Someone I Love Is Experiencing Dissociation: How Can I Help?

Someone I Love Is Experiencing Dissociation: How Can I Help?

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Watching a loved one go through a mental health crisis or learn to manage a new diagnosis can be challenging. You want to help but may not know how. Unfortunately, someone struggling with a mental illness, such as dissociation disorder, must be willing and open to help. If not, the assistance will not fix anything. However, if your loved one has asked for help or is open to it, there are ways you can encourage and help them while they learn to manage their dissociation.

What Is Dissociation?

Your mind and body may do things without your conscious realization to protect you. This usually happens in moments of severe trauma. Dissociation is one of those steps your brain takes. When someone is dissociating, they disconnect from their thoughts, feeling, memories, or sense of identity.

The Range of Dissociation Disorders

While a person can dissociate to protect themselves, some people with severe trauma may develop one of three dissociative disorders. It is essential to be educated on what your loved one is experiencing if you want to provide help. 

Dissociative Amnesia

With dissociative amnesia, a person realizes they are experiencing a lapse in memory. However, the event was so traumatic or stressful that the person dissociates. This can cause memory loss for days, weeks, and sometimes years. Dissociative amnesia can cause patchy memories, trouble remembering entire life events, and specific memory loss, like a person or year.

Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder

When someone has this type of dissociative disorder, they report feeling detached from their own life. People may feel like they do not know or recognize themselves. This can cause further issues engaging in their lives. Someone with depersonalization-derealization disorder may struggle with concentrating and memory retention.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Previously known as multiple personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder (DID) is where someone develops one or more identities or personalities. However, dissociative identity is more accurate to what occurs for a person with DID.

A person with multiple identities may switch between them involuntarily. They can have different characters, ways of acting, or body movement. DID is the body’s way of coping with extreme trauma. When a person switches from one identity to another, it protects the first identity from having to experience or remember the event. 

Tips for Helping a Loved One With Dissociation

If someone is experiencing dissociation, that can be a sign of a deeper issue. Dissociation symptoms, in some cases, mimic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or DID. Encouraging your loved one to seek treatment may be the best option. However, there are small things you can do to help.

Grounding Techniques

An aspect of dissociation is a disconnection from reality. It can therefore be helpful for the person to practice grounding techniques or coping skills. The purpose of grounding techniques is to help a person connect back to the physical world. This can help them reconnect their mind to the present. 

Examples of grounding techniques include the following: 

  • Sitting outside with the person, legs in the grass or on concrete, putting pressure on or massaging their hands
  • Having the person sit on a chair, feet flat on the ground, hands flat on thighs, and put mild pressure onto their shoulders
  • Mental games or puzzles, such as counting, reciting something, describing objects, or describing objects around the person 

Decrease Stressors

Increases in stress can cause a person to dissociate. Help your loved one to lessen the frequency of dissociation by finding ways to decrease stressors. You can do small things or help them with the thing that causes extreme anxiety, such as grocery shopping. Also, allowing them room to make mistakes or not be present is important in alleviating stress. 

Let Them Complete Tasks by Themselves

Since an aspect of dissociative disorders is a lack of identity or connection to themselves, you can help a loved one by encouraging them to do things for themselves. This can help them be more in the present. These do not have to be difficult tasks, but smaller ones, like caring for their living area. 

Treatment Programs That Help With Dissociation

Encouraging a loved one to seek treatment may include helping them research treatment options. There are many programs and facilities out there, and it can be hard to know which one to choose. Alter Behavioral Health is an excellent place to start. Depending on your loved ones’ needs or disorders, there are two avenues they can take.

Inpatient

While in inpatient programs, a person will work on building trust between them and their therapist and treatment team. With trust, they can work together to identify sources of trauma and stabilize emotions. Having healthy, consistent meals, rest, physical care, and overall wellness allow a person to focus on healing while still getting all their needs met. 

The Irvine residential program provides consistent monitoring. This is another benefit, as someone who struggles with dissociation or a dissociative disorder may also engage in self-harm. Alter Behavioral Health helps a person plan and stick to a plan of safety.

Outpatient

Some trauma can stick with you for life. Ongoing care, with psychotherapy and medication management, can be found in the outpatient program at Alter Behavioral Health, located in Laguna Beach. 

Outpatient treatment is designed to support a person with their symptoms while living their lives. To combat regression, retraumatization, or stressors inducing disorder symptoms, continued outpatient treatment can be extremely beneficial. Facilities offer different options for outpatient treatment, usually combining a couple of hours of group therapy and individual therapy sessions. This support lasts for as long as the person needs to heal. 

Are you struggling with knowing where to start with mental health treatment? Does it feel like all of the facilities promise the same outcomes? With Alter Behavioral Health, there are no false promises but achievable outcomes. Through highly structured clinical programs, evidence-based interventions, and a focus on maintaining and improving functioning abilities, you receive the help you specifically need. At Alter Behavioral Health, our compassionate team is waiting for you and your loved ones to lean on. No one should have to manage a mental health disorder alone. Our team is here for you. Contact us today at (866) 691-4386 to start the conversation. Let our team welcome you and help you start working towards your goals.

How Can Alter Behavioral Health Help Me Replace Negative Behavioral Patterns With Healthy Ones?

How Can Alter Behavioral Health Help Me Replace Negative Behavioral Patterns With Healthy Ones?

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People’s emotions and behavior are connected. Negative thoughts and emotions can lead to inappropriate coping methods, such as using substances or having unsafe sex. However, with the proper skills and tools, you can manage your emotions and control your behavior.

Why Treat Negative Patterns of Behavior?

Stigmas, or negative attitudes and beliefs, against people with mental health disorders continue to exist in society, even though more and more people are open and honest about their mental health. When people hold prejudice against a whole group of people, it can impede people from seeking help when they have more serious mental concerns.

Negative behavior can be normal like a child throwing a tantrum because they do not know how to communicate. However, some negative behaviors can be learned to help a person survive. For example, if a child does not get their needs met at home, like food, they may turn to stealing or bullying to get what they need. Their behavior can continue into adulthood, even if they learn right from wrong. This is because the negative behavior helped and protected them in the past. As a result, they will continue to engage in this behavior.

