ENHANCING PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Did you know that many visits to primary care physicians are for conditions that are directly or indirectly related to mental health?

 Here are some reasons why…

• Primary Care Physicians are often a first point of contact.  This makes it likely that people will bring problems of an emotional or psychological nature to their doctor’s office.  Whereas many people have a PCP, a psychotherapist is sometimes more difficult to seek out, and for some there is still a stigma associated with psychotherapy.
• Mental health impacts the entire body. Many symptoms of depression and anxiety present as “physical” in nature.   In fact, physical symptoms are sometimes the predominant presentation, and may include things like digestive issues, sleep problems, increased aches and pains, fatigue, and low energy.
• Mental health struggles interfere with the ability to maintain good physical health. For example,  a person may experience less motivation  to exercise, develop poorer eating habits, and generally find it difficult to engage in behaviors that help reduce stress. This can increase risk of developing preventable medical conditions.
• Anxiety around doctor visits and medical tests  cause some people to avoid these activities altogether. This may delay getting help for a medical condition, or limit preventative care that could reduce risk of illness in the first place.

Psychotherapy improves emotional wellness, which then benefits overall health.  It can reduce symptoms that initially appear to be simply “physical” or medical in nature, and can also lower a person’s overall risk for chronic health conditions.