You may already know the importance of an annual physical, especially if you’re managing chronic health conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes or high blood pressure.  

If you’re female, you hopefully also understand why you need a regular well-woman exam, particularly when it comes to screening for breast cancer and other gynecologic cancers.  

But should you also get regular mental health checkups? If so, how often and from whom? And, do either of those answers change if you’re in active cancer treatment? 

Read on to find out.

Recognize when you might need a mental health checkup

Whenever we have significant changes or stressors in our lives, it’s normal to struggle as we adjust to them. Many of us use various coping methods to strike a new balance, such as spending more time with friends, prioritizing sleep, eating a healthier diet or getting more exercise. Most people find that their anxiety and/or mood improve once they have adjusted to the recent change or the stressor resolves.  

But if you’re still feeling very anxious, down— or just not any better — even after a couple of weeks have gone by, it might be time to seek outside help to get yourself back on track.

This is particularly true when it comes to cancer. If you’ve just been diagnosed, that stressor might not be going anywhere any time soon. So, you might not be able to wait it out.