How to talk to your provider about your mental health

It can be difficult for people to admit when they are suffering from a mental health concern. Frequently in our society, there is still a negative stigma associated with having these conditions, which has improved somewhat in recent years.   

But when left unaddressed, symptoms like feeling down, depressed, anxious or moody can become severe and have a negative impact on your ability to work, take care of your family or engage with friends. Oftentimes, someone may not outwardly appear to be facing these mental struggles, and it can be hard for them to share their real thoughts and feelings. But your provider is trained to help you navigate these symptoms and help make an accurate diagnosis. 

Everyone will likely experience episodes or brief periods of anxiety or depression during their lifetime. That’s just part of the human experience. This will likely be mild and only last a few days or weeks and is often situational.  

But when these symptoms don’t go away and/or start to negatively impact other aspects of your life, that’s when they need to be evaluated. One tip for bringing this up with your provider is to write down your symptoms prior to your appointment, which can be given to your provider to read if you have difficulty speaking about them. You can also consider bringing a close friend or family member to the appointment to provide support. Another suggestion would be to participate in the appointment via telemedicine, if possible, so you can remain in the comfort of your home. 

Once you have completed the evaluation, your provider may consider several next steps to help you. Each case is unique and not everyone will have the same treatment plan.