Treating negative patterns of behavior, especially early on, can help break cycles of trauma, mental illness, poverty, and other negative life outcomes.

Therapies to Combat Negative Symptoms of Mental Illness

With three locations in California, Alter Behavioral Health provides compassionate, judgment-free care to help you understand and manage your mental health. This is done primarily through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Exploring CBT

During negative experiences of traumas, especially in childhood, a person can learn unhealthy behaviors and ways of surviving. For example, if a child grows up in a home where their parents neglect them, they may attempt to do anything to make their parents happy and pay attention to them. This can cause that child to grow up insecure in relationships or a people-pleaser with an underlying disorder.

With disorders like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), CBT is used to identify patterns of thinking and false beliefs. When you can identify and see what you are doing to harm yourself, it is easier to change that behavior or stop it.

What Else Does Alter Behavioral Health Offer to Help with Negative Patterns?

From birth until approximately 17 years of age, traumatic experiences are called adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). During these experiences, a person may not receive the proper teachings that help them become an independent adult. Since ACEs affect a person’s psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being, Alter Behavioral Health offers five other support services besides CBT or other therapies.

#1. Holistic Approach

The first service you will receive at Alter Behavior Health is a holistic approach to your healing and treatment. Your symptoms of anxiety, depression, or whatever is ailing you do not define you. There is more to you than your negative thinking or behavior.

Holistic treatment, or whole-person wellness, focuses on the whole person’s wellness and health, not just the symptoms of your disorder. That way, you get to heal all aspects of yourself that were harmed.

#2. Individual and Group Support

With Alter Behavioral Health, you receive a minimum of two individual therapy sessions a week for the duration of your treatment. This is combined with various group therapies to support you while you heal. While some parts of your healing are private and just for you to share with your therapist as you are ready, other parts of treatment require others’ help.

When you have only ever known dysfunction in your family, social life, school, work, or other parts of your life, you would not have learned appropriate behavior or interactions. Through group therapy and psychoeducational groups, you learn how to communicate with others and be in a community with them. Within that, you learn appropriate group functions, such as family dynamics or navigating a program with someone you do not like.

#3. Medication Management

When you have a mental health disorder, the chemicals in your brain may be processed or produced at different rates than others. This can cause intense emotions, impaired comprehension, and more. Sometimes medications can help balance out those chemicals, helping your body produce them or providing hormones.

Medications can be beneficial in the early stages of healing, or in general, depending on your disorder. When you go through Alter Behavioral Health’s programs, you receive education on your existing medications, adjustments to medications or dosage, and help to keep to your medication schedule. Having assistance with your medication provides stress relief and allows you to focus on other aspects of healing.

#4. Family and Community Services

Regardless, while you are there with others in treatment, it can sometimes feel isolating. From your first week at Alter Behavioral Health, you receive support and encouragement to reach out to your family. During treatment, you will work on reconnecting with your social circle. If your previous social circle was unhealthy, you can receive support through therapy on how to establish a new social network.

During treatment, you are healing from psychological, physical, social, and emotional trauma. That is very sensitive work. You should not be on that journey alone, which is why establishing social connections is essential in treatment.

#5. Treatment and Discharge Planning

You know yourself best, meaning you should be part of your treatment planning. At Alter Behavioral Health, you can meet with your medical doctor weekly to discuss your progress and specific needs.

While in treatment, you receive near-constant support. Returning to your life without that support can feel scary, unknown, and alien. This is why another support service is helping you plan for discharge, prepare you to return home, and establish post-discharge plans.

Do you find yourself doing things months ago you would not have? Are you struggling with your thoughts and actions? This could be a sign that something internal needs attention. Due to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), you can learn unhealthy ways of coping, which is a survival technique. At Alter Behavioral Health, without judgment and with compassion, we can help you identify unhealthy behavior and thought patterns. From this, our clinical team can help you understand how to manage your emotions with the skills to back them up. With our evidence-based therapies, you can work with your medical doctor to design a treatment plan. Contact us today at (866) 691-4386.

How Can CBT Help Me Prioritize My Mental Health?

How Can CBT Help Me Prioritize My Mental Health?

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Before COVID, it was not uncommon for a person to be told they could only take a certain number of sick days. It was a bit taboo to use those days for mental health care. Since the pandemic has exposed everyone to new viruses and stressors, it has also revealed the need to care for your mental health. Through different psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a person can learn to manage their emotions and prioritize their mental health.

How Can CBT Help?

To help alleviate thoughts and pressure from stress, CBT aims to help you:

  • Become aware of automatic, inaccurate, and harmful ways of thinking
  • Come to understand how your thoughts affect your emotions 
  • Understand that your emotions affect your behavior
  • Learn to question inaccurate thoughts
  • Change self-defeating patterns

Treating Mental Health Disorders With CBT

Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression have inaccurate thinking patterns that increase the symptoms of the disorder. By engaging in CBT, a person can learn to identify and manage their thoughts.  

Other mental health disorders can benefit from CBT, such as: 

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Dissociative identity disorder

Evidence has shown CBT to be effective in treating disorders that disrupt thoughts and emotions, making it a widely used therapy model. Some therapies come from the CBT model, like exposure therapy or motivational interviewing (MI). Combined together or used with other forms of therapy, a person can find help for their unique needs.

How to Know if CBT Treatment Is Right for You?

In a quality treatment program, such as Alter Behavioral Health, “Accurate diagnosis is where treatment starts.” Many people struggle with an anxiety disorder, but anxiety can also be a symptom of different disorders. PTSD can present as depression. Dissociative disorders can look like anxiety disorders. Sadly, due to human error and not using the latest discoveries in mental health science, some treatment facilities or therapists may misdiagnose you. 

Starting with an accurate diagnosis, at Alter Behavioral Health, we offer you weekly meetings with your medical doctor and treatment team meetings to go over progress and needs. This is where it will be figured out if CBT is the right treatment modality for you. With the help of professionals, CBT is effective in helping to relieve anxiety.

