Mental Health Awareness Month
October is Mental Health Awareness Month and Dr. Mendoza talks about the serious implications of mental health.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. A lot of people silently suffer from mental illness including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
There are a lot of stigmas surrounding mental health regarding people not considering it a real medical illness.
Trust me when I say that I take mental health issues as seriously as diabetes or hypertension.
If the heart, kidneys, or lungs can become ill then why not the brain? Just like the pancreas secretes insulin in response to elevated blood sugar, the brain makes chemicals like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine for mood stabilization.
Without these neurotransmitters mood disorders like depression and anxiety can develop. Help is available.
There are natural alternatives to boost mood, prescription medications if needed, counseling, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Talking with friends and loved ones can be therapeutic. Journaling can also ease the mind. Incorporating drawings into a journal is a great way to express emotions without words.
If someone is in crisis you can call or text 988 24 hours a day.
Remember to practice kindness. Check-in with people if you think they might be suffering. Smile at someone: it might make their whole day.
Wishing you the wellness of mind, body, and spirit,
Dr. Michelle Mendoza
Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine
Board-Eligible Integrative Medicine Specialist
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