The Therapist Is IN: Why do I feel like crap?

It's a bit odd that we often view mental health as different and unrelated to physical health, as though our psyche was a balloon floating above yet barely tethered to our bodies. I've learned to take a wholistic approach with clients in which we ponder the psychological, lifestyle, and medical contributors to their problem. If your psychological health is average, but your thyroid is on the fritz, or your blood sugar is whacky, your hormones are off, you've had head trauma, or you have undiagnosed allergies, or you are vitamin deficient (the list goes on)...you probably feel like crap physically and mentally. Finding out why is paramount to effective treatment. If something stands out as a medical contributor to the client's mental health, I refer them to their physician, and I offer to consult with that physician if needed.

Example 1: A woman in an eating disorder program to treat obesity and depression that seemed to be getting worse despite her best efforts. She also happened to have an "apple" shape, chin whiskers, and thinning hair. I recommended she have blood work done including thyroid panel and a hormone panel run to rule out Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. Why would this be a therapist's business? Because I was treating her for psychological issues related to obesity and depression, both of which can be caused or made much worse by those physical ailments. Imagine the therapeutic benefit of addressing the medical issues, of the client realizing she wasn't just inept but actually had a medical condition.

Example 2: A child referred to therapy for anxiety, lethargy, and personality change. A month or so into therapy--with some progress made-- the child reveals they had a severe concussion about a month before starting therapy services. Concussions can have a range of symptoms that last months to years, including anxiety, lethargy, and personality change.

Moral of the Story: Therapy isn't going to fix your thyroid disorder. Neither will Prozac. However, lack of proper medical treatment can certainly contribute to your mental health getting worse.

Salud.

A Year Today

A year ago today I went out with the most wonderful guy...and decided to keep him. My journal entry for that day reads, "Wow! Maybe I've actually met a genuine, mentally sound, intelligent, nice guy! And I find him attractive. Bonus!"
And later, upon commute inspired reflection: "He seems to be both secure/accepting of himself and of others. He has boundaries and limitations, hopes, values, dreams with enough flexibility to allow for another person."
That was just after talking, texting, and lunch. And y'know what? I was right.