Collin County Living Well Magazine Fall 2013 | Page 40

Out of the Darkness and into the Light: Removing the Shame of Mental Illness
By Peggy Downes, MA
common symptoms reported are a lack of energy, inability For many years, mental illness has been misunderstood to concentrate, sleep disturbances, headache, slow moveand feared by countless people. Years ago, cancer was ment, change in normal appetite and body aches and pains. treated very similarly, with people whispering the phrase Primary care physicians regularly treat people who visit “the Big C” when referring to friends or family who had their offices with these complaints, and are often the first become ill or died from cancer. Now public events to raise professional to make the diagnosis of depression. Another awareness and funding for curing cancer are commonplace, misconception is that only women become depressed, and with little to no negative connotation for the participants or that this is only related to hormonal issues or PMS. Men patients. Some progress has been made in this regard for also suffer from depression, but are significantly less likely mental illness, due to scientific advancements and imag- to seek help, and more likely to abuse substances, and sucing, more resources for education, and an increase in the cessfully complete a suicide. A concern that the only treatnumber of individuals who suffer from a variety of mental ment for depression is medication, which need to be taken illnesses who are willing to step forward from the shadows. forever, is a final hurdle for people to seek help. There are While this stigma has become less rigid, it remains far from numerous other options for treatment that can also offer relief and remission for mild being eliminated. The more indito moderate depression, such viduals understand something, as talk therapy (including such the less afraid they are to talk techniques as cognitive behavabout it, and seek help when ioral therapy and solution-foneeded. cused therapy), full spectrum Approximately one in 10 light therapy, transcranial people will suffer from depresWatch Video ? www.tinyurl.com/DrOzTMS magnetic stimulation (TMS), sion at some point during their as well as a wide variety of lifetime. The early 30s is the average age for the disorder. Depression is the leading medication options. Medications are generally only needed cause of disability in the U.S. for people between the ages for a limited time, typically nine- to -12 months. Some indiof 15 and 45. Health care costs for an individual with de- viduals may need to take medications for a longer period of pression are nearly twice as high as a healthy individual, time; however, this is not the norm. It is very common for family or friends to notice changes or $22,960 compared to $11,365. While this illness is very treatable, there are a number of myths that seem to hinder in a person, even when the person may not recognize it people in seeking help. First of all, it is important to know themselves. If you suspect that you, or a loved one, may be that sadness does not necessarily lead to depression. Life suffering from a mental illness such as depression or anxievents such as death or a job loss, grieving is normal, and ety, do not hesitate to reach out for help. Many options are does not mean one will develop a depressive illness. In fact, available for treatment, and there is no need to continue to long-term issues with unresolved anger are much more suffer. Leave the shadow of mental illness behind. likely to result in a person becoming depressed. RemarkAuthor Peggy Downes, MA, is the Transcranial Magnetic ably, the emotion of sadness is not even one of the symptoms described by some people suffering from depression, as low Stimulation Coordinator at Solace Counseling. Call Solace mood may not be recognized as sadness. Additionally, all Counseling at 214-522-4640 for more information, or visit depressive symptoms are not mental or mood related. Other our website at solacecounseling.com.

See TMS Therapy Featured on the Dr. Oz Show

SOLACE
C O U N S E L I N G

TMS Provider – Get Well Without Medications
Plano Dallas 3600 Communications Pkwy., #601 1475 Prudential Drive Plano, TX 75093 Dallas, TX 75235 214-522-4640
38
Collin County Living Well Magazine • Fall 2013

solacecounseling.com