A LOT has changed since March 2019. Personally, I got: engaged, promoted, married, hired somewhere else, and relocated to a new city. Then 2020 in all of it’s “end of the world as we know it” glory came steamrolling in and I crumbled. The first few months of this year, I was having panic attacks and losing so much hair that I had to get my bloodwork checked just to make sure nothing was seriously wrong.
Blood work came back fine. Meaning: it was all stress.
So you know what I did? I GOT (legal and prescribed from a physician) DRUGS. I fully support the use of medication to treat any and all mental health problems. No stigma. But that’s a blog for another day.
Now, how to treat mental health, in general, is a divisive topic.
In one corner, we have the holistic health practitioners and Eastern medicine saying, “DRUGS DON’T SOLVE THE ROOT PROBLEM, YOU NEED MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS AND BREATHWORK!”
In the other corner, you have Western medicine and medically-trained healthcare professionals saying, “YOUR BRAIN LITERALLY DOES NOT CREATE THE HORMONES YOU NEED TO BE HAPPY, SCIENCE IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN FIX IT!”
Ding-ding-ding! The round begins and who do you think wins?!
……No one.
Because treating mental health through a single approach is the fastest and easiest way to over-simplifying a very complex and personal problem.
Time for me to insert my opinion (because that’s what you came here for right?):
The healthiest way to treat mental health problems like anxiety and depression is through a combination of both mindfulness, therapy, breathwork, and if your physician thinks it’s right for you, medication.
The most important thing I hope you take away from this is that there’s no single, correct way to treat mental health problems. There is one wrong way though: ignore them.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal, or self-harm related thoughts, don’t wait. Get help. Speak with a family member, a friend, a hotline, or your doctor.
Best Overall: Talkspace
Best Live Chat Sessions: Betterhelp
Best for Couples: Regain
Best for Teens: Teen Counseling
Best for LGBTQ: Pride Counseling
Best for a Quick Consultation: Amwell
Best for Peer Support: 7 Cups of Tea
Best Free Assessment: Doctor on Demand
Best for Access to a Psychiatrist: MDLive
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 800-273-8255.