Prioritizing Your Mental Health With Lessons Learned Through CBT

CBT teaches a person that their feelings, emotions, and behavior are all connected. Negative or inaccurate thinking like “I’m not worthy” is just that: false and negative. To help you remember that, here are five lessons you can take away from CBT.

#1. Focus On Yourself

Living your own life and finding enjoyment in it is enough work. Other people’s business, happiness, and mental health are on them to manage and take care of. You cannot always give your full energy and attention to other people. Sometimes all your energy has to be reserved for you. Especially while you are in treatment, you have to focus on yourself. Worrying about others’ thoughts, emotions, and behavior may only harm your healing.

#2. Block or Challenge Negative Thoughts

Thoughts cannot be allowed to run rampant. Negative thinking can be learned from many different areas of life, such as from abuse or bullying. Those negative thoughts are other people’s inaccurate thoughts pushed on you. By continuing to think those thoughts, you are giving those people in your past power.

Through CBT, you learn to block, challenge, or replace negative thoughts with positive or realistic thoughts. Reality-checking is a way to question yourself and ground your thoughts in what is happening. When you can see it, it is hard to argue with reality.

#3. Keep Your Body Healthy

When you go through a treatment program, you take part in more than therapy. There will also be skill-building courses or social-educational groups. One of the more important lessons may be that your brain and body are connected more than people realize.

If you are not properly fed, all of your brain’s and body’s energy goes into keeping you going. When you push your limits, your brain cannot think, focus, or make healthy decisions. All your brain power will go to keeping you alive. This is why taking care of your body’s health is just as important when prioritizing your mental health.

#4. Incorporate Healthy Life Changes

Starting with your nutrition and body health is a good place to start. However, for CBT to be effective in relieving your anxiety, you may also have to make some lifestyle changes. 

Due to psychological issues developed from trauma, people sometimes maladapt to their circumstances. Examples of this include inappropriate ways of coping, like abusing substances or sacrificing health care money to go out with friends. Learning healthier lifestyle changes, like budgeting, meal planning, and caring for your home, can help improve your overall well-being.

#5. Engage in Ongoing Therapy

When you have a mental health disorder, you have to learn to live with it. If you do not, it can control your life. Another takeaway from CBT is that sometimes you need ongoing therapy. Learning this and accepting it is important if this is the case for you.

There is no shame in continuing therapy or treatment. Many people do it, which is why there are specific programs to support you after you finish treatment. Alter Behavioral Health offers the platform Mindfuli as an accessible way to continue getting mental health care and support and a place where you can be heard.

There is so much going on in the world and a lot going on in people’s individual lives. School, work, family, romantic partners, and thinking about the future all can become intolerable when you are not giving your mental health care and attention. Prioritizing your mental health can be a challenge, but with Alter Behavioral Health healing any mental health disorder becomes approachable. With compassionate staff who use evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Alter Behavioral Health offers some of the topmost care in Orange County. Contact us today at (866) 691-4386 to start the conversation. Your healing can start sooner than you think.

How Can I Effectively Manage Bipolar Disorder In the Workplace?

How Can I Effectively Manage Bipolar Disorder In the Workplace?

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When a person has bipolar disorder, they will find that it weaves itself into all aspects of their life. This holds true for both home and work. When bipolar begins affecting someone’s job, it can start to feel overwhelming in an entirely new way. However, there are a variety of ways to deal with it and make it far less problematic.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

When a person is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it can mean a variety of things. The issue that comes with diagnosing is that bipolar disorder exists on a scale. That being said, it is primarily a chemical imbalance in the brain. Some people may feel overwhelmed, while others may have low-level symptoms.

These symptoms can include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Irrational thoughts
  • Insomnia
  • Manic episodes

Some people may experience these symptoms for short periods with very little warning. Others may find they have consistent issues that feel completely unmanageable. In the most extreme cases, people will find that their inability to sleep will keep them awake for days, leading to irrational behavior and possible hospitalization.

How Can Bipolar Disorder Affect Work?

For people with bipolar disorder, work can become a minefield. Regardless of an individual’s profession, the ups and downs of bipolar disorder can create an erratic environment. 

The other problem is that work, unlike a person’s personal life, is often far less about the individual and more about the community around them. When a person has a manic or depressive episode, it may feel as though it becomes everyone else’s problem.

Another issue is the stigma surrounding mental health. People may believe they are being judged for their disorders and the behaviors that arise from them. Also, in most professions, it is illegal for employers to ask about your medical/mental health history. This may lead to questions about performance issues that cannot be answered or that individuals do not feel comfortable sharing.

What Treatments Exist to Help Create Coping Techniques for Bipolar Disorder?

Thankfully, there are a number of treatments available to those who require assistance coping with their bipolar disorder.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

One of the most common forms of talk therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Clients will work with a mental health professional in a structured environment, attending a certain number of sessions. CBT helps people become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking so they can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them more effectively.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Often coupled with talk therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications in treatment. It is used in combination with therapeutic techniques to help provide an overall approach to the treatment of various disorders. Medications relieve the issues that accompany chemical imbalances in the mind. When provided at the proper dose, medications used in MAT have no adverse effects on a person’s mental capability.

Family Psychoeducation

A technique that helps people with bipolar disorder is family psychoeducation (FPE). This approach is designed to help families and individuals with mental health disorders better understand their conditions while working together to assist with real-world problems.

The process involves families coming together to create a social support group for their loved ones. Together, they will learn to problem-solve specific situations and learn how to develop better coping skills. When this happens successfully, individuals will realize they are surrounded by a supportive community that has taken the time to educate themselves. This can make it easier to have conversations regarding a person’s bipolar disorder.

How to Implement Bipolar Disorder Techniques at Work

The best part about starting the healing process and learning more about a disorder is that individuals can immediately begin to implement new techniques.

