Mental Health

An estimated 21 million adults in the United States experience at least one major depressive episode every year. If you have symptoms of depression or other mental health issues, you can find help at Sanford Internal Medicine. The providers offer complete mental health evaluations to identify symptoms of depression and anxiety in the earliest stages. They can also customize a treatment plan to your individual needs to provide long-lasting relief of your symptoms. Call the office in Sanford, Florida, to schedule a mental health screening or book an appointment online today.

Mental Health Q&A

Mental health describes your social, emotional, and psychological well-being. Your mental wellness dictates how you feel, think, and act and the choices you make.

There are several issues that can interfere with optimal mental health, including:

Trauma
Abuse
Genetic history
Brain chemistry
Excessive stress

If you have a family history of mental health issues, your risk for developing a mental disorder can increase. Having a chronic health condition can also increase your risk for emotional and mental health issues.

Sanford Internal Medicine offers compassionate mental health care services, including diagnostic screenings for anxiety and depression.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a condition that causes persistent worrying, intrusive thoughts, and irrational fears that can interfere with your ability to work or meet your responsibilities.

Depression

Depression is a mental disorder that causes ongoing sadness, guilt, feelings of worthlessness, and hopelessness. It can be difficult to live with these issues, and your risk for self-harm or suicide can increase significantly without treatment.

Schedule a diagnostic mental health screening if you have any symptoms of anxiety or depression for longer than two weeks. The providers can screen for warning signs of mental health conditions during an in-office visit or through the online telemedicine platform.

Blood testing and other diagnostic tests are also available on-site to ensure underlying medical issues aren’t negatively affecting your mental health. Based on the results of your test, the providers customize a treatment plan to ease your symptoms and enhance your quality of life.

Your treatment plan for mental health issues may involve lifestyle changes, psychological counseling, and medications.

The providers at Sanford Internal Medicine may initially recommend dietary changes to support your health. You should also incorporate more exercise into your day to stabilize your mood and improve your sleep.

To identify issues that may contribute to anxiety or depression, the providers can refer you for psychotherapy (talk therapy) or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Therapy can also teach you tools to better cope with stress, trauma, and other issues that trigger anxiety or depression symptoms.

If lifestyle changes and therapy aren’t enough to improve your mental health, the internal medicine specialists can prescribe medications. They continue to monitor your progress with treatment to ensure your mental health improves.