Depression & Anxiety
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Dr. Van Tran Family Practice
Family Medicine located in Houston, TX
Chronic, intense anxiety affects 19% of adults, while 7% are diagnosed with major depression. Mental health problems aren’t limited to adults — nearly 13% of teens struggle with depression. The compassionate team at Dr. Van Tran Family Practice is available to treat depression and anxiety, providing medication to restore balance, treating physical problems associated with mental health, and making sure you have the nutrients needed to keep your brain healthy. To schedule an appointment, call the office in Houston or book an appointment online.
Depression & Anxiety Q & A
When should I seek help for depression?
Everyone goes through times when they feel depressed or blue, but then it doesn’t take long for their mood to improve. Depression becomes a concern when it persists and undermines your ability to work or enjoy social activities.
If one or more of these symptoms last longer than two weeks, schedule time to talk with Dr. Tran:
- Loss of interest in daily activities
- Feeling hopeless or worthless
- Feeling fatigued
- Sleeping more or less than usual
- Eating more or less than usual
- Inability to concentrate
- Weight gain or loss
- Agitation or restlessness
- Thinking about suicide
If you think about committing suicide, don’t wait two weeks. Call the team at Dr. Van Tran Family Practice right away to get help for your depression.
When should I seek help for anxiety?
You can’t avoid the anxiety that comes along with everyday life. However, this type of anxiety lasts a short time, usually going away after you face the anxiety-causing situation.
Anxiety is a problem when it persists and becomes overwhelming. When you avoid places and people due to anxiety, or when anxiety affects daily life in any way, it’s time to seek help from Dr. Tran.
Can depression and anxiety affect my physical health?
Depression and anxiety may have a big impact on your overall health:
Depression
Depression makes you more susceptible to developing chronic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It often leads to substance abuse when patients turn to alcohol or drugs to relieve their depression.
Anxiety
When you’re anxious, a hormone called cortisol is released. Cortisol activates and energizes your body so you can deal with the problem. After the problem is solved, cortisol levels return to normal.
If your anxiety lasts an extended time, levels of cortisol stay high, which suppresses your immune system, causes weight gain, and increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. Chronically high levels of anxiety can also trigger a panic attack
How are depression and anxiety treated?
As a family practitioner, Dr. Tran specializes in all aspects of your health, including your mental health. Depression and anxiety are both related to an imbalance in brain chemicals, so the first line of treatment is medication to restore balance.
Beyond medication, Dr. Tran offers holistic care, and he looks for any underlying health conditions that could contribute to your mental health or that were caused by ongoing depression or anxiety.
He also evaluates your nutritional status. Nutrition is important because your brain needs a sufficient amount of many nutrients to produce brain chemicals.
If you need help with depression or anxiety, call Dr. Van Tran Family Physician or book an appointment online.