Self-Confidence

One of the first things that will change is the way a person looks at themself. There will be an immediate boost to confidence as they realize the people around them are more concerned with their output and ability to do their job. It can be refreshing to realize that coworkers are not sitting in judgment and that they value the way a person handles themselves in the workplace.

Interpersonal Skills

A particular set of techniques a person will learn through therapy programs are interpersonal skills. These are especially important when in a work environment and there is a bipolar episode. It is important to remember that the way a person is able to understand the people around them, the better they can be at handling themselves. 

There may be people who are taken into confidence as part of the social safety network. These are coworkers that can be counted among those a person trusts to pull aside and have a quick talk about how they are feeling. This may be enough to get a person through the episode.

Putting Self First

Although work is important, people will be shown how to put themselves first. When this happens, the idea of taking a quick walk or using a lunch break to self-reflect does not seem strange or out of place. The idea of putting work first will often get in the way. However, when individuals take care of themselves, work will feel that much easier.

There Is Hope

Every person has difficulties with work. The only difference is that those with bipolar disorder often feel that their difficulties spring from within and are erratic. With the right kinds of therapy and implementation, work will become just another day. Handling it will begin to feel like nothing more than having some additional self-reflection.

Living with bipolar disorder can be difficult. However, it can feel even more insidious when it begins to become an issue at work. Even for those who have their disorder under control, the idea of its effects seeping into one’s work life can be frightening. There are even people that fear losing their jobs should they have a bipolar episode. Alter Behavioral Health can offer outpatient programs to help people control their bipolar disorder and learn coping mechanisms. Regardless of where they are in their mental health journey, they will find that this additional advice and direction can create a sense of well-being. For more information, call Alter Behavioral Health at (866) 691-4386.

What Is Stress Response Syndrome?

What Is Stress Response Syndrome?

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For many people, stress is a daily issue. However, there are times in our lives when something causes us so much stress that our response may feel overwhelming. That is when people may develop stress response syndrome.

How Does Stress Affect the Mind and Body?

Stress has a much higher impact on the mind and body than people think. It may be one of the most insidious ways the body counteracts its own best intentions. When we are upset, our bodies attempt to protect us by releasing certain chemicals into the brain. These sometimes overload our systems, causing imbalances that cause negative reactions.

We are also programmed with a fight-or-flight response. When stressed, our bodies flood with even more chemicals that make our muscles tense, our jaws clench, and our heart rate increase. It may even produce issues in the gastrointestinal system.

Should these issues not be dealt with, we will be left tired, haggard, and emotional with no real place to put it all. When this happens too often, it can have a profound effect on our daily lives and mental health.

Disorders Caused by Stress Response Syndrome

Consistent stress can develop into complex disorders for people with excessive stress response syndrome. These can include:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Mood disorders
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Insomnia

These are only a handful of the mental health issues that can arise from stress response syndrome.

For these reasons, it is important to seek treatment as early as possible. The good news is that these are all treatable disorders. For many people, seeking professional treatment for something like stress may feel excessive. However, the toll it takes on the mind and body necessitates immediate treatment to prevent the worsening of issues or even added problems down the line.

Forms of Treatment

There are a variety of treatments for stress response syndrome and the disorders that arise from it. Alter Behavioral Health is at the forefront of this care and is eager to share our knowledge and facility with those seeking assistance.

Interpersonal therapy

One of the most well-known versions of treatment is interpersonal therapy. In this scenario, clients focus on their current relationships and how recent life changes may be affecting their behaviors. These sessions will often lead to breakthroughs regarding one’s stress responses and how their current life issues are affecting and being affected by stress and stressful situations.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

A form of talk therapy that is often used to assist with mental health is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a technique related to interpersonal therapy. However, the difference is to concentrate on changing one’s thought process and behavior. A medical professional will address the root of the problem but will primarily concentrate on changing one’s mindset. The thought is that when a person concentrates on looking forward, they will require less focus on their past.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

For people with overarching issues that cannot be immediately or completely assisted with therapy, there may also be assistance in medication-assisted treatment (MAT). It is important to remember that MAT does not exist alone. It is most often utilized as a secondary “booster” with consistent therapeutic care.

Some individuals prefer to remain unmedicated. However, medical professionals will advise them about how medication can help them, even on a temporary basis.

Why Stress Response Syndrome Isn’t Forever

The main thing for people to remember is that when people struggle with stress response syndrome and related disorders, it does not mean they will feel this way for the rest of their lives. With the proper medication and mental health therapy, these disorders are manageable.

For many people, spending time in a recovery center such as Alter Behavioral Health can be a very helpful experience. The concept of being able to be in a completely safe space surrounded by caring staff and a calming environment can aid a person’s recovery. When they are allowed to focus on themselves and not worry about the outside world for a period of time it can accelerate the healing process. People living with stress response syndrome and related disorders are not only welcome but encouraged to find a program that fits them, their needs, and their lifestyle.

It should also be known that not every condition requires inpatient assistance. For some people, regular visits through outpatient programs can be exactly what they need. Much of the care required can be done through regular visits to medical professionals.

Regardless of how care is implemented, regular sessions are encouraged so that the person can create an ongoing, healthy state of mind. Once their new baseline is established, they will find care to be an integral part of their lives. When proper mental health becomes routine, it will become even more effective.

At Alter Behavioral Health, our first priority is the welfare of our clients. Regardless of their condition, our exceptional and knowledgeable staff will ensure that each individual receives the care they need. Whether staying with us or utilizing our outpatient program, each individual will learn that their condition is treatable. We understand the difficulty in accepting care and will do everything we can to assuage any fears. Each client is different, and therefore, their care is highly individualized. They will be matched with a medical professional who will create a plan of care unique to them. For more information about our program and how we can help you, call Alter Behavioral Health today at (866) 691-4386.

The Myths and Realities of Bipolar Disorder and Its Treatments

The Myths and Realities of Bipolar Disorder and Its Treatments

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Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and patterns of behavior. These shifts are unusual and disorganized, contributing to increased stigma and judgment toward those with this disorder. Research by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 4.4% of adults in the U.S. will experience bipolar disorder at some point in their lives. Therefore, it can be extremely beneficial to learn about bipolar disorder and dispel any myths surrounding the disorder. 

