You don’t have to wait until you’re at your lowest point to seek help.
The best way to live a healthy life is to be proactive. Don’t just spot issues as they come, but address them with the aid of a primary care physician. There are more resources than you realize just waiting to be taken advantage of, be they for physical or mental health issues. You can ask a primary care physician about an adult detox center, particularly if you have a family history of alcoholism. You can talk about ADD and whether or not you show the right symptoms.
No matter what you suspect, you don’t have to go through this journey alone. Many Americans today find themselves overwhelmed by too many questions and not enough answers. Here are a few of the more common issues you can start asking about this week.
Alcoholism And Addiction
It’s understandable to feel alone in the face of addiction. It’s not a forgiving condition, seeming to take a life of its own before you know it. Alcoholism is the third most deadly disease in the United States, affecting millions of adults even as you read this. Common risk factors for alcoholism include a family history, mental illness, and a past history of substance abuse. Alcoholism treatment is best done with a combination of emotional support groups and the aid of a detox doctor.
Depression And Anxiety
Mental illness isn’t always clear. Sometimes your mood swings can be blamed on life events, but other times it can be too extreme and consistent to be an outside factor. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common forms of mental illness in the country. The former is characterized by persistent feelings of hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty functioning in day-to-day life. The latter can include (but isn’t limited to) racing thoughts, panic attacks, and difficulty sleeping.
ADD And Mental Illness
Contrary to popular belief, ADD (and ADHD) are not ‘childhood disorders’. Nearly 5% of American adults today deal with some form of ADHD on a daily basis, struggling to complete simple chores and go to work with mounting symptoms. The Center For Disease Control And Prevention (or the CDC) recently reported 10% of children in the country have been diagnosed. Common side-effects of this disease include difficulty concentration, unexplained mood swings, and obsessive behavior. Your primary care physician is not just able to diagnose you, but provide you with essential resources.
Weight Loss And Fitness
Have you been attempting to lose weight this year? There’s no shame in admitting you need a helping hand. Obesity is a serious health risk in the United States, stated by the BMI (or body mass index) to be 20% or higher than a person’s allotted weight-height. The more pounds you have above your designated weight range, the more likely you can develop long-term illnesses like heart disease and high blood pressure. Effective weight loss is best done with medical supervision and a support group.
Hormone Replacement Therapy And Health
This might come as a surprise, but you might have a hormone imbalance. Many people today find themselves struggling with insomnia and mood swings, having no idea all these frustrating issues are caused by too little testosterone or estrogen. A recent study found nearly 15 million American men have low testosterone today, with 90% not receiving treatment. Your primary care physician can provide you a consultation and see just where you land on the scale. A normal testosterone level, for example, is between 300 and 1,000 ng/dl.
Be proactive. Reach out to the best family doctor in your area and ask for a consultation…you won’t regret it!