National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week: Mayim Bialik opens up about her anxiety, need for therapy

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Mayim Bialik, a doctor in real life who received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), has a long history of playing norm-challenging characters. From playing a young and outspoken CC Bloom in the movie Beaches to teenager Blossom Russo in Blossom and the famous nerdy Amy Farrah Fowler in TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Bialik has presented her fans with different perspective on girls and women for over 30 years.

In her book released on May 9, 2017 – Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular – Bialik, has opened up about body shaming, anxiety and the importance of therapy. In fact, the actress has addressed all that she has been through in her book. According to her, she wrote the book more as an academic treatise. In her own words, the former teen star was inspired by Natalie Angier, the science writer for The New York Times, and just like her, took an anthropological approach to understanding all things females do. Through her book, she challenges stereotypes and tells the entire truth about what girls faced while growing up.

Describing the importance of mental health in one’s life, Bialik states that mental health should be as valued as going to the gym or eating right. As per her, it is important for one to know about where one came from and one’s motivations. Showing her support for therapy, Bialik, an advocate for mental health, states that there is no shame in sitting on a therapist’s couch and venting it all out.

Extending full support to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Bialik has confessed to benefitting from their resources, services and support. While adding that it may be challenging to cure mental illness and eliminate the need to switch to alcohol and drugs, it takes a global awareness and governmental assistance to eliminate the stigma surrounding it.

Anxiety, depression most common mental disorders in US

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders affect 40 million American adults, costing the U.S. economy about $42 billion annually. Anxiety disorders are often linked to depression. While it’s not clear which disorder causes the other, studies show that many people suffer from both the mental illnesses.

While both the disorders are common, they remain stuck in stigma preventing one to talk about them and seek the necessary treatment. To spread awareness about the need for treatment of anxiety and depression, the National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week is being observed from May 7 to May 13 in the U.S.

Although mental health problems can affect anyone irrespective of their gender, depression and anxiety are more common in women than men. As per ADAA, from the age of puberty till 50, women are twice as likely to have anxiety disorders as men. When left untreated, mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, can have life-threatening consequences.

Road to recovery

Mental health disorders can be treated with timely medical intervention. Sovereign Health of Chandler, Arizona – a leader amongst women generalized anxiety treatment centers and depression treatment centers for women – offers customized evidence-based therapies to female patients for a variety of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), we offer a combination of individual and group psychotherapy with alternative therapies such as yoga, meditation, equine therapy, art therapy and much more.

Our Chandler facility offers comprehensive and individualized behavioral health treatment for women patients in a safe and supportive environment. For more information on types of depression in women or to know about facilities offering generalized anxiety treatment women, call at our 24/7 helpline and speak to our admission specialist.