Have you been feeling off for a while? Maybe you can’t say what is wrong. You just know something is.
You are not alone. A lot of people in San Antonio feel this way. Some have anxiety. Some have depression. Some have both.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a good time to look at how you feel. Knowing what is going on helps you get the right kind of mental health care in San Antonio.
Here is a simple way to tell them apart.
What Anxiety Feels Like
Anxiety is when your body feels worried all the time. It feels like something bad is about to happen. But nothing bad is happening.
Some signs of anxiety are:
- A racing heart
- A tight chest
- Thoughts that won’t slow down
- Trouble falling asleep
- Feeling on edge
- Getting upset easily
Some people feel it in their body first. You might get headaches. Or a sore stomach. Or a tight jaw. You might feel like you can’t catch your breath.
Anxiety feels loud. You feel wound up. You worry about every little thing.
What Depression Feels Like
Depression is more quiet. It feels like the volume on your life is turned down low.
Some signs of depression are:
- Being tired even after sleep
- Not enjoying things you used to love
- Sleeping too much or not enough
- Eating too much or not enough
- Small tasks feeling too hard
- Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless
Things like taking a shower can feel like too much. Sending a text can feel like too much. Making dinner can feel like too much.
You may feel like you are a burden. You may feel like things will not get better. That is the depression talking. It is not the truth.
When You Have Both
Here is something a lot of websites don’t tell you. Many people have anxiety and depression at the same time.
You can feel tired and worried at the same time. You can feel sad about the future and scared about tomorrow. You can stay home because you feel down. And also because you feel nervous.
If both lists sound like you, that is okay. It is very common. Providers see this every day.
Why May Is a Good Month to Get Help
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. But there is more to it than that.
Spring in San Antonio is hard on a lot of people. Allergies wear you down. The heat starts to climb. It gets harder to sleep. Kids are almost out of school. Schedules change.
Anxiety and depression often get worse when seasons change. Spring into summer is one of those times.
Have you told yourself you will deal with it later? After summer? After things slow down? Things never really slow down. The “later” never comes. Now is a good time to start.
When to See a Provider
Here are some signs it is time to book a visit:
- You have felt this way for more than two weeks
- You are using food, drinks, or your phone to cope
- Your sleep or energy is off
- Work or family life is getting harder
- You have had thoughts about hurting yourself
If you are having scary thoughts, please reach out today. You can also call or text 988. Help is there right now.
You do not need a referral to see a mental health provider in San Antonio. You do not have to be “really sick” to get help. If it is affecting your day, that is reason enough.
How Mental Health Care Works at Medberry
At Medberry Primary Care, you will see NP Jacquelyn Rodriguez, PMHNP. She is a board-certified mental health nurse practitioner. She speaks English and Spanish.
She helps people with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- ADHD
- Stress
- Trouble sleeping
- Addiction
Your first visit is a real talk. Not a checklist. You share what has been going on. How long it has felt this way. What you have already tried. Then you and your provider make a plan together.
The plan might include medicine. It might include changes to your daily life. It might include blood work to check for other causes. Low thyroid and low vitamin D can feel a lot like depression. We see both a lot in San Antonio.
Why One Clinic for Everything Is Better
Most people see one doctor for their body. Another for their mind. None of them talk to each other.
At Medberry, your check-ups, your blood work, and your mental health visits are all in one place. With one team. They share your chart.
That means if your thyroid is off, your mental health provider knows. If your blood pressure goes up, your primary care provider knows what you take. Everyone is on the same page. That is the whole point.
A lot of people come to us for mental health first. Then they make us their main doctor too. It just makes sense once you have one place that knows you.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Plan for about one hour. Bring:
- A list of any medicine you take
- Any past mental health care you had
- A rough idea of when your symptoms started
Don’t have any of that? Come anyway.
Most people leave the first visit with a clear plan. And a follow-up date. You are not signing up for life. You are just starting.
What About Insurance?
Medberry takes:
- BCBS commercial
- UHC commercial
- Aetna commercial
- BCBS Medicare Advantage
Don’t see your insurance? You can join the Medberry Network membership. It is one flat monthly cost. It covers your mental health visits. It also covers primary care, urgent care, and weight loss visits.
For many people without the right insurance, it costs less than paying out of pocket somewhere else.
Book Your First Visit Today
If you read this far, you already know something needs to change. The first visit is the hardest part. After that, it gets easier.
You can see us in San Antonio at 4749 Fredericksburg Rd Suite A. Or call (210) 997-8630. Same-day and next-day visits are often open.
You do not have to push through one more month feeling this way. Book an appointment online and let’s get you in.