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Individuals with bipolar disorder experience extreme shifts in behaviors that interfere with their ability to function normally in daily life. Contrary to what one may believe, however, there are three distinct types of bipolar disorder. All three types involve shifts in mood and energy, ranging from periods of extreme highs to periods of extreme lows. 

Periods of extreme highs are known as manic episodes and are characterized by elated, irritable, and energized behavior. Meanwhile, periods of extreme lows are known as depressive episodes and are characterized by sad, indifferent, or hopeless behaviors and emotions. When manic episodes are less severe, they are defined as hypomanic episodes. 

The NIMH highlights the three types of bipolar disorder as follows.

Bipolar I Disorder

This type of bipolar disorder is defined by extreme manic symptoms. Individuals with bipolar I disorder experience manic episodes that last nearly every day for at least seven days. Further, manic symptoms may become so severe that an individual may require immediate hospitalization or medical attention. 

Depressive episodes often follow periods of mania, typically lasting about two weeks. It is also possible for individuals to experience mixed features of mania and depression together. When a person endures four or more episodes of mania or depression in a span of one year, it is known as “rapid cycling.”

Bipolar II Disorder

This type of bipolar disorder is characterized by hypomanic and depressive episodes. The symptoms that individuals experience with bipolar II are often less severe than symptoms experienced with bipolar I. 

Cyclothymic Disorder

This type of bipolar disorder involves recurring symptoms of hypomanic and depressive symptoms but are not as intense or last as long to qualify as episodic. This condition is commonly referred to as cyclothymia. 

Dispelling the Myths of Bipolar Disorder

In a publication titled “Myths and Facts of Bipolar Disorder,” published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), author Cassandra Miasnikov addresses several myths regarding bipolar disorder. The author first addresses the myth that bipolar disorder is rare, emphasizing the prevalence discussed earlier. 

Mania and Moodiness

Another myth the author addresses is that people with bipolar disorder are just moody. In this case, it is vital to understand that the mania and depression that individuals experience with bipolar disorder are vastly different from normal fluctuations in mood. To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, individuals must exhibit extreme symptoms that last for extended periods. Often, these mood shifts are debilitating and require medical care.

The Seriousness of Manic Episodes

Additionally, the author also reacts to the myth that mania is fun and exciting. Individuals that have not experienced symptoms of mania may not understand just how serious manic episodes can be. In addition to often requiring hospitalization, manic episodes often surface a variety of symptoms that are unpleasant and out-of-control.

Individuals in a manic state may often engage in high-risk behaviors, leading to reckless decisions and abnormal risk-taking behaviors. Further, these behaviors can have long-lasting consequences and impair an individual’s relationships, career life, and overall health. The aftermath of manic behaviors can persist for years and affect all areas of functioning. 

Living a Fulfilling Life With Bipolar Disorder

Another common myth about bipolar disorder is that individuals with the disorder are unable to live happy, fulfilled lives. This could not be further from the truth. Individuals with bipolar disorder can certainly live fulfilling lives with the help of a professional treatment program. Often, treatment for bipolar disorder requires the use of both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. 

Pharmacological Interventions

Most individuals with bipolar disorder can benefit from mood-stabilizing medications. Creating a suitable medication regime can be complicated, as depressive and manic episodes often surface without warning. Antidepressant medications may also be prescribed to treat severe episodes of depression but can be problematic if used during a manic episode. In this case, it is imperative to work closely with a mental health professional to create an individualized treatment plan that fits your unique needs. 

Psychotherapy Options

Many different types of psychotherapy approaches may be used in tandem with prescription medications to improve treatment outcomes. According to the NIMH, “Psychotherapy can offer support, education, skills, and strategies to people with bipolar disorder and their families.”

The first-line psychotherapy treatment is often cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This therapy option focuses on the role that intrusive or problematic patterns of thought contribute to overall behavior. CBT can help individuals with bipolar disorder better regulate their emotions and identify thought patterns that may trigger manic or depressive episodes.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme shifts in mood and energy. There are three types of bipolar disorder, each influenced by the intensity and duration of manic and depressive episodes. If you have bipolar disorder, it is essential to understand that you can live a happy and fulfilling life. At Alter Behavioral Health, we offer residential treatment programs for individuals with bipolar disorder and other mental health disorders. We utilize both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment approaches to ensure that you can achieve and establish lasting healing from the unmanageable symptoms of bipolar disorder. To learn more about our treatment options and programs, give us a call today at (866) 691-4386.

Managing the Co-Occurring Disorders Associated With OCD

Managing the Co-Occurring Disorders Associated With OCD

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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that affects an estimated 1.2% of Americans annually. Anxiety disorders are known to co-occur with other mental health disorders and substance use disorders (SUD). When one condition exists with another in tandem, it is known as a co-occurring disorder. Learning how to manage the co-occurring disorders of OCD is challenging; however, many treatment options are available. Becoming familiar with these co-occurring disorders and available treatment options can be instrumental for lasting healing and recovery. 

What Is OCD?

The National Insitute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines OCD as “a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (‘obsessions’) and/or behaviors (‘compulsions’) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.” Symptoms surface in two definable categories: obsessions and compulsions. 

Obsessions

First, obsessions are repeated – and often intrusive – thoughts and urges that enable an individual to carry out compulsive behaviors. These obsessions are often distressing and contribute to a great deal of anxiety in those with OCD. Some common examples of obsessions include:

  • Fear of contamination or germs
  • Aggressive thoughts toward self or others
  • Needing things to be organized perfectly
  • Worries about appliances being left on after use
  • Fear of acting in humiliating ways
  • Extreme concerns regarding specific superstitions, such as unlucky numbers 

Compulsions

Following obsessions, compulsive behavior occurs. Compulsive behavior is repeated behaviors that a person engages in to eliminate or quiet obsessions. Examples of compulsions linked to the aforementioned obsessions include:

  • Fear of germs: Excessive cleaning or handwashing
  • Aggression toward self or others: Potentially self-harming behaviors
  • Needing perfect organization: Ordering and arranging things in a particular or precise way
  • Worries about appliances being left on: Repeatedly checking if appliances are turned off 
  • Fear of acting in humiliating ways: Engaging in isolationist tendencies
  • Extreme concerns about specific superstitions: Tailoring behavior to avoid unlucky numbers or praying in an effort to reduce the potential harm of said superstition 

Additional Indications of OCD

It is important to understand that not all rituals or habits are necessarily compulsions. Similarly, those who engage in repeated habits do not necessarily have OCD. Some warning signs that may indicate the presence of OCD include:

  • The inability to control thoughts or behaviors, even when thoughts are excessive and interfere with daily functioning
  • Spends at least one hour a day experiencing obsessions and engaging in compulsions
  • No experience of pleasure results from performing compulsive behaviors, rather an individual may feel temporary relief from the anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts
  • Symptoms interfere with the individual’s ability to function normally in daily life

Similar to other mental health disorders, there is no one cause of OCD. Research confirms that both genetic and environmental risk factors can contribute to the development of OCD. 

Additionally, it is important to understand that symptoms of OCD may range in severity and intensity. Co-occurring disorders often develop when an individual turns to destructive coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse or self-harm. 

Common Co-Occurring Disorders of OCD

There are a variety of conditions that are known to co-occur with OCD. The following are some of the most common.

Anxiety and Mood Disorders

According to Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, OCD commonly co-occurs in the context of other neuropsychiatric disorders, including other anxiety disorders and mood disorders. The journal explains that many studies have confirmed high anxiety rates in individuals with untreated OCD. Continuing, “The levels of these anxiety ratings were as high or even higher than those reported in similar studies of panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and specific phobias.” 

Mood disorders are also common for those with OCD. The journal highlights that depressive features tend to surface in OCD, stating, “[M]ajor depressive disorder is the single most frequently comorbid disorder in OCD probands. Cumulatively, mood disorders occur in 50% to 90% of OCD probands.” The high prevalence of depression with OCD is caused by unwanted, upsetting obsessions. For many with OCD, the nature of obsessive thoughts is enough to trigger lasting depressive symptoms.  

Substance Use Disorders

A publication by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) addresses the high prevalence of SUD in those with OCD. Often, SUD develops when an individual with OCD uses alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate their symptoms. Not only does self-medicating worsen the symptoms of OCD, but it also leads to increased tolerance and withdrawal. SAMHSA explains, “[I]t has been reported that fewer than half of individuals with co-occurring OCD and SUDs seek treatment for their OCD. 

Treatment for the Co-Occurring Disorders of OCD

It is vital for those struggling with OCD to recognize that effective treatments are available. Often, the first line of treatment for anxiety disorders is medication, followed by participation in therapy. Depending on the co-occurring disorder present, the treatment will likely be similar. 

Medication

Prescription medication is a great option for those with diagnosed anxiety disorders, such as OCD. While some symptoms of anxiety surface from intrusive thought patterns, others result from neurological dysfunction and chemical imbalances. Medication can help to balance these chemicals in the brain, leading to reduced symptoms of anxiety. 

Psychotherapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

There are many effective therapies that may be used during treatment for OCD and co-occurring disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-researched and effective approaches for those with anxiety. CBT helps individuals to identify and overcome challenging patterns of thought and behavior. By challenging negative self-talk and other intrusive thought patterns, individuals can find relief from their OCD symptoms. 

For those with OCD and co-occurring SUD, treatment may also include detox and relapse prevention therapy. Those with co-occurring disorders can benefit greatly from individualized treatment, as treatment will be tailored to their unique needs and recovery goals.

Anxiety disorders such as OCD can bring about a wide range of debilitating symptoms. Leaving OCD untreated can increase your risk of developing co-occurring disorders, including mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders (SUDs). Luckily, effective treatment is available. At Alter Behavioral Health, we understand the complexities tied to treating anxiety disorders and co-occurring disorders. This is why we offer medication in addition to psychotherapeutic approaches. We can create a customized treatment plan to fit your unique needs and recovery goals. Let us help you overcome your obsessions and compulsions and help you gain control over your life today. To learn more about our facility and programs, call us at (866) 691-4386.

How Can Anxiety Influence Co-Occurring Disorders?

How Can Anxiety Influence Co-Occurring Disorders?

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For people with anxiety, the concept of a co-occurring disorder can be a very real issue. When people are faced with insurmountable and untreated anxiety, there may be a need to quell the issues on one’s own. Alter Behavioral Health understands that this can lead to disastrous results.

What Is a Co-Occurring Disorder?

When a person has a co-occurring disorder, they have both mental health and substance abuse issues. Often, these two issues feed off one another, with one starting the process and the other forming a cycle from which the person has trouble breaking free.

The Effects of Anxiety

Anxiety is a manageable problem. However, a person needs to realize that they have a problem and what is causing it. This can be difficult as a majority of individuals are either unable or unwilling to comfort the roots of their anxiety. When anxiety goes untreated, people will find that it often becomes worse. They may find that they have frequent panic attacks or continuous anxious episodes.  

The roots of anxiety lay in a variety of spaces. For some, it can be childhood trauma, while for others, it can be situational. Often, the issue is chemical in nature and involves imbalances in brain chemistry that only further complicate and compound the problem. 

For people with anxiety, the effects can range from the occasional disruption to catastrophic behavioral decisions. Those who go untreated are left to find ways of dealing with their anxiety that may feel like a personal shortcut or a very real solution. They may resort to using substances in an effort to feel better. Some of these substances have a dulling effect. Others can place people in a state of mind that completely blocks their anxious feelings and gives them a euphoric feeling for short periods of time.

The problem is that these methods do not actually deal with anxiety. Rather, they mask it while leaving the individual with far more problems than before. That is why diagnosis and treatment are so important.

What Is Involved in an Anxiety Diagnosis?

Individuals who proceed with care and receive a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder will have a variety of questions put to them. These can include:

  • Are there specific situations that bring about anxiety?
  • Has anxiety always been a problem?
  • Do you recall a specific incident that led to feelings of anxiety?
  • How does your anxiety present itself?

These are only a few of the initial questions that will be put before the individual. If the person has also reached the point of a co-occurring disorder, they will be presented with a more in-depth set of questions that will also address their substance abuse.

Once the individual has been diagnosed, there are a variety of treatment options. Anxiety does not need to rule a person’s life. That is why medical professionals have many tools in their arsenal to allow people to live their best life with as little anxiety as possible.

What Treatment Options Exist for Anxiety?

Depending on their severity, there are two main areas of treatment for people with anxiety disorders. These are inpatient and outpatient programs. Alter Behavioral Health is proud to offer both.

Outpatient

For those with milder forms of anxiety, an outpatient program may be the best option. In this scenario, clients will be paired with a medical professional for an evaluation and regular visits.

These visits will involve discussions about the roots of their anxiety as well as their current emotions and feelings. Consistent sessions will allow both parties to get to know each other and gradually create a roadmap of where the individual has been and where they hope to be.  

Inpatient

Some individuals have reached a level of anxiety that requires extensive, full-time attention. Others arrive at a point of substance abuse, while others may have reached a point of suicidal ideation.

Regardless of the reason for the extra assistance, these are individuals who will benefit from removing themselves from society for a period of time. This time will be spent in a comfortable, safe environment where they can have unfettered time to focus on themselves. People at this point often need help fully reevaluating their lives.  

Another reason people at this level may be entering an inpatient program is that they have co-occurring disorders. In this case, they will find medical professionals and programs that can address both sides simultaneously.  If only one side is addressed, the cycle will continue, and a relapse is almost inevitable. However, when a person can be surrounded by caring staff and like-minded individuals pursuing the same goals, they can find healing.

Medication Options at Alter Behavioral Health

Whether inpatient or outpatient, individuals with diagnosed anxiety disorders are often prescribed medication. These medications are meant to even out the chemical imbalances in the brain. When these are dealt with, people often feel that the new mood balance allows them to focus on the other aspects of their personal journey.

The Impact of Diagnosis and Treatment

Overall, the impact of undiagnosed and untreated anxiety can be mitigated through a combination of treatments, therapies, and medications. When the correct balance is struck, people will find their minds relaxed in ways they may never have thought possible. In all cases, individuals and families should strive to find the best treatment options that fit them and their situation. It will change their lives.

Anxiety can become the bane of existence for people with co-occurring disorders. With untreated anxiety, the urge to self-medicate may become too much to ignore. That is why Alter Behavioral Health is prepared to assist in caring for and treating those with co-occurring disorders. One of the most important things to remember is that Alter Behavioral Health provides a safe, comfortable environment where clients can be free to express themselves and turn their gaze inwards. Without the outside world getting involved, the healing process can have a much more poignant effect. If you or your loved one is ready to start on the road to recovery and better mental health, call us today at (866) 691-4386.

Achieving Happiness With Therapy-Focused Treatment for Your Depression

Achieving Happiness With Therapy-Focused Treatment for Your Depression

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Depression affects millions of individuals every day in every city and every country. Finding effective treatment can be overwhelming. With the many options available, it can be hard to know the right choice for you and your specific needs. In the pursuit of treatment, starting with a trusted and quality healthcare facility is key. 

Alter Behavioral Health is a world-class mental health treatment center in California, offering only the best evidence-based treatments available. Depression diagnoses, as well as many others, are determined using top-notch and current methods found in mental health science. In the treatment of depression, the questions and confusion of the options are made easy with Alter.

Understanding the Treatment Modalities for Depression

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD), is a mood disorder. It is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as “a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.” Because of the ties that depression has with your mood, the most effective method of treatment is found within psychotherapy. 

Psychotherapy, often referred to as talk therapy, encompasses an assortment of treatments that all focus on one main goal: to help the participant recognize and reverse problematic feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Therapy helps with your thought processes and emotions and boosts confidence and decision-making skills by targeting how you think, feel, and act in daily life. 

The Therapies Utilized for Depression

Now that you have a good understanding of psychotherapy and how it deals directly with a person’s mind, let’s take a closer look. Many forms of therapy practices treat a variety of mental health disorders. However, a few options are geared specifically toward mood disorders such as depression. 

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is an evidence-based psychotherapy that acts as a problem-solving learning tool. Participants will work one-on-one with a therapist. Sessions take place in a safe and welcoming space and help members learn the necessary skills to deal with problems as they arise. The theory behind this is that how a person interprets their environment significantly affects their emotions and overall mindset. 

By targeting these negative interpretations on the go, participants will gradually learn how to shift their perspectives into far more positive and productive views. This results in a brighter outlook and a better mood all around. Participants will be able to take the reins of and manage their own happiness. In addition to depression, CBT is a highly effective form of therapy for anxiety disorders, substance abuse, as well as many other mental health issues. 

Interpersonal Therapy

A different form of psychotherapy known as interpersonal therapy is a great additive to the treatment of depression as well as many other mental health concerns. While CBT deals with a person’s mindset and emotions, interpersonal therapy focuses on the personal relationships in a person’s life. This form of therapy is not a standalone long-term solution. However, it helps to promote a healthier home life and pairs well with CBT.

There are generally three phases to interpersonal therapy programs. These are the beginning (one to three sessions), the middle, and the end (three sessions):

  • The beginning phase is used to establish or confirm diagnoses. 
  • Next is the middle phase, which is the main portion where the therapist works with the participant and their personal relationships to target and resolve issues. 
  • Finally, the ending phase is used as a transition period to help the participant adjust to the end of the program by promoting independence and boosting confidence.

Combining interpersonal therapy with CBT is a highly effective treatment plan for depression and can be of significant benefit to you and your recovery process. Additionally, medication may also be needed. 

Medication

Antidepressants, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are very common additions to treatment. While there are many forms of medications to treat depression, SSRIs are an attractive first choice due to having the least amount of side effects. They help relieve the symptoms of depression by increasing serotonin levels. This helps to regulate mood as well as appetite. Sometimes, SSRIs even help improve sleep quality.

A Happy Outcome

Here’s the ugly truth: depression isn’t easy. In many cases, it covers your world in a thick blanket of sadness that seems impossible to get out of. Like a seasoned liar, it can have you believe that healing isn’t an option. However, that isn’t reality, and it’s certainly not the truth. There is healing ahead of you, and there are options available to you. 

You have a wonderful road ahead of you, full of happiness and sunshine. Don’t let your depression fool you. You can conquer this and reclaim the life that is rightfully yours to enjoy. This journey begins with treatment and ends with joy. 

When depression rears its head, the world seems to stop spinning, and the sun ceases to shine. You become encased in the sadness, and trying to get out can seem impossible. However, depression is treatable, and through therapy-focused treatment, you won’t just claw your way out; you will demolish every last tie that your depression has with you. There is an insurmountable amount of joy to be had in this world. You deserve each and every one of your days to be even better and brighter than the day before. At Alter Behavioral Health, those bright days are what we stand for. We aim to bring you the happiness you deserve. Call us today at (866) 691-4386.

Understanding the Difference Between PTSD and Trauma

Understanding the Difference Between PTSD and Trauma

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The American Psychological Association (APA) defines trauma as “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster.” It often results in anxiety, dread, and tension. Whether witnessing or personally experiencing it, these reactions are normal. Circumstances that can cause the response of trauma can be a single event or multiple incidents over an extended period.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, “[R]esponses to trauma can last for weeks to months before people start to feel normal again.” Most of the time, these responses gradually lessen and ultimately disappear altogether. It can persist, however, and progress as time passes. When this happens, it can evolve into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

How PTSD Is Related to Trauma

The CDC defines PTSD as “an intense physical and emotional response to thoughts and reminders of the event that last for many weeks or months after the traumatic event.” PTSD and trauma are closely related, but they are not the same thing. Where trauma is the emotional response to a terrible event, PTSD is a far more severe disorder surrounding the event. 

Untreated trauma can progress into PTSD. However, proper guidance and care can help to minimize its effects and overall impact. PTSD does not exist without it. The word “post” in “post-traumatic” means after trauma. On the other hand, trauma can and does exist without ever developing into more serious conditions like PTSD.

Comparing the Symptoms

We’ve established that trauma and PTSD are closely connected. Now, let’s take a look at the symptoms associated with each. Both concerns have associated fear and anxiety. However, the symptoms are quite different between the two. 

The Effects of Trauma

Trauma’s effects can be divided into two categories: initial and delayed. The initial side effects include but are not limited to, the following:

  • Exhaustion 
  • Confusion 
  • Sorrow
  • Anxiety
  • Feeling on-edge
  • Numb to your surroundings/emotions
  • Dissociation 
  • Confusion 

The delayed symptoms of trauma often involve relentless exhaustion, nightmares, flashbacks, depression, and avoidance tendencies. This leads to avoiding anything related to the traumatic event, such as the feelings surrounding it or similar circumstances. 

The Effects of PTSD

Although PTSD is the result of trauma, the symptoms involved differ significantly. While trauma symptoms can be organized into two groups, the symptoms of PTSD are divided into the following four categories:

  1. Re-experiencing: These symptoms include flashbacks (reliving the trauma repeatedly), nightmares, and frightening thoughts
  2. Avoidance: This group includes avoiding areas, circumstances, etc., that remind the individual of the traumatic event and evading the thoughts/emotions that surround it
  3. Arousal/Reactivity: These include difficulties falling asleep, having trouble calming down, being easily frightened, and experiencing episodes of intense anger
  4. Cognition and Mood: This group includes difficulties remembering details about the trauma, a negative view of oneself, and a lack of interest in previously pleasurable hobbies

Treatment Options Available

Psychotherapy is the number one treatment used for any mental health disorder. A very successful branch of therapy used in trauma cases is trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). This subbranch of CBT was developed specifically for people who have endured a traumatic event. It takes place in a positive and safe environment while promoting healing and growth. 

Medication is another effective treatment method available. Prescriptions often include anti-anxiety medications that target anxiety which is a main side effect of trauma-related conditions. Additionally, antidepressants may be administered due to depression being a common side effect. In some cases, sleep aids can help when insomnia and nightmares persist. 

Trauma Recovery Programs

Medication and psychotherapy can be found in any recovery program. The programs available for trauma-related conditions come in two forms: inpatient and outpatient. Both options include the same high-quality, effective treatment, and the need for one over the other is dependent on your own personal circumstances. 

Inpatient

Inpatient programs are especially helpful in severe trauma cases. They feature 24/7 access to healthcare professionals in a comfortable home-like environment. This allows individuals to escape from reality and put all of their energy into healing and recovery. 

Outpatient

These programs offer the same excellent treatment as the inpatient options while affording individuals full flexibility in their schedules. They are perfect for the working adult who is unable to put life on hold for treatment while still leading to a successful recovery. 

Healthy Healing

This face-paced world brings a lot of stress, and life can get in the way sometimes. When someone is facing the challenges of trauma in addition to still functioning in daily life, it can be challenging to keep everything together. However, it doesn’t have to be a daily struggle. There is more to life than just surviving.

With treatment, you have a whole new world of possibilities at your fingertips. You can thrive in ways you maybe didn’t think you could. Trauma doesn’t define who you are. You are a strong and capable individual who will get through this. You deserve to thrive and live life to the fullest. Trauma recovery can be yours. 

The challenges of trauma can be debilitating and take over your life. You don’t have to face them alone. At Alter Behavioral Health, we don’t just understand trauma and PTSD; we understand you. We care about you and your future, and it is our promise to you to walk with you every step of the way to recovery. You can overcome these obstacles and become a happier and stronger version of yourself. Trauma isn’t easy, but we make treatment easy and, more importantly, effective. Let’s walk this path together so you can enjoy the wonderful life that you deserve to live. Call us today at (866) 691-4386 for more information and to get started on a better, brighter future.