Detection of depression not always easy
By Samantha Joseph
Outlook writer
A visit to a general practitioner to find the answer to a nagging back pain could reveal a lot. A simple trip to the doctor could also tell much about unexpected causes for tense muscles or even a common headache.
At least one veteran Tallahassee physician is of the opinion that a much more serious problem could be the source of everyday nags that most tend to let go without treatment.
Even a traumatic experience could be the cause the same health issue that more common signs point to, said Dr. Esais Lee, who has been practicing in the Tallahassee area for more than three decades.
At the heart of the matter could the more serious issue like the onset of depression or stress, Lee said. Finding the answer usually is as easy as asking a patient a few simple questions.
“I ask if anything has happened to them in the last few years and they might tell me they lost multiple family members within the last year but what is going on is that they are not equating these losses to their physical pain,” Lee said. “It’s not affecting ones heart but it’s the brain that’s calling the shots.
“So when we have things like loss, the brain can send signals to the body causing various issues.
“As a doctor, I dig deeper,”
And, depending on the answer he gets, Lee’s next move could be to recommend a specialist.
With good reason. Depression affects 1 in 6 Americans at some point in their life and 16 million adults every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
One of the many ways that could counteract depression and stress, which are known to be brought on by chemical imbalance in the brains, could be as simple as a healthy diet and exercise, Lee said.
Jessica Baptichon is proof of that. As a junior at FAMU, she said following simple guidelines for a healthy lifestyle has been useful.
So are yoga, and a good dose of music to help ward off any chance depression, she said.
“I’m out here on my own and I have to work, part time job and full-time student, keeping a social life so that can get pretty demanding,” she said. “It’s a balancing act. I exercise I do yoga. I shuffle I’m always dancing. Music and dancing are major stress relievers.
But talking to a professional was tremendously helpful for that fact being I got to see a professional’s point of view of setting boundaries and seeing what is okay and what is not okay to take from another human being, behavior wise.”