How Can a Mental Health Facility Help During a Crisis?

Quality treatment centers with inpatient care provide therapies and services needed to manage any mental health disorder. Clinicians will conduct a thorough evaluation to diagnose and prescribe the right treatment options properly.

Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia, Binge-eating disorder, Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder.

June 2023 - Page 2 of 2 - Alter Behavioral Health

Q: Alter Behavioral Health Accepts Insurance for Treatment

You can come to Alter Behavioral Health to access mental health therapy covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. We are an evidence-based treatment center that offers formal care similar to that of a psychiatric hospital, with multi-dimensional treatment programs that incorporate a variety of individualized therapy treatments to promote whole-patient wellness.

How Do I Heal From Family Trauma in a Treatment Program?

June 16, 2023/in Business/by Alter Health

Trauma is an umbrella term that describes lasting symptoms of a problematic event, circumstance, or set of circumstances that occur over time. Unfortunately, we are all at risk of experiencing traumatic events throughout our lives. A particularly uncommon experience that individuals must process, navigate, and overcome is family trauma. If you are looking to heal from family trauma, Alter Behavioral Health is here to help.

Understanding Family Trauma

“Family trauma” is an umbrella term that encompasses all types of traumatic events that impact an entire family unit. It is important to understand that family trauma may or may not occur within the home environment, consist of all family members, or affect all members in the same way. Still, understanding family trauma and the influence that it has on the development of mental health disorders, substance use disorder (SUD), and other mental health problems is necessary for preventing such consequences and establishing healing for all family members.

Lasting Consequences of Family Trauma

According to a publication by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network titled “Trauma and Families: Fact Sheet for Providers,” “Traumas can cause traumatic stress responses in family members with consequences that ripple through family relationships and impede optimal family functioning.” Some common consequences of untreated family trauma include:

Feeling neglected and misunderstood
Lacking self-worth and neglecting personal self-care
Worsening family dysfunction and impaired family relationships
Issues with identifying, expressing, and managing emotions properly
Increased likelihood of internalized or severely externalized stress reactions toward family members
Fearing repeated traumatic experiences

Such consequences also place family members at greater risk of:

Using alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate
Isolation
Risk-taking behavior
Mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression
Suicidal ideation
Impaired attachment

Every type of traumatic event affects the family unit, as well as each family member, differently. Factors such as age, culture, knowledge of trauma, social support system, and relationship with family members can all impact whether or not you develop lasting symptoms of family trauma.

Regardless of how symptoms of family trauma may present themself, it is necessary that you and your family work to heal from family trauma. It will reduce the risk of SUD and mental health disorders for you and your family members and ensure that traumatic experiences are properly integrated into your life for lasting wellness.

Heal From Family Trauma With Professional Treatment

Working to heal from family trauma is a process that takes time. This process will likely involve the professional aid of a mental health therapist, as there are many obstacles that are likely to surface over the course of treatment and recovery. For example, a common obstacle that you may face is having family members who are unwilling to participate in treatment. There is no doubt that you can work to heal from family trauma alone. However, to ensure lasting healing for your entire family, it is necessary that all members are willing to be vulnerable and engage in treatment together.

As researchers continue to acknowledge the impact of trauma on the family unit, more treatment facilities are beginning to offer services for the entire family. Each family member can consider participating in individual, trauma-informed therapy sessions in addition to family services, increasing the potential for lasting recovery for the whole family unit. Some examples of family services to help you heal from family trauma include group psychoeducation, group and family therapy, and family support groups.

Benefits of Family Therapy

According to a publication by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Research suggests that behavioral health treatment that includes family therapy works better than treatment that does not.” Some specific benefits of family therapy include:

Medication adherence (when members are prescribed mental health medications)
Reduced rates of substance use and relapse
Stress reduction
Reduced psychiatric symptoms
Encouraged treatment entry for members with addiction or SUD
Improved family dynamics
Reduced burden of stress on other family members

What to Expect From a Treatment Program

Although you have likely grasped the value of family services in healing from family trauma, you may still wonder what to expect from treatment. More than likely, you will be recommended to participate in individual therapy sessions in addition to family and group therapy.

In individual sessions, you will work with a therapist to identify and overcome the root causes of your mental health distress and lasting symptoms of trauma. A variety of therapeutic approaches may be utilized to instill new coping skills and reduce any potential for re-traumatization. Some approaches we utilize at Alter Behavioral Health include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Prolonged exposure therapy
Cognitive processing therapy
Stress inoculation therapy
Mindfulness strategies, such as meditation

These approaches may also be utilized by the therapist leading your family therapy sessions. In these sessions, you will work with your family members to develop a variety of new communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. Depending on the unique needs of your family members, the therapist may also utilize trauma-informed approaches to help your family work through past trauma together.

Family trauma poses complex challenges that can be effectively navigated with the help of professional treatment. As you work to heal from family trauma, it can be beneficial for your family members to participate in family treatment services, including family therapy. This ensures that all family members have the best chance at securing lasting recovery from family trauma. At Alter Behavioral Health, we offer a number of mental health treatment programs for individuals as well as their families. We are passionate about helping you uncover the root causes of your family trauma and supporting you as you integrate those experiences into your life. To get connected with trauma treatment, call us today at (866) 691-4386.

