You keep telling yourself you are fine. Sure, everyone gets a little stressed from time to time, right? But lately, it just feels like something more. Heavier.
Maybe now you’re starting to think that you should talk to someone.
Why Waiting Doesn’t Help
Most of us heard while growing up that we should tough things out. We should handle our problems ourselves. Not make a big deal out of feeling down or worried.
So we wait. And then we wait some more.
The issue is that anxiety and depression do not, as a rule, simply vanish because you have put off worrying about them for too long.
Your brain needs help at times, like any other part of your body.
Signs It’s Time to Call Someone
You don’t need to hit rock bottom before reaching out. Actually, getting help earlier makes everything easier. Here’s what to watch for:
- You’ve stopped doing things you normally enjoy
- Sleep is impossible, or you’re sleeping all the time
- Getting through the day is exhausting
- Little things set you off in ways they never did before
- You can’t concentrate at work or school
- You’ve lost interest in food or are eating too much of it
- Nothing seems worth looking forward to
- Chest tightness that makes you think something’s seriously wrong
- Your heart races out of nowhere
These things accumulate gradually. One day, you wake up to the fact that you’ve been struggling for months on end without realizing how bad it got.
What This Actually Feels Like
Forget the textbook definition. In real life, it’s hitting the snooze button five times because getting up and facing the day is just an impossibility.
Or sitting at your desk staring at absolutely nothing.
Or avoiding friends because talking about how you feel just sounds so, so exhausting.
Maybe you’re:
- Make excuses to cancel your plans
- Worry about everything all the time
- The palpitation of your heart with no defined cause
- Headaches or stomach problems
- Drinking more than normal to calm the edge off
If any of this stuff is ringing a bell, then that’s your answer.
The “I’ll Be Fine” Problem
Sure, people do get better sometimes on their own. The stress goes away, and everything returns to normal in life. But to gamble on that when you are really having a hard time doesn’t make one bit of sense.
Depression and anxiety will, in fact, get worse if left alone. Your brain gets entrenched in patterns that grow more recalcitrant to change the longer they set in.
Getting help isn’t giving up, but just being practical.
Who You’ll Work With at On Track Psychiatry
The team at On Track Psychiatry in Atlanta includes board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, so the team’s been known to treat everything when it comes to mental health across different age groups.
The team sits and really listens to what’s going on for you, not rushes you through a routine checklist.
You feel you can talk freely and not be judged or brushed off.
The team handles:
- Initial assessment of the presenting complaint
- Adjustable long-term follow-ups
- Individualized treatment strategies respect patients’ preferences
- A respectful, safe environment where clients are heard, rather than being just another appointment scheduled for the day
Related: Choosing a PMHNP for Your Mental Health Treatment
What Treatment Looks Like
Modern mental health treatment is really quite direct and concentrates on helping you function better.
Here’s what happens:
- Your provider has questions about your symptoms and history
- They talk through treatment options
- The two of you work out strategies that fit your actual life
- You adjust them based on what works
- Check-ins keep you on track
The Hard Part Is Just Starting
Most keep silent for fear of being judged. They believe they are not ‘sick enough’ yet, or know it will be too costly, or they just do not know where to begin.
Getting started is really that simple. You just need to enroll and then register on the portal. The On Track Psychiatry team does the rest.
Don’t wait until you’re in crisis. You don’t need to ‘earn’ the right to feel better.
Make the Move
On Track Psychiatry works with people who know something’s wrong but aren’t sure what to do next.
Book an appointment today. You don’t have to commit to anything yet. But you can’t make a good decision without at least having the conversation.
You’ve been dealing with this alone for too long already.
FAQs
What if insurance doesn’t cover any of it?
Call the office and ask about your coverage and payment options. Mental health treatment is usually more affordable than people think.
Is this confidential?
Yes. Your treatment stays private. Nobody gets information about your care unless you specifically say it’s okay.