Mental Health

Mental health issues are on the rise in the United States and can affect people of all ages, leading to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. If you are suffering from mental health issues, discuss your concerns with Vincent Esparza, MD, and the team at Persona Healthcare in Austin, Texas. Dr. Esparza is a compassionate and experienced provider ready to help you cope with and manage your mental health issues. To schedule a consultation, call the office or request one online today. 

What are the signs of a mental health disorder?

Since there are numerous mental health disorders, often with overlapping symptoms, it’s best to see Dr. Esparza for a consultation in order to determine the causes of your specific symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of mental health disorders include:

• Low mood
• Feeling worried, nervous, or fearful
• Fatigue
• An inability to enjoy things you once liked
• An increased or decreased need for sleep
• An impending sense of doom
• Increased forgetfulness 

Mental health disorders often develop slowly and cause an increase in your symptoms, or they can occur following a specific experience or event, such as a job loss or a death in your family. In either case, treatment and support from Dr. Esparza can help.

What are the most common types of mental health disorders?

In the United States, anxiety and depression are the most common health disorders. Anxiety is characterized by excessive feelings of worry, guilt, and/or fear, often with no specific cause. Anxiety can also produce physical symptoms, such as an increased heart rate, feeling like you’re suffocating or can’t get enough air, and fidgeting.

Depression can have similar symptoms to anxiety, such as a low mood, frequent worry, and fatigue, though it can also be accompanied by brain fog, trouble focusing, a lack of motivation, and an increased need for sleep.

Physical symptoms of depression often include an increase or decrease in your appetite, poor digestion, and physical pain.

You can experience anxiety and depression at the same time, along with other mental health disorders. This is why getting expert medical care from Dr. Esparza can help you understand your feelings and symptoms and unravel what’s going on so you understand your diagnosis and the available treatments.

How are mental health problems diagnosed?

There are no medical tests for mental health problems, so most diagnoses are based on your personal reports of your feelings, emotions, and physical symptoms.

If you have a medical condition that causes symptoms of depression, anxiety, or another mental health problem, Dr. Esparza can work with you to find the root cause of your concerns and appropriate treatment.

What types of treatment are available for mental health disorders?

Treatments for mental health disorders include counseling and medications, as appropriate. Based on your symptoms, Dr. Esparza will recommend one or both treatments to give you the maximum benefit as quickly as possible.

To get help with your mental health issues, call Persona Healthcare or request an appointment online today.