is time to get yourself checked by the internist physician. Some of the possible signs to watch yourself for anxiety disorder are listed below;
Overwhelmed by the very basic and normal happening in life.
Always cranky and irritated by the situations that have or have not occurred.
Your limbs and face become excessively sweaty due to massive overthinking about the future.
Mostly you are fidgety and unable to control yourself
How Does Anxiety and Depression Affect Your Life?
Now that you are a tad familiar with the differences and similarities of depression and anxiety, let’s check how these disorders affect your life, normal routine, relationships, overall health, and work.
Side-Effect of Mood Disorder : Overall Health
Once a person is depressed, his overall health is compromised. So much that the person gains weight, becomes prone to heart-related diseases, and invites chronic illnesses like diabetes. Also, a depressed person is more attracted to drug and alcohol abuse.
Side-Effect of Mood Disorder : Relationship
Relationships are mostly hurt with a person who has depression or anxiety. An anxious and depressed person is always negative and doesn’t emit positive energy or vibes – resulting in relationship problems with family members, friends, and even colleagues. An acute form of depression or anxiety can actually create disputes and conflicts. All of that ultimately leads to social isolation.
Side-Effect of Mood Disorder : Life at Workplace
It is noticed that depressed or anxious souls are mostly under more pressure, far more agitated and irritated, and far away from productivity and/or creativity at work. Unfortunately, in depression, people find it hard to fulfill responsibilities and duties at the workplace.
Side-Effect of Mood Disorder : Mental Health
If and when depression and anxiety are not taken into account and are not treated by psychiatrists or psychologists, traces of suicidal attempts start to appear, so much so that an individual gets suicidal thoughts, which leads to suicidal attempts; also, in many unsolved cases, people commit suicide which is the most complicated stage of depression.
Side-Effect of Mood Disorder : Other Concerns
What else happens to a depressed person? For anyone who goes through these two mood disorders, life becomes unattractive. Honestly, to them, life makes no sense; there is nothing that excites them or makes them wake up; they can’t focus or concentrate on one thing for long, retention becomes shaky, and even decision-making power goes down.
Fun Fact: These two mood disorders (depression and anxiety) mostly appear alongside. Since the signs and symptoms are the same, it becomes very difficult for a layman to differentiate. That is where “internist doctor near me” is searched on the browser. Once the internist medicine is given, herbal and physical remedies are planned out, supplements are prescribed, and support groups are given as an option to go, it becomes relatively easier to come back to normal routine and life.
When and Why to Consult an Internist Specialist for Depression and Anxiety?
It is absolutely wrong not to go to an internist specialty and take mental health issues lightly. Instead, anyone facing any of the following signs.
- Thoughts to kill or self-harm.
- Relationship with colleagues, friends, family, etc., is affected because of mood disorder.
- Psychological screening is carried out to determine if you have clinical depression and acute anxiety or not.
The reason to consult an internist physician is so that he/she can examine and assess the illness, diagnose the severity, prescribe medicines, and refer to other “internist doctor near me” if needed.
How Does Internist Doctor Near Me Help in Mental Health?
If you or anyone searching for an “internist doctor near me” on Google gets to Indus Medical Associates, internists help in various ways. For instance;
Referrals from Internists or Best Doctors Near Me
Once you reach a hospital or clinic and explain the symptoms, internists over there help in giving referrals to internist physicians. These doctors who belong to the internist specialty unit are mental health advocates and professionals. For example, social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists.
Education and Awareness
Awareness and educating people about mental health concerns like depression and anxiety is extremely crucial. That’s the reason why internists help patients understand the basic connection between the body and the mind. These internists also bring familiarity with the vitality of physical health.
Treatment for “Substance Abuse”
What else do these internists do? They take responsibilities and duties as professionals with specialties in neurology and psychiatry. Yes, these are the ones who help people with mental health concerns like how, when, what, and how to bring a clinically depressed person out of the whirlpool of uncertainty of moods. For that, they take regular counseling sessions with the patients and prescribe maintenance medications that help in pulling them out of addictions and substance misuse.
Screenings of Depression and Anxiety
Interestingly, one of many responsibilities of an internist is to take periodical screenings. These tests are carried out for two reasons. First, it gives a clear picture to the psychiatrist or psychologist about the mental health of the patient. Second, it helps in understanding the underlying problems as well as the ones which are on the outer surface.
Medication and its Side-Effects
In case, god forbid, you are diagnosed with clinical depression, anxiety, or both. It is best to take mental health seriously. Why is it important, though? It is so that you get accurate medications – the ones which don’t have any side-effect on the body later. For that, it is the internist who can actually help you out.
Takeaways: Are Depression and Anxiety Treated by Internists or Best Doctors?
Yes, they are treated by the internist specialist, someone who has studied psychiatry and psychology while completing the medical degree