articleofpeace is a guy. (via TwoXChromosomes)

Source: articleofpeace in TwoXChromosomes

This is so sad, and it's part of a wider assumption of mental health issues for younger people rather than physical ones, that's compounded by those gender assumptions. As a guy I had huge trouble getting doctors to take my blood pressure seriously. I was 19-20 and in excellent health - fit and healthy exercise freak, non-drinker, no drugs, vegetarian, big on CBT and mindfulness, etc - and I had consistent high BP readings. Countless doctors told me it was just white coat, in spite of the family history: my dad had high BP in his early twenties and my mum has had high BP for decades. I only got them to diagnose it after pressuring them to get a 24hr monitor done that the doctor believed would 'reassure' me. It came out very high. Then I had more tests to try to rule it out... And instead they confirmed it and found I'd damaged my heart - left ventricular hypertrophy - because of the 5+ years it took to get a diagnosis. I had to move on to another doctor to get pills because even then, in the face of all that, the doctor believed the hypertrophy was from exercise and the white coat was somehow a constant type. I had to go to a doctor who knows both my parents (who are doctors themselves) to get it taken seriously. It took years for my BP to normalise but now, thanks to the pills and the removal of some stressors from my life (notably my ex-wife) it's normal.

I also once got sent to a psychiatrist by a young woman who believed I was suicidal when I came in to see her with a cough. I have no idea how that happened. I wasn't anxious, I just wanted a check for allergies. Turns out it was just hay fever... The psychiatrist was pretty annoyed given that I had excellent mental health at the time. And, of course, when I was really depressed the response was from most to just 'man up'. I have a great doctor now who understands, but that's luck more than anything.

There's a culture that sees young people as weak and anxious and doesn't take their concerns seriously.