When you head to your primary care physician for your annual physical, you probably have a list of things you want to discuss. You might want to know how your blood pressure is looking, how to manage your cholesterol or if you need any vaccinations. But you might not think to bring up your mental health.
“Mental health symptoms have been notoriously ignored and avoided for many years,” says Emanuel Maidenberg, PhD, clinical professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “The more people understand that these symptoms can affect anyone, the less stigma they will have.”
If you have mental health concerns, your primary care doctor is a great place to start. They can provide support and referrals to mental health professionals. But they can only help if they know about the problem.
Mental health symptoms worth noticing
The idea of mental health may mean different things to different people. And signs of mental health challenges can also vary widely. Many symptoms may be ones you don’t necessarily associate with mental health.
“Think about any symptoms you’re experiencing that are negatively impacting your daily activities, mood and overall quality of life,” says Dr. Maidenberg. These might include things such as:
- Appetite changes, such as eating more or less than normal or losing interest in food
- Fatigue or low energy levels (even if you are sleeping a lot)
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Inability to concentrate
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Poor sleep
Preparing for your appointment
If you’ve noticed any changes to your mood, energy levels or overall mental health, start tracking those symptoms.
“It’s helpful for the doctor if you’re able to describe how you’re feeling in measurable terms,” says Dr. Maidenberg. “And since it’s hard to measure moods, try to describe symptoms of your mood.”
In other words, instead of saying, “I’m not as hungry as usual,” you could explain that you’ve only been eating one meal a day lately instead of three.
“Keep a log for a week or so before your doctor’s appointment,” suggests Dr. Maidenberg. “Write down symptoms you’re noticing, when they started and how severe they are.”
He also recommends bringing up any mental health concerns at the start of the appointment. Many primary care physicians have patients fill out mental health questionnaires. If yours does, let that be your jumping-off point. And if they don’t, don’t be afraid to bring it up yourself.
Getting help for your mental health
Many people are reluctant to talk about their mental health. You may even feel ashamed or embarrassed to bring up these concerns with your doctor. But there’s no need to suffer silently.
“People need to realize that having mental health issues isn’t a sign of weakness or a failure,” says Dr. Maidenberg. “Our genetics can make some people more vulnerable to psychological conditions, just as it does with physical ones.”
If you’ve never seen a therapist or mental health counselor, it can be hard to know how to get help. And that’s why talking to your primary care physician can be a great place to start. Your doctor can educate you about what support and treatment is available. If you need it, they can refer you to a therapist or other mental health professional.
“It’s important to normalize mental health,” says Dr. Maidenberg. “Bringing up mental health issues should be as normal as bringing up any other concerns during your doctor’s appointment.”
