Depression: Listlessness When Pursuing the Hobbies You Love

Depression: Listlessness When Pursuing the Hobbies You Love

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“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 Biological Factors Contribute to BPD Diagnosis

How Biological Factors Contribute to BPD Diagnosis

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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:

  • Abandonment in childhood or adolescence
  • Disrupted family life
  • Poor communication in the family
  • Sexual, physical, or emotional abuse

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.

Identifying Schizophrenia and Developing a Treatment Plan

Identifying Schizophrenia and Developing a Treatment Plan

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Identifying schizophrenia can be difficult, given the diverse symptoms. Schizophrenia is an often debilitating disorder that impairs one’s ability to think and behave rationally. Individuals with schizophrenia have a difficult time differentiating fantasy from reality. These symptoms manifest in a variety of ways, and no known method can cure the disorder. This article will look at how schizophrenia impacts individuals in five different categories.

The disorder affects the cognitive, behavioral, mood, phycology, and speech of the individual. While this disorder requires lifelong care, there are effective methods of treatment that can improve the quality of life and alleviate symptoms. Alter Behavioral Health has established an intricate network of healthcare professionals dedicated to providing specialized care for individuals who have schizophrenia.

Identifying Schizophrenia: Causation

A whole host of conditions are believed to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. Although, researchers have not identified any one specific cause for the disorder. It is widely believed that a combination of developmental, psychological, genetic, and environmental factors contribute to potential psychotic episodes. Because there are so many factors that play into the foundation of the disorder, treatment is lifelong.

Individuals with schizophrenia have exhibited traits that suggest an increased risk for the development of the disorder. Some of these risk factors are family history, complications at birth, drug use, and differences in brain development. Schizophrenia tends to be passed down genetically. Many individuals with the disorder have a family history of the condition.

Identifying schizophrenia can often start at birth. Studies have also shown that individuals that are underweight, premature, or experience a lack of oxygen during birth have the potential to develop the disorder.

Brain development has also been brought into the conversation of schizophrenia. Individuals with the disorder show subtle differences in the structure of their brains, suggesting that the disorder originates there. Drug use has also been linked to the development of schizophrenia. Certain narcotics can produce side effects that mimic symptoms of schizophrenia and can even trigger psychotic episodes in some who may be susceptible to the disorder.

Identifying Schizophrenia Symptoms

This disorder affects individuals in several different ways. Schizophrenia affects the cognitive, behavioral, mood, phycology, and speech of the individual. The nature of the impact of this condition makes treatment long-term.

Cognitive Impairment

Schizophrenia has a profound impact on cognitive functions. Many individuals will experience confusion, disorientation, slowness in processing, and even distorted beliefs about themselves. Schizophrenia tends to create feelings of superiority and uniqueness. Some individuals even exhibit beliefs that normal events or interactions have special meaning. There is sometimes a grandiose way of thinking and interpreting information.

Behavioral Symptoms

Complications centering around behavior and interpersonal interactions are some of the most apparent symptoms of schizophrenia. Isolation is common among individuals with this disorder, as they often have a difficult time connecting with others. Individuals also exhibit increased irritability, compulsive behavior, aggression, self-harm, and difficulty restraining themselves. Behavioral symptoms prove to be some of the most disruptive and destructive difficulties that individuals with schizophrenia struggle with.

Mood Dysregulation

Individuals who have schizophrenia experience severe difficulty regulating their moods. This may look like outbursts of strong emotions and a propensity to become easily dysregulated. Schizophrenia can produce strong feelings of anger, apathy, irritability, detachment, and inappropriate emotional outbursts. Difficulties regulating mood can make public interaction difficult and increase the need to isolate and detach from relationships.

Psychological Complications

The impacts of schizophrenia on an individual’s psychology are profound. These symptoms are usually what come to mind for most people when they think about the disorder. One of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia is visual and audible hallucinations. These hallucinations are often comprehensive and make it difficult to differentiate the hallucinations from reality. Other psychological symptoms include depression, paranoia, and anxiety.

