Reading Roundup | July 2, 2021
Posted July 2, 2021
A look at anxiety in pregnancy, sharing about depression with one’s parents, and how caregivers have been feeling during the pandemic.
“How can you manage anxiety during pregnancy?” — Stephanie Collier, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School (6/25/2021) [article]
Pregnancy can be both exciting and scary at the same time. This article describes how anxiety in pregnancy is often under-diagnosed, meaning that although there are treatment options out there (CBT included!), many women are not informed of their options at all. For individuals who are, or are planning to be pregnant, speak to your doctor about anxious feelings that go beyond the occasional worry. Some of the activities described in the article that help with curbing anxiety, like journaling and appropriate physical activity, can be easily taken up. And if you know that you are experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder, a licensed CBT therapist is a great option for learning how to manage your anxiety during pregnancy and beyond.
“Column: A letter to my parents about depression and mental illness” — Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times (6/25/2021) [article]
In this moving letter to his parents, Frank Shyong informs them for the first time of his long struggle with depression. Even for Shyong, who clearly has a gifted way with words, speaking about depression—finding the right words—was immensely challenging and is for so many people a lonely battle. It's especially sad to hear that he had spoken up publicly about the high rates of depression and low rates of treatment among Asian Americans but continued to suffer in silence himself. If you're experiencing feelings of depression, it may be hard to talk about it, but reaching out to a therapist is a great first step on the path to feeling better.
“Parents and caregivers reported mental health issues more often than others during the pandemic, a C.D.C. study says.” — Daniel E. Slotnik, New York Times (6/17/2021) [article]
This article discusses a familiar topic during the pandemic: the mental health issues faced by parents and caregivers. A key note is that caregivers who had someone they could turn to for support did not suffer as much as those who did not have support. That seemed to be the biggest take away from the survey researchers.