Is Therapy Covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield?

June 14, 2023/in Insurance/by Alter Behavioral Health

Alter Behavioral Health Accepts Insurance for Treatment

You can come to Alter Behavioral Health to access mental health therapy covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. We are an evidence-based treatment center that offers formal care similar to that of a psychiatric hospital, with multi-dimensional treatment programs that incorporate a variety of individualized therapy treatments to promote whole-patient wellness.

At Alter, we treat a variety of mental health issues, including:

Depression
Anxiety
Autism co-occurring disorders
Bipolar disorder
Trauma and PTSD
ADHD
Schizophrenia
Borderline personality disorder
Dissociative identity disorder

It can be hard to know where to turn when it becomes difficult to take care of yourself or loved ones, go to work, attend classes, or otherwise cope with stress and live your life generally due to a mental health condition. If you have an ongoing mental health concern that is not life-threatening or dangerous in nature and is unsure where to start, please call Alter at 866-647-2716. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance and will help you determine your next step.

What Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover?

There are several different plans within the umbrella of the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) insurance company. Thanks to the 2014 Affordable Care Act, most of these health insurance policies cover a large portion of the cost of mental health care and behavioral health treatments, and in some cases, all of your care may be paid for by insurance.

Mental health treatment centers will often provide different types of therapies and holistic treatments, some of which may not be deemed necessary by BCBS. This means that evidence-based treatments like psychoanalysis, applied behavioral analysis, group therapy, emergency mental health care, and some medications are usually covered by insurance, whereas alternative treatments and services provided outside of a therapeutic environment will not be paid for by your insurance plan.

If your insurance plan is provided through your employer, they may also have made customizations to which benefits are offered. For these reasons, it is always a good idea to check what types of treatments and medications will be covered by your individual plan before beginning treatment. This way, there will be no financial surprises later on.

Are There Deductibles or Copays for Therapy Covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield?

When accessing therapy covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield (or any insurance company, for that matter), you will first need to meet your deductible amount before the coverage kicks in. What this means is that if your insurance policy says you have a $200 deductible for behavioral therapy followed by 100% coverage once it is met, you must pay the first $200 out of pocket, and then after that is paid, the rest will be covered by your insurance.

Copays are a fixed amount that you must pay for every visit to your care provider or every treatment session you undertake. For example, your policy may state that you have to pay 20% of the cost of each visit yourself and your insurance will cover the other 80%, or it may say that you have to pay $30 for each visit, and insurance will cover the remainder.

Before you begin treatment, you need to know whether you have deductibles and copays for mental health services, so you can financially prepare yourself for each visit. You may need to pay the total cost of treatment for the first few visits to meet your deductible, and you may also need to bring a certain amount of money with you to each subsequent visit for the copay amount.

How Can I Check BCBS Coverage for Therapy?

Blue Cross Blue Shield makes it easy for policyholders to check what types of treatments and medications are covered. All you have to do is log in to your BCBS member account online, using their website or a mobile app on your phone, and then navigate to the “Go to My Coverage” section. Click on “Medical,” then “What’s Covered.” There is a section about behavioral health care, mental health care, and substance use treatment that you can look through to see what types of care your plan will pay for, what the requirements are to obtain these services, what the copays and deductibles will be, and how much each plan will pay for the services that are covered.

Therapy Covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance

Do I Need a Referral for Therapy Covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield?

Generally speaking, people with an HMO plan will need a referral from their primary care provider to ensure the treatments meet their plan’s requirements. If you have a PPO plan, you may not need a referral, but in some cases, especially if you are coming for inpatient treatment, prior authorization may be required before your claim can be put through or before services are provided. This can be done through your doctor as well.

Each insurance plan is different, and it can be difficult to understand when a referral is needed. If you are uncertain, you can always call customer care at Blue Cross Blue Shield using the phone number on the back of your identification card, and they will help you determine whether referrals are required for your individual case.

Call Alter Behavioral Health to Learn About Therapy Covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield

To learn more about the types of therapy covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield and how to get the help you need, please call Alter today at 866-647-2716. We provide specialized care to help deal with primary mental health disorders, using trauma-informed treatment methods with evidence-based and holistic treatments. Our support options can help with medication management, recovery and safe planning, behavioral therapy, family and community support, and nutrition and recreation services in an integrated approach to whole-person wellness.

Our compassionate team of skilled therapists and clinicians understands that getting the proper diagnosis is key to effective and efficient treatment, so we take the time with each of our patients to truly understand what is happening and look at a wide range of symptoms to make sure that they receive the proper diagnosis and care. We then combine social, educational, physical, and psychological care that is individualized to each patient for a whole-patient approach to healing.

Your treatment can continue beyond your stay inside our facility, as we also offer long-term virtual continuing care through Mindfuli. This helpful online platform provides a wide range of services to help support you and your family. When you are admitted to our facilities, you will be onboarded with the site and then paired with a care counselor for access to convenient, long-term online peer support.

To learn more about how Alter can help you or a loved one with a mental health condition, or if you have any further questions regarding your Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage, please call our Irvine, California, team at 866-647-2716 or contact us online. We are here to help you.

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder

June 14, 2023/in Mental Illness/by Alter Behavioral Health

Alter Behavioral Health Can Treat BPD

Alter Behavioral Health is a safe, comfortable treatment center in Irvine, California, designed to help people living with borderline personality disorder. We have a team of skilled, experienced, and credentialed clinicians and therapists who work hard to provide effective treatment for BPD to each patient. We know that it can be stressful to live with untreated BPD, so our patients’ programs include personalized care that addresses each individual’s physical, psychological, social, and educational needs. You can come to us for treatment without fear of being judged or shamed because we only want to provide a compassionate and thorough holistic treatment for mental illness so you can live with a new, healthy outlook on life, with strong support every step of the way.

What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a condition that makes it difficult to regulate emotions. It can cause a person to feel a lot of stress, act impulsively, and experience rapid mood swings. Unfortunately, it can lead to an increased risk of harming oneself. If you are living with borderline personality disorder, you may feel intense emotional pain and desperation, or other symptoms that may include:

8 Types of Mental Illnesses

June 13, 2023/in Mental Illness/by Alter Behavioral Health

Alter Behavioral Health Can Help

Each year, roughly 1 in 5 American adults experience one of the types of mental illnesses. Even so, the stigma regarding mental illness remains, which is unfortunate because today’s treatments can lead to largely successful outcomes. With treatment, people with mental illness can learn how to effectively manage their condition and improve their quality of life. In many cases, patients who receive treatment can even eliminate symptoms, essentially putting their disease into remission.

Alter Behavioral Health specializes in behavioral and mental health conditions. We treat each person with compassion and dignity, providing a modern understanding of mental illness and treating each patient with the expertise we’re known for. In our care, treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. At that point, our clinicians can recommend the ideal treatment course with a plan tailored to each patient’s unique needs. We understand that experiencing a mental health disorder or crisis can feel overwhelming. Our clinicians can help you experience relief from your symptoms and develop strategies for successfully managing your condition.

If you are experiencing mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety, be sure to get in touch with Alter Behavioral Health. We specialize in mental health treatment. Let our clinicians help you manage your addiction by developing new coping strategies and learning how to prevent relapse. The following are the various types of mental illnesses that people experience.

Mood Disorders

mental illnesses types

Mood disorders are one category of mental illnesses that include many common conditions, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and substance-induced mood disorders. Medical researchers have not uncovered a clear-cut or definitive cause of mood disorders. Many researchers believe, though more study is required, that these disorders are the result of chemical imbalances. Also, some mood disorders seem to be inherited and run through families.

Today, clinicians can treat mood disorders in a variety of ways. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) like cognitive-behavioral therapy is a leading mood disorder treatment. Medications like antidepressants are also crucial for the treatment of mood disorders. Today’s mood disorder treatments and medications are highly effective. However, sometimes patients require more advanced support, such as hospitalization. At Alter Behavioral Health, clinicians evaluate each person’s condition as everyone is different and may require a slightly unique approach. It’s also not uncommon for clinicians to make changes in treatment plans as needed.

Anxiety Disorders

There are various types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, and separation anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are characterized by persistent worry and fear. While anxiety is a normal stress reaction, it can escalate and lead to considerable problems that are both mental and physical. People with anxiety disorders may experience symptoms such as:

Shortness of breath.
Trembling.
Nausea.
Fear of dying.
Catastrophizing.
Feeling dizzy.
Feeling faint.
Abdominal pain.
Hot flashes.
Rapid heart rate.
Feeling detached.
Pounding heart.

Today, clinicians treat anxiety with psychotherapy, anti-anxiety medications, and antidepressants. The medications help as they’re extremely effective, but talk therapy is also important. Therapy helps patients confront unhealthy thoughts and patterns that can underscore their anxiety, such as realizing that jumping to thoughts of worst-case scenarios is unhealthy and can trigger more anxious thinking. Clinicians help patients recognize and stop when they are doing that.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders impact both physical and mental health. These are serious health conditions that can kill people if not treated. Common eating disorders include:

Anorexia nervosa.
Bulimia.
Binge-eating disorder.
Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder.

Eating disorders are governed by an underlying sense of compulsion to not eat. Symptoms vary depending on the type of disease in question. About 9% of Americans will have some type of eating disorder in their lifetime, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.

People who suffer from eating disorders tend to experience disturbing thoughts and emotions. The disorders can become increasingly serious; many people suffering from eating disorders may require hospitalization to address both psychological and physical problems.

Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders involve abnormal patterns of thinking and abnormal perceptions. These are serious disorders that can also include delusions and hallucinations. People with these disorders tend to lose touch with reality. Some psychotic disorder warning signs include:

Withdrawal from family and friends.
Lack of emotional response.
Decrease in motivation.
Exhibiting unusual behavior.
Suspicion.
Hostility.
Strange ideas/beliefs.
Hallucinations.

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are among the most common types of psychotic disorders. Clinicians will treat these disorders with medications, and hospitalization may be necessary as well.

Addiction Disorders

Substance use disorders are extremely common. More than 22 million people have an addiction to alcohol or drugs. Substance use disorder involves powerful physical, mental, and behavioral dependencies. Patients need to manage each aspect of addiction to achieve lasting recovery.

A person can become addicted to some substances with just a few uses. Substances like methamphetamine, heroin, and alcohol have very high relapse rates. With quality addiction treatment, patients can manage their addiction successfully. People can find inpatient and outpatient treatment programs and offerings like medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, and dual diagnosis treatment.

Although there isn’t a cure for addiction, it can be successfully managed. Many of the best treatment programs feature evidence-based treatments, holistic treatments, and alternative treatments that support lasting recovery.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders involve unhealthy patterns of thinking and behaving. These patterns often make it difficult for people to manage their emotions and thoughts. They often struggle to maintain relationships and may suffer from symptoms such as:

The unsubstantiated belief that someone is trying to harm them.
Hesitancy to confide in other people.
Hostile reactions to perceived slights.
Struggling to pick up social cues.
Flat emotions.
Disregard for the feelings of others.
The tendency to hold a grudge.
Aggressive or violent behavior.
Suspicion and distrust.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common disorder that causes chronic and sometimes uncontrollable thoughts or obsessions. This condition involves unwanted feelings and thoughts that drive a person to perform some type of compulsion. It might be repeatedly checking that doors are locked or that all stove dials are turned off, for example. Other compulsive behaviors common with this disorder include:

Repeated hand washing.
Number rituals (with counting).
Arranging things in a specific way.

Clinicians treat OCD with interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy and medications. Sometimes a person can benefit from neurosurgical treatment.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder can occur when a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event such as war or abuse. People with this condition often experience nightmares, flashbacks of the trauma, insomnia, irritability, and anxiety. Clinicians will offer therapies to reduce symptoms and also to help people resolve and cope with past trauma or traumatic events.

Alter Behavioral Health Is Ready to Help Treat Most Types of Mental Illnesses

Whether you are experiencing symptoms of one of the types of mental illnesses for the first time or are struggling to manage a long-term condition, Alter Behavioral Health can help. We rely on evidence-based therapies and medications to treat the gamut of mental illnesses. From symptom relief to long-term management strategies, our treatments help patients move toward effective condition management to achieve improved wellness and quality of life. If you are struggling with a mental health condition, call Alter Behavioral Health at 866-647-2716 to schedule a consultation right away.

Can I Raise My Child Successfully While in Treatment for PTSD?

June 13, 2023/in Business/by Alter Health

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a devastating condition that can impair your sense of well-being as well as interfere with your interpersonal relationships. If you are a parent with PTSD, you may have concerns about your ability to parent well while you are in treatment. First and foremost, recognize that your concerns are valid. Although you may wish you could put your parenting on hold as you establish wellness in your life, raising a child is a never-ending task. Fortunately, at Alter Behavioral Health, we can customize your treatment for PTSD to ensure that you feel confident in your ability to parent well.

The Challenges of Parenting With a Psychological Disorder

Undoubtedly so, raising a child poses immense challenges for anyone. From learning how to balance family and professional life to ensuring that you are meeting your child’s developmental needs, there is no question that parenting is a substantial task on its own. However, attempting to raise a child with a PTSD diagnosis can feel even more concerning and intimidating.

Fortunately, if you are reading this, you are likely either contemplating participating in treatment for PTSD or have already begun a treatment program. For many parents, beginning treatment is one of the most difficult steps in recovery as it requires you to prioritize your own needs, which can be a painful experience for a mother or father. After all, many people seem to think that proper parenting requires you to place your child’s needs before your own; yet that doesn’t have to be the case.

Learning how to balance your needs and the needs of your children is an important part of establishing wellness for the whole family. Professional treatment can offer you the education, tools, and skills that you need to honor your mental health needs while working to parent well in recovery.

Understanding Your Need for Treatment for PTSD

If you have not yet begun treatment for PTSD, it is necessary to understand how your condition will affect your ability to raise your child. As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) explains, “PTSD makes it hard to do everyday things and this may lead to unmet family needs. Partners and children may feel more stress and talking to one another may be tough.”

Some of the specific ways that PTSD can affect your ability to parent include:

Experiencing lasting feelings of guilt, shame, fear, or grief that interfere with your willingness to pursue closeness with your child
Feeling hopeless or depressed, so much so that you no longer want to engage in play or other fun activities with your child
Appearing increasingly anxious, “on edge,” or grouchy as a result, which can cause your child to question your love for them

Moreover, the VA also explains, “The symptoms of PTSD can cause problems with trust, closeness, communication, and problem solving which, in turn, may impact the way a loved one responds to the trauma survivor.” It is crucial to keep in mind that young children are incapable of understanding that your behaviors (whether anxious, depressed, erratic, etc.) are lasting symptoms of PTSD. Thus, participating in treatment for PTSD will allow you to address any problematic parenting behaviors before they cause potentially long-lasting harm to your child.

Treatment for PTSD at Alter Behavioral Health

Now that you recognize your need for treatment, it is vital to address available treatment programs that can assist you as you heal. At Alter Behavioral Health, we apply a modern approach to healing and recovery by utilizing individualized, whole-person approaches to care. We offer residential as well as outpatient treatment programs, ensuring that you have the flexible treatment options you need to continue parenting in recovery.

While trauma treatment will vary from person to person, our treatment for PTSD often incorporates pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy modalities. Some types of trauma-informed therapies we may incorporate into your care include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps you in identifying problematic, false, or otherwise intrusive patterns of thought to effectively promote behavior change
Cognitive processing therapy: Helps you reduce all-or-nothing thinking that may be tied to your past trauma
Prolonged exposure therapy: Provides a safe environment where you will face your fears and work through your trauma triggers over time
Stress inoculation therapy: Exposes you to mild stress triggers, allowing you to actively practice coping skills for more intense triggers associated with PTSD
Group therapy: Provides a social support group that allows you to connect and heal with others who also have PTSD
Family therapy: Helps to resolve family distress associated with your PTSD diagnosis

Meanwhile, medication is also available to help alleviate any moderate to severe symptoms of PTSD. Some examples of prescription medications we may incorporate into your treatment plan include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and sleeping medications.

Raising a child with a PTSD diagnosis can pose many challenges. However, as you become educated about the potential consequences that your child may experience if you leave your PTSD untreated, it will motivate your willingness to participate in treatment and recovery. Undoubtedly, you can raise your child successfully as you gather new tools and skills in treatment for PTSD. At Alter Behavioral Health, we treat a wide range of mental health disorders and psychological issues to ensure that our clients feel confident in their ability to function well in daily life. We can customize your treatment plan, incorporating new skills that will benefit your parenting. To learn more, give us a call at (866) 691-4386.

Are Prescription Medications Needed to Heal From a Mental Health Disorder?

June 9, 2023/in Mental Illness/by Alter Health

Individuals that are seeking healing from a mental health disorder can benefit from learning about the wide range of therapeutic approaches available for recovery. To some, the thought of using prescription medication for symptom management is intimidating. However, medication can be profoundly effective, depending on the type and severity of a person’s disorder. While pharmacotherapy is not the only route available for the treatment of a mental health disorder, it is necessary to understand its place and importance in mental health treatment.

Understanding Prescription Medications

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains that medications often play a key role in the treatment of mental health disorders. This is because mental illnesses often occur from chemical imbalances in the brain. According to a publication by the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

Thus, prescription medications work to balance and regulate these internal imbalances. As a result, they help to reduce the severity and presence of mental health symptoms.

Of course, every type of prescription medication does this in a different way. There are different categories of medication that are used to treat specific mental health disorders. For example, as stimulant medications work to improve alertness and focus, they are often prescribed for individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The main categories of mental health medications include:

Antidepressants
Anti-anxiety medications
Stimulants
Antipsychotics
Mood stabilizers

Common Concerns of Prescription Medications

Within each aforementioned category, there are several different types of medications that an individual may be prescribed for a mental health disorder. As NIMH explains, “Medications can affect people in different ways, and it may take several tries to find the medication that is most effective with the fewest side effects.” In addition to understanding potential side effects, it is necessary to address other common concerns of prescription medications.

The Potential of Becoming Addicted

For instance, using any substance can serve as a risk factor for developing substance use disorder (SUD) and addiction; this is no different for prescription medications. Although most mental health medications have a low to extremely low addictive potential, prescription drug use can still fuel curiosity and urges for experimentation with other drugs. To limit any potential for prescription drug misuse or abuse, individuals must take their medication exactly as prescribed by a doctor.

Duration of Medication Use

Another concern many individuals have about prescription medications is how long they will take their medication. While this varies from person to person, it is important to recognize that most prescription medications are used on a short-term basis. Yes, there are some diagnoses, such as schizophrenia, that may require long-term or lifelong medication use. However, this is often not the case for other mental health disorders. Individuals can work with their care team to dispel additional concerns as well as establish a treatment plan that incorporates a shorter duration of medication use.

Meanwhile, it may also help to know that medication is most effective when used in tandem with traditional therapeutic approaches, such as psychotherapy. Often, an individual will be prescribed medications to reduce their mental health symptoms so they can effectively participate in therapeutic sessions. Once an individual begins to reap the benefits of therapy, they can work with their therapist to safely wean off their medication.

It is always encouraged to talk through concerns and fears about treatment, including prescription medication, with a mental health professional. Additionally, to avoid any potential consequences of prescription medication, it is necessary to work closely with a mental health professional.

Alternatives to Prescription Medications

In some cases, prescription medication may be necessary for an individual in the early stages of treatment. However, there are plenty of additional treatment options that individuals can use if they choose not to utilize prescription medication. At Alter Behavioral Health, we strongly rely on the opinions and values of our clients when crafting a treatment plan.

Psychotherapy is a broad example of an effective therapeutic modality. Within the realm of psychotherapy, a therapist can utilize a variety of approaches with a client, working to address their unique needs. Some psychotherapeutic modalities and approaches we utilize at Alter Behavioral Health include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Family therapy
Group therapy
Equine therapy

In addition, we also are passionate about incorporating holistic healing modalities into treatment. In therapy, we can help individuals develop emotional regulation skills using techniques such as:

Mindfulness exercises
Mediation
Journaling
Artistic expression

These examples only scratch the surface of the modalities we offer at our facility. Still, they offer a valuable framework for individuals to recognize that there is more to mental health treatment than solely prescription medication.

If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health disorder, it is important for you to learn about the different routes available for treatment and recovery. While prescription medications are often necessary to help regulate brain imbalances caused by mental illness, there are other treatment options available. At Alter Behavioral Health, we are dedicated to honoring the unique needs of our clients in treatment. We offer a wide range of therapeutic modalities and approaches to ensure that we can secure lasting healing and symptom management for each person. If you have concerns about prescription medication, we can address them and work through them together. To learn more, give us a call at (866) 691-4386.

Depression: Listlessness When Pursuing the Hobbies You Love

June 8, 2023/in Mental Illness/by Alter Health

“Depression” is often used as an umbrella term to describe symptoms of listlessness. It is also used to describe specific forms of depressive disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), persistent depressive disorder, postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, etc. Whether you are diagnosed with a depressive disorder or are exhibiting related symptoms, you are not alone. By utilizing professional treatment services and resources, more specifically, those provided by Alter Behavioral Health, you can gradually incorporate the hobbies you love back into your daily life.

The Prevalence of Depression

Depression, at large, affects a great number of the United States population. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, “Major depression is the most common mental disorder in the U.S. and is the strongest risk factor for suicide behavior.” Data from the article revealed an undeniable increase in past-year depression, finding that the prevalence was 7.3% in 2015 and rose to 9.2% in 2020. Moreover, depression continues to rise as a result of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other destructive events.

These statistics highlight the significant number of people affected by depression, validating that you are not alone in what you are experiencing. Moreover, although depression exists on a spectrum, it must be urgently treated to avoid worsening health complications from surfacing, such as suicidal ideation.

Depression: The Shadow of Listlessness

The National Insitute of Mental Health (NIMH) lists a host of signs and symptoms of depression. In order to be diagnosed, symptoms must be present for at least two consecutive weeks. You may have depression if you:

Experience a persistent sad or depressed mood
Feel guilty, worthless, or helpless
Have lost interest in activities you once found pleasurable; listlessness
Experience chronic fatigue
Have difficulties concentrating
Experience sleeping issues, such as insomnia
Have unexplained physical aches and pains
Are feeling increasingly more irritable or frustrated

It is also important to understand that depression often appears differently in women compared to men. For example, men may exhibit more aggressive or irritable behavior. As a result, they are often more likely to turn to alcohol to self-medicate symptoms. Still, women also experience an increased risk of substance abuse as a result of depression.

Although you may recognize the severity of your symptoms, you may feel particularly saddened by your inability to participate in the hobbies you love. Fortunately, professional treatment can help to treat any chemical imbalances, intrusive thoughts, or problematic emotions that facilitate depressive symptoms like listlessness.

Treating Depression

At Alter Behavioral Health, we recognize that depression is a multifaceted mental illness. Unfortunately, depression often co-occurs with other mental health disorders or substance use disorders (SUDs). Because of this, we believe that it is essential to diagnose and treat all existing conditions in tandem to ensure effective recovery. The most valuable treatment methods for depression include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and antidepressant medication. When used in tandem, prescription medication often increases the effectiveness of the therapeutic process.

Once you begin a treatment program, your team of treatment professionals will guide your healing. As you participate in CBT, interpersonal therapy, or other therapeutic groups, you will adopt a variety of skills and strategies that will serve as encouragement on your route to healing and recovery.

If you are prescribed antidepressant medication, allow your medication some time to begin working properly. Over time, your medication will work to balance neurotransmitters in your brain that will gradually restore feelings of hope, contentment, and motivation. Patience will help you as you attempt to pursue the hobbies you love alongside depression.

Incorporating the Hobbies You Love Into Your Recovery

Learning how to incorporate the hobbies you love back into your life with depression can be a daunting task. This can be especially so if you are not participating in a treatment program. As depression often occurs as a result of chemical imbalances in the brain, you simply cannot expect your brain to balance these levels on its own. This is why antidepressant medication often plays a crucial role in the treatment process.

On the other hand, participating in treatment can also serve as greater motivation to pursue the hobbies you love. For example, in group therapy, you will likely connect with others that share similar hobbies and interests with you. You can lean on these connections and use them as motivation to pursue your hobbies. Moreover, you can choose to pursue such hobbies alongside your peers. Often, facilities incorporate group activities into treatment, which can help you develop a passion for new hobbies.

Suggestions for Pursuing the Hobbies You Love

Working with a therapist to discuss your hobbies, interests, values, and more can also foster motivation for pursuing the hobbies you love. It may help to keep in mind the following:

Start slow and small: Incorporate ten to 20 minutes of a hobby you love into your daily routine and work up from there.
Focus on self-care: Pay attention to the hobbies that foster physical and mental wellness. For example, consider incorporating mindfulness exercises or physical activity into your daily routine.
Breathe in nature: Try to engage in the hobbies you love outside in the sunshine. Whether you are sitting or lying down in the grass, at the very least, you are experiencing fresh air and reaping the benefits of Vitamin D.
Learn something new: A hobby doesn’t have to be something physically or mentally taxing. Rather, it can be anything that stimulates joy in life. Finding time to learn something new through reading, listening to a podcast, or talking with loved ones can be great ways to develop and engage with hobbies you love.

Depression can affect every aspect of your life, affecting your ability to concentrate at work or school to limiting your ability to get out of bed in the morning. If you have depression, pursuing the hobbies you love may seem like an overwhelming activity. Fortunately, by utilizing professional treatment, you can incorporate the hobbies you love back into your life. At Alter Behavioral Health, we customize our client’s treatment plans to fit your unique needs and goals. For depression treatment, we often utilize a combination of psychotherapy and medication to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment process. With time and treatment, you can pursue the hobbies you love with motivation and pleasure. Call us today at (866) 691-4386.

How Can I Stand Up for My Boundaries When Healing From a Psychological Disorder?

June 6, 2023/in Business/by Alter Health

When you are faced with a psychological disorder, it can feel as if you lack self-control in all areas of your life. To gain a sense of grounding as you heal, you must learn to establish personal boundaries – especially in your relationships. Establishing boundaries not fosters a sense of self-control but also allows you to honor your own needs with grace.

At Alter Behavioral Health, we provide care for a plethora of mental health disorders and associated symptoms. We are passionate about facilitating psychological guidance and support no matter where you are on your healing journey. Learning how to set boundaries is just one of the many skills we can help you build as you work to recover from a psychological disorder.

Understanding the Vulnerabilities of a Psychological Disorder

The concept of vulnerability is daunting for many. However, to effectively heal from a psychological disorder, you must learn to accept your own vulnerability.

When you consider vulnerability, do you think of weakness or strength? The truth is that vulnerability is a worthy combination of the two. According to Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, “Vulnerability thus refers to a state of physical and emotional well-being that is in danger of being disturbed and destroyed due to being susceptible to harmful influences.”

In daily life, when we become exposed to environmental stressors like trauma and stress, we become vulnerable to developing mental health disorders. Additionally, we also become more vulnerable to using alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate such distress. In this case, it is important to recognize our vulnerabilities and seek support to prevent the development of worsening health problems.

In a similar way, when we are diagnosed with a psychological disorder, we must also recognize our increasing vulnerability to experiencing worsening mental health symptoms, especially if our disorder goes untreated. When we learn to accept feelings of anxiety, fear, and apprehension that are commonly associated with vulnerability, we can also accept our need for professional help. In this way, vulnerability serves as a motivator for us to seek out healthier ways to regulate our emotions and behaviors that may result from our disorder.

Vulnerability and Setting Boundaries

When we understand that we are especially vulnerable with a mental health disorder, it helps us to recognize our need for personal boundaries. According to a publication by the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs:

Unfortunately, boundaries can get a bad rep, as loved ones that experience the halt of a boundary can fail to understand its importance. However, as you learn to implement personal boundaries into your life, your loved ones will become more familiar with them over time. Thus, with time, boundaries will no longer feel like a form of separation for a loved one but rather a means of respecting your space, time, energy, and overall well-being.

How to Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries is a process that takes time. This process requires you to identify your needs, values, and limits, both pertaining to your psychological disorder and your general well-being in daily life.

Identify Personal Needs and Values

An article by The Canadian Veterinary Journal highlights eight mutually interdependent dimensions of wellness. These include:

Physical
Intellectual
Emotional
Social
Spiritual
Vocational
Financial
Environmental

To begin identifying your personal needs, you can consider addressing your needs in each dimension of wellness. You will find that some of your needs are more objective, such as ensuring that you engage in physical exercise throughout the week or consume a healthy diet. On the other hand, you will also discover needs unique to you and your psychological disorder. For example, considering your environmental status, perhaps you have a need to live in a substance-free environment to heal well from your psychological disorder.

Meanwhile, identifying personal values requires you to think of what matters most to you in your life. Values are necessary as they guide our behavior and actions, often in a positive way. Some examples of values include:

Honesty
Respect
Family
Openness
Love
Kindness

Establish Your Limits

As your needs and values become more clear, you can feel more confident in your ability to set boundaries. Boundaries require you to be straightforward with your limits and to state your needs directly. Moreover, you can create boundaries for just yourself as well as boundaries for your loved ones.

An example of a personal boundary is saying no to an offer that makes you uncomfortable, especially as you participate in treatment for your psychological disorder. Another example is inhibiting yourself from dating until you feel confident in your self-esteem. An example of a boundary set for your relationships is not allowing a loved one to speak down to you. To ensure that your boundaries are respected by others, you may need to create additional limitations and consequences, such as limiting contact for a certain amount of time.

Healing From a Psychological Disorder

At Alter Behavioral Health, we know how challenging it can be to create and establish personal boundaries. Further, we understand that boundary setting can seem even more overwhelming with the presence of a psychological disorder. Fortunately, we are here to guide and support you as you work to adopt therapeutic techniques for lasting symptom management, including learning how to set boundaries.

As you work to heal from your psychological disorder, you must establish and prioritize boundaries to ensure lasting healing. Setting boundaries not only helps to strengthen your interpersonal relationships but it also strengthens the respect you have for yourself. Alter Behavioral Health can help you identify and establish boundaries as you participate in a professional treatment program for wellness. We offer a wide range of therapeutic approaches and modalities to ensure that our client care is individualized and holistic. We can craft you a unique treatment plan that fits your needs and recovery goals. To learn more about our facility or treatment programs, give us a call today at (866) 691-4386.

How Biological Factors Contribute to BPD Diagnosis

June 5, 2023/in Mental Illness/by Alter Health

If you or a loved one is exhibiting symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), do not be discouraged. There are professional treatment programs available that can provide you with an accurate diagnosis as well as an individualized treatment plan, setting you up for lasting success in recovery. Whether you have a BPD diagnosis or not, becoming educated on the potential underlying causes of BPD can help to put your mind at ease. In addition, learning about BPD can motivate you to pursue professional treatment for healing and wellness.

Understanding a BPD Diagnosis

If you have recently obtained a BPD diagnosis or are in the process of seeking one out, you may feel overwhelmed or fearful when considering your future. Although BPD is a serious condition, it is important to know that obtaining an accurate BPD diagnosis is the first step in your healing journey. Once you have a diagnosis, a treatment plan can be curated for you that will fit your unique needs and goals for recovery. Without a diagnosis, a treatment plan cannot be made, and your healing journey cannot begin.

According to the National Insitute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Borderline personality disorder [BPD] is a mental illness that severely impacts a person’s ability to manage their emotions. This loss of emotional control can increase impulsivity, affect how a person feels about themselves, and negatively impact their relationships with others.” If you have BPD, you are likely already aware of how your symptoms are affecting your ability to function normally in daily life. However, if you are not, it is important to become familiar with the common signs and symptoms of a BPD diagnosis.

Signs and Symptoms

While emotional dysregulation is a key symptom of BPD, it is also a key symptom of other mood disorders, including bipolar disorder. For this reason, it is vital to recognize BPD as a personality disorder. Personality disorders are characterized by difficulties in social relationships, specifically in relating to others due to fluctuations in mood, whereas mood disorders are characterized by patterns of unhealthy emotions.

Consider some of the following signs and symptoms of BPD coined by NIMH. You may have BPD if you experience:

Uncertainties with self-image; an unstable or distorted sense of self
Efforts to avoid abandonment, either real or perceived
Patterns of intense or unstable relationships
Dissociation
Chronic feelings of hopelessness or emptiness
Suicidal ideation
Impulsive – and often dangerous – behavior, such as unsafe sexual practices, substance misuse or abuse, and binge eating
Self-harming behavior

The Epidemiology of a BPD Diagnosis

Uncommonly, you may feel lonely and isolated as a result of your symptoms and BPD diagnosis. However, according to Borderline Personality Disorder by Jennifer Chapman, Radia T. Jamil, and Carl Fleisher, “Surveys have estimated the prevalence of borderline personality disorder to be 1.6% in the general population and 20% in the inpatient psychiatric population.” By understanding the high prevalence of BPD, you can feel confident in recognizing that you are not alone in your symptoms or experience.

Nature vs. Nurture

Whether you have been experiencing symptoms of BPD for several years or only more recently, you may wonder what past experiences triggered your potential BPD diagnosis. Like other mental health disorders, both nature and nurture must be considered in the development of BPD. As far as nurture goes, there are a host of environmental risk factors that are known to influence a BPD diagnosis. For instance, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) highlights the following nurture-related risk factors:

Nature-related risk factors, on the other hand, take into account any genetic factors that may have increased your risk of mental illness. One example of a nature-related risk factor is having a parent, sibling, or another direct relative with BPD or another mental health disorder, as, genetically, this can increase your risk of developing BPD.

The Biological Etiology of a BPD Diagnosis

Moreover, an article by the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience: JPN highlights the biological differences between individuals with BPD and those without BPD. The study explains, “Although psychosocial causes of BPD have been explored in many studies, relatively little data exist regarding biological causes.”

Although the study recognizes that its sample may not accurately represent the entire population of individuals with BPD, it discussed fascinating results. For instance, data from the study suggests that, for those with BPD, “areas of the brain that are used to regulate and control emotion are hypometabolic and that activation of limbic areas, when it occurs, is excessive. This might reflect a failure of rational thought to control emotional thought, leading to the emotional instability that is characteristic of BPD.”

The study also discussed the potential for epigenetic factors in facilitating a BPD diagnosis. It states, “We also wonder whether different developmental abnormalities may lead to different clinical manifestations of BPD and, specifically, if chronic versus acute abuse in childhood may be associated with different imaging abnormalities in adulthood.”

Treating BPD at Alter Behavioral Health

It is crucial to understand that leaving your BPD symptoms unmanaged can increase your risk of developing substance use disorder (SUD) and other co-occurring mental health disorders. If you have not yet begun a treatment program for BPD, Alter Behavioral Health can help. We offer a wide range of treatment programs and services for all types of mental health conditions.

When it comes to BPD treatment, we have found both therapeutic interventions and medications to be effective, but most effective when used together in tandem. At Alter Behavioral Health, we also recommend family therapy groups for loved ones to foster whole-family healing and wellness. In treatment, you will have constant access to psychological support in an environment free from potential triggers. Meanwhile, you will work with a variety of specialists to foster healthy emotional regulation and coping skills, learning how to live well with BPD.

Receiving a BPD diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. On the one hand, you may fear what the future holds. However, on the other hand, it is true that obtaining a diagnosis is the first step in securing the treatment you need for lasting healing. At Alter Behavioral Health, we understand the challenges that the treatment and recovery journey often poses when seeking recovery from mental illness. Fortunately, our licensed clinicians specialize in a range of therapeutic approaches and modalities to ensure that care can be individualized to your unique needs and goals. Our BPD treatment plans often incorporate a combination of therapy and medication, fostering lasting healing and success. Call us at (866) 691-4386.

Archive for month: June, 2023