Identifying Schizophrenia: Treatment

As previously mentioned, treatment for schizophrenia is a lifelong commitment and requires a dedicated team of care providers. Alter Behavioral Health offers several methods of treatment for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Considering there is no known cure for schizophrenia, a combination of different treatments is most recommendable. To begin the treatment process, a cohesive group of healthcare providers needs to be assembled.

One of the most effective methods for treatment is the use of medications such as antipsychotics. One of the most difficult symptoms to treat is visual and audible hallucinations. Using antipsychotics to help mitigate these particular symptoms provides a good foundation for helping the individual engage with reality. Often individuals with schizophrenia have a hard time separating the hallucinations from real life. Regulating this system is incredibly valuable in the therapeutic process.

Pairing antipsychotic medications with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) adds another layer of care to the equation. CBT helps the individual engage with their thoughts and belief system. Considering the impact schizophrenia has on the mind and thought patterns, a professional must intervene and help establish boundaries for the individual. Professional counselors can also help the client engage with their trauma and develop coping skills for regulating strong emotional outbursts.

Schizophrenia is a serious and often debilitating mental illness. Although there is no way to cure this disorder, there are methods for treatment that can significantly improve the quality of life for the individual. Treatment needs to be holistic and consistent over the course of the individual’s life. Alter Behavioral Health has a dedicated plan for treatment and a broad community of professionals that are ready to provide the care needed to help individuals with schizophrenia. For inquiries, contact us at (866) 691-4386. Even though there is no cure for this illness, there is space to dramatically improve the lives of the individuals who are struggling and help equip family members and friends to provide further support.

How Can Dialectical Behavior Therapy Help Me Become Self-Empowered?

How Can Dialectical Behavior Therapy Help Me Become Self-Empowered?

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Any type of psychological disorder can feel overwhelming and uncontrollable. These feelings can be intense during the early days of a disorder’s symptoms appearing. Someone with a mood disorder may understand those feelings intimately, as intense, uncontrollable emotions are a symptom of many mood disorders. Treatment for mood disorders often includes dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Learning DBT skills at Alter Behavioral Health can teach a person to regulate their emotions, as well as learn self-confidence and feel self-empowered in themselves.

Mood Disorders

There are many names for categories of psychological disorders or mental illnesses. Mood disorders are a common phrase to describe a category of mental health disorders that affects a person’s emotional state of mind or mood. This can, in turn, influence dysfunctional behavior. Having a mood disorder simply means that a person will find it difficult to regulate their emotions or have healthy and consistent relationships. However, those skills can be learned with time and the appropriate support.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

A proven therapeutic approach to helping a person with a mood disorder or with suicidal ideation is using DBT.

Emotional Regulation

With a mood disorder such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), a person may struggle to regulate their emotions. This can cause constant mood swings, reactive behavior, and stress between the person and their loved ones. DBT is employed to help someone with BPD understand their emotions. Understanding emotions leads to maintaining control over how they are displayed or expressed.

By developing emotional regulation skills, a person can learn to interact with people more appropriately. However, the best part is being able to be in any situation and still manage emotions when you feel upset or uncomfortable.

Distress Tolerance

Continuing with the example of BPD, a person with this disorder will experience a lot of distress. This can come in the form of pain and sadness, or anxiety. Mood disorders, including BPD, can cause irrational and constant worries and thoughts. A person with BPD may struggle in everyday situations because of their internal worries, thoughts, memories, or outlook on life. When someone with a mood disorder is in a distressing situation, they may take impulsive actions to lessen the distress or get out of the situation.

In treatment or therapy, DBT teaches skills to tolerate those feelings of stress rather than reacting. This lessens impulsivity. However, distress tolerance also teaches a person radical acceptance. This helps them accept life as they experience it, with its ups and downs.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Most people today find it difficult to interact with others, even if they know them. The US has a culture of independence, which can often alienate people from each other. However, with a mood disorder, those feelings of difficulty increase tenfold. Someone with a mood disorder will struggle to maintain relationships because of the distress that can come with interactions, but also because of their thoughts and mood.

Through DBT, interpersonal effectiveness skills are taught. This helps a person learn how to communicate effectively, make themselves heard and understood, and tolerate the differences or things they do not understand about the other person.

Mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness is to be present in the moment. This may sound basic, but someone with a mood disorder, or any psychological disorder, may struggle to sit with themselves and their feelings. It is harder than it sounds to sit with your emotions. Especially because mindfulness also teaches nonjudgement.

By mastering mindfulness, a person can sit, feel, and describe their emotions without self-judgment. When a person can eliminate self-judgment, they are freer to have fun, interact with others, or just be without developing self-hate.

Becoming Self-Empowered With Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Through DBT, a person learns how to live a more enjoyable life. Psychological disorders can feel like a self-attack sometimes. They can be painful and difficult to manage. However, with the right treatment, that does not have to be the case. With the right support and therapy, anyone can become self-empowered.

By learning distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, and emotion regulation, a person gets to learn confidence in their thoughts, their emotions, their reactions, and their existence. That is empowering on its own, but interpersonal effectiveness literally teaches a person skills ranging from acting assertively to maintaining self-respect. Self-respect can only grow into feeling empowered in oneself.

Programs That Use Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Anyone can benefit from what DBT teaches, regardless of the disorder. It is up to a person’s therapist, treatment team, and themselves to decide whether DBT is a good fit. Through the different programs, a person can engage in DBT.

Residential Treatment

This level of care is for someone who needs more constant support and accountability. In residential care, a person lives on-site in their own bedroom but in a shared living and treatment space. At Alter Behavioral Health’s residential program, a person can find fully furnished and decorated space, so they can move in and immediately focus on healing and learning to thrive with their disorder.

Outpatient Treatment

After completing residential, a person can step down to one of several outpatient programs. However, someone does not need to go through residential care to be able to participate in outpatient. Sometimes a person cannot take time off work, school, or from family to attend treatment. With different outpatient programs, a person attends treatment programming for six to 30 hours a week, so they can still attend to their other responsibilities the rest of their time. 

Being diagnosed with a psychological disorder often causes feelings of shame and fear. This is due to the stigma and lack of understanding society has for mental health disorders. However, any disorder can provide new strength and wisdom that others do not have. There can be pride in living and managing a disorder. At Alter Behavioral Health, different treatment modalities are used, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to help you learn to thrive with your disorder. Through therapy and medication management, you gain control over your life and learn to let control go. You become the expert in your life. Call us today at (866) 691-4386 to hear how you can gain stability through therapy.  

Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder and What to Do Next

Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder and What to Do Next

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Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, as its commonly known, is a developmental disorder that first appears in early childhood. Roughly one in 36 children are diagnosed with some form of ASD, making the condition very common.

The reason ASD is referred to as a spectrum has to do with the wide range of presentations of autism. There is tremendous variety in the severity that the conditions manifest. Some individuals may grow to need minimal support, while others may need high levels of support through adolescence and adulthood. Regardless of the severity of the diagnosis, there is hope for a long and enjoyable life, given that proper care is taken.

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

Due to the varied nature of this disorder, it often goes undetected in early childhood. Because this disorder is so broad, it is easy to assume that minor developmental issues are attributed to temperament and personality when the individual actually falls on the spectrum of autism.

ASD is s developmental disorder that is most easily observed in social communication and interaction skills. This genetic disorder is hereditary, although environmental factors greatly affect how the disorder progresses. It is important to note that ASD is found across all racial and ethnic groups, although there is evidence that it occurs more commonly in boys than girls.

Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals diagnosed who fall on the spectrum of autism usually have difficulty or greater challenges with social interactions. Some have a hard time understanding or being aware of social norms like personal space, voice volume, implicit and explicit language, and reading nonverbal cues. Here is a list of characteristics infants with ASD usually display:

  • Difficulty with keeping eye contact
  • At nine months, does not respond to their name
  • Difficulty displaying emotions like happy or sad
  • Has difficulty with interactive games
  • Does not routinely use gestures
  • Doesn’t demonstrate attachment and interest in objectives early in development
  • Has difficulty comprehending pain or discomfort demonstrated by other children
  • May have difficulty connecting with other children
  • Cant engage in make-believe games
  • Does not dance or sing

