Tired, Wired, and Feeling Uninspired (Featured in 2019 edition of Scarlet Magazine)

 “Suffocating, like you’re breathing but the oxygen is just not reaching you. Then you’re so drained you can’t do much but sleep.”

This is how Hanan Saadah describes the manifestation of her anxiety and depression. She has suffered from the afflictions since she was in grade school. Facing a challenging full-time college career, a part-time job, and all of the obligations in between, Hanan is not alone in the way that she feels. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 19.1 percent of U.S. adults are estimated to have suffered from anxiety in the last year. Following that, 10.3 million U.S. adults had at least one major depressive episode with severe impairment. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 50 percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and 75 percent of them occur by age 24. Nature, exercise, diet, and other natural remedies may work for some people, but often the problem is often too great to be resolved by these means and professional help may be the answer.

It wasn’t easy for Hanan to share her thoughts, and only recently has she felt comfortable divulging information about her anxiety and depression to those around her. Many of those afflicted by mental illness feel the same and suffer silently. The average delay between onset of symptoms and intervention is 8-10 years. Mental Health America reports that 84 percent of the time between first symptoms and first treatment is spent not recognizing the symptoms of mental illness. While there is no definitive cure for mental illness, there are many treatments that have been effective in improving symptoms.

These treatments, however, can be costly and are not easily accessible to everyone, especially those that do not have health insurance. According to MHA, 17 percent of adults with a mental illness are not insured. Psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy are some of the effective treatments that the NAMI cites as being effective treatments for depression. There are a myriad of different medications that can be taken as well, ranging from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to monoamine oxidase inhibitors. A prescription is needed to obtain these medications. 

“Some people will get better with psychotherapy alone, while some people might need medication to help them concentrate better on the therapy,” Ken Duckworth, MD, the medical director for the NAMI to Linda Konkel of Everyday Health, said. “Anxiety and depression can decrease motivation to exercise, but medication may give you the energy to do it.” 

With so many different forms of medication that can be used to treat mental illnesses, it sometimes takes a process of trial and error to achieve a resulting prescription that is effective for the patient and doesn’t carry harsh side effects. Antidepressants are used to combat the symptoms of both depression and anxiety, but there are also antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, tranquilizers, and stimulants. It’s important for patients to be honest with their doctors so that they can receive the appropriate medication for the symptoms they’re presenting. In addition, states like New Jersey offer an alternative way to fight anxiety in the form of a medicinal marijuana program in which patients can establish a relationship with a physician and can obtain a medicinal card.

It is important to note that medication should be someone’s last means of treatment. People should attempt as much alternative means as possible before turning to medication but should always seek professional help no matter what. There is a serious stigma surrounding medication use in today’s culture. Although the overuse of medication can be dangerous, research proves that medication can and does help people with a range of mental illnesses. Often times, medication is the only answer and, for that, people should not feel ashamed.

If you or someone you know is suffering from anxiety, depression, or any other form of mental illness, Rutgers University offers free counseling to all enrolled students. The Counseling Center is located in Blumenthal Hall in room 101, and they may be reached by phone at (973)-353-5805. Concerned friends and colleagues may also visit the counseling center on behalf of those whom they suspect might be struggling. For non-students, many therapists and psychiatrists offer sliding-scale based payments for treatment. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers help 24 hours a day at (1-800-273-8255).