Women's mental health awareness month

Women's Mental Health Awareness Month

​She stood in my office—calm, composed, successful. A full-time professional, mother of three, and community volunteer. On the outside, she had it all together. But her voice trembled when she said, “I feel like I’m failing, and no one sees it.”

As a psychiatrist serving women in Houston, I hear this story more often than you might think. May is Women’s Mental Health Month, and it’s not just a time to raise awareness—it’s a time to give women permission to put themselves on their own priority list.

This article is for you. The women doing everything for everyone else but rarely pausing to ask: How am I, really?

The Invisible Weight Women Carry
Women are twice as likely as men to experience anxiety and depression. They’re more vulnerable to eating disorders, postpartum depression, and trauma-related conditions. And yet, so many minimize their symptoms—telling themselves they should be grateful, that it’s “just stress,” or that they’ll feel better when life slows down.

In reality, many women are carrying emotional loads that go unspoken:

• Trying to meet impossible standards of parenting or appearance.
• Managing households, careers, and caregiving roles simultaneously.
• Navigating relationship stress while ignoring their own needs.
• Battling hormonal shifts that influence mood, energy, and sleep.

In Houston, we serve a diverse population of women—entrepreneurs, teachers, engineers, healthcare workers, mothers—and the common thread is this: most of them have been taught to endure before they’ve been taught to heal.

A Patient’s Story: Resilience and RecoveryLet me tell you about Alejandra (anonymized), a 36-year-old teacher in Houston. She came to my office after years of battling what she described as “high-functioning anxiety.” No one saw her panic attacks, her sleepless nights, or her obsessive over-preparing. She simply “powered through.”

But Alejandra hit a wall after her second child was born. The anxiety escalated, and depression followed. She cried at stoplights. She lost interest in things she used to love. She said, “I’m scared to tell anyone because they’ll think I’m weak.”

What Alejandra needed wasn’t judgment—it was a treatment plan. We created one together, and within weeks, she began to feel lighter, more in control, more her. Therapy, support, and sometimes medication can be life-changing tools—not signs of failure, but proof of courage.

Mental Health Is Physical Health

It’s not “just in your head.” Mental health is intimately connected to your physical well-being.

• Chronic stress can trigger headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and high blood pressure.
• Depression and anxiety can disrupt sleep, eating habits, and immune function.
• Hormonal fluctuations—during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause—can amplify emotional distress.

​In our Houston clinic, we take a whole-person approach. That means understanding not only what you're feeling, but how your lifestyle, hormones, history, and environment are contributing to it.

This is not a one-size-fits-all process. What works for one woman may not work for another. That's why we personalize care and build strategies that match your values, goals, and biology.

Direct, Strategic, Results-Driven
Let’s be clear: this is not just about venting. It’s about results.

As a psychiatrist, I believe in direct communication, strategic problem-solving, and taking action. You don’t have time to waste. If your mental health is affecting your relationships, work, or self-worth, you need a plan—and a partner in that plan.

In Houston, our clinic delivers results-focused mental health care tailored specifically to women. That means:

• Structured assessments to get clarity on your symptoms.
• Evidence-based treatments, including therapy and medication when appropriate.
• Lifestyle interventions to improve energy, sleep, and stress regulation.
• Accountability and check-ins to make sure you’re actually improving—not just “getting by.”

You can’t solve what you won’t face. But once you face it, we’ll build a strategy to move forward—efficiently, confidently, and with purpose.

Let This Month Be Your Turning Point
May is Women’s Mental Health Month. That’s not just a box on the calendar—it’s an invitation to check in with yourself.

• Are you constantly overwhelmed?
• Are you emotionally exhausted?
• Are you functioning on the outside but silently struggling inside?

You’re not alone. You’re not weak. And you don't need to be stuck.

As Your Houston Psychiatrist, I encourage every woman reading this to stop normalizing burnout and start prioritizing well-being. Your mental health deserves the same attention as your physical health, your career, and your family.

There is strength in asking for help. There is clarity in getting a diagnosis. There is hope in creating a plan. And there is power in taking the first step.

In our Houston practice, we’ve helped hundreds of women just like you regain their sense of control, peace, and confidence. You don’t have to suffer in silence, and you don’t have to figure this out alone.

Let this May be the month you reclaim your mental health.

Request your appointment online today.