Do you ever feel like no matter what you cannot sit still? Like you are restless? Can’t settle on a TV show? Can’t find a comfortable position? Can’t decide what to do? What about after getting bad news? Do you notice any of the above or something similar? Sometimes our body responds to what we are feeling emotionally in a physical way. How do you know if your symptoms are the result of something physical or emotional? Sometimes the most simple way is self awareness and being present with yourself. Chances are if you just experienced a less than ideal situation and now your head hurts, stomach is in knots or you feel restless it is a physical (somatic) response to an emotion or to a combination of emotions.
Ok so now what? What does any of that even mean? This is where listening to your body comes in along with taking inventory of things in your life. Ask yourself things like has anything changed recently? Am I under more stress than usual? Did I have a major loss recently? Have there been any recent changes in my life? If you can answer yes to any or several of these, there is a chance that what you are experiencing is a physical response to something like stress or grief depending on what is going on.
While taking inventory, also ask yourself how has your sleep been lately? What is your diet like? Are you hydrated? How much coffee have you been drinking? If you realize that you are eating more fried and processed foods than whole foods and running off of coffee, your headaches and heart palpitations could be from a lack of nutrients and too much caffeine. Your irritability could be from a lack of sleep and not a mood disorder.
It is important to know if your symptoms are caused by something physical or mental and emotional because how you manage them will depend on the cause and certain things left untreated can lead to more problems later. Prolonged stress and symptoms of anxiety can impact your health in the long run for example, at the very least leading to a suppression of your immune system which can lead to more frequent illness. A medical or physical condition that impacts your mood can negatively impact your relationships and quality of life over time if you are someone who is more irritable or isolate in response to your changes in mood.
AARP highlights 9 medical conditions that can be mistaken for depression including thyroid disorders, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies and even side effects of some medications. Sleep Apnea can cause symptoms that mimic mental health related issues. When our sleep is disrupted and not restorative we do not function at our best, we struggle with focus, moodiness, symptoms of depression and anxiety and even other medical conditions like obesity and high blood may be present
A good place to start with figuring out if your symptoms are related to a mental health condition or a medical one is with a primary care doctor. There are many who have training in psychiatric care and can help you determine if your symptoms are physical illness or mental health concerns. When you get an annual physical, take the opportunity to share both physical concerns and those related to mood, energy and focus. Most doctors will often order blood work and between the blood work, exam and assessment they can rule out or diagnose a medical condition that may be the cause of your symptoms. If there is an absence of medical concerns that relate to your symptoms, consider scheduling an appointment with a licensed therapist who can then complete an assessment to determine if there is the presence of a mental health concern. FYI all concerns and/or diagnosis do not require medication.
In some cases there might be the presence of both a medical concern and a mental health concern. One could be causing the other or one intensifying the other. The only way to know which is primary and which is secondary in this case is to seek professional help. Knowing which one is primary would also impact treatment.
Our mental health and our physical health are not independent of one another and can impact each other in more ways than we realize at times. If you are not sure what the cause of your symptoms are or have a loved one who needs support, start with an appointment to a primary care physician or reach out to your health plan to find one in network. If you find that you could benefit from a mental health provider in addition to a medical provider, your physician may be able to help or there are a ton of listing websites for therapists online. You can filter by geographic area, demographics, presenting concerns or appointment method ie in office vs virtual.