As children with ASD grow, many will be able to function adequately enough to engage in common social settings. However, some individuals will continue to have difficulties. The spectrum of ASD ranges greatly, and some individuals will have trouble in one area where others do not. Some individuals may also have significant difficulties where other people with ASD do not. As adults, ASD manifests in several ways:

  • Comprehension of social rules
  • Talking over others
  • Maintaining eye contact
  • Trouble respecting personal space with others, getting too close to them
  • Becoming angry when their personal space is violated or they are touched
  • Is preoccupied with details, patterns, sounds, and smells
  • Developing strong interests in certain topics
  • Being very process driven

After reading this list of characteristics, it is easier to see why it may be difficult to assess if someone has autism or not. Individuals who may not be on the spectrum but have not been properly socialized may share many of the same characteristics.

Many individuals that deal with ASD also have other underlying issues. These co-occurring disorders include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression. Underlying conditions can often make life far more difficult for the individual and make treatment plans more difficult as well.

Diagnosis and Treatment

There are numerous methods for treating ASD, all of which begin with a proper and accurate diagnosis. Considering the genetic nature of this disorder, symptoms manifest early in childhood development. Within the first year of life, children will begin to demonstrate signs of ASD. Primary caregivers of children with autism need to be vigilant and wary of what to look for. The list of symptoms provided above is a good starting point for developing an understanding of the condition.

Alter Behavioral Health is equipped to walk with families seeking treatment plans for ASD. For adults who are looking for help managing their autism diagnosis, Alter Behavioral Health is ready to help devise a plan for making life manageable. While there is no medication currently that will help with ASD, there are underlying conditions that can be treated with medication that often make coping with everyday tasks much more achievable. Scheduling a consultation with a trained mental health care professional will help establish a baseline for a treatment plan. Treatment plans and further care include the following:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Training in developing coping strategies
  • Social connection and engagement
  • Work programs
  • Care for anxiety and substance abuse

These are just some of the ways that Alter Behavioral Health is partnering with individuals living with ASD. If treated properly, ASD is not always a debilitating disorder. Many individuals live very happy and full lives by applying coping strategies and their unique skill base to their lives.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a genetic disorder that begins to show symptoms in early childhood. This disorder often is best observed in social and interpersonal interactions. Individuals with this disorder may have a hard time relating to their peers and engaging in “normal” social behaviors. Individuals with autism often develop issues with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Whether it’s cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), developing coping techniques, or treating underlying conditions through medication, Alter Behavioral Health is prepared to offer the care needed to find a stable and enjoyable pace of life. For more information on services and treatment, call us today at (866) 691-4386. We are ready to help you live the life you want.

Finding the Right Diagnosis: Anxiety and Comorbid Conditions

Finding the Right Diagnosis: Anxiety and Comorbid Conditions

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Finding the right diagnosis is potentially the most crucial step in receiving appropriate and effective care. Many people will seek help for an ongoing condition only to discover that there is another or multiple other conditions simultaneously at play. Comorbidity refers to the presence of multiple conditions in effect simultaneously or presenting themselves in an alternating fashion. Anxiety disorders can play a lead role and be an underlying condition in mental health diagnosis. A holistic evaluation of all the potential comorbid conditions is always beneficial in creating a treatment plan.

Diagnosing Anxiety

It is important to recognize that anxiety is a part of everyday life and also serves a vital purpose. Most people routinely experience anxiety, worry, and fear in their daily lives. When our bodies perceive an impending threat, it enters into a state of heightened awareness and readiness fueled by the release of adrenaline. This adrenaline release gives the body energy to move to safety or fight when threatened. It is an essential survival function. Discussion around disorders arises when there is no apparent threat, and yet the body remains in a state of readiness. 

Individuals with anxiety disorders often find that ordinary activities are enough to trigger intense feelings of fear, terror, worry, and anxiety. As these intense feelings persist, they begin to cause disruption and interference in the daily lives of the individual. Reports indicate that nearly 30% of Americans struggle with some type of anxiety disorder, making it the most common mental health disorder. The major anxiety disorders identified by the American Psychiatric Association are as follows:

  • Specific phobia
  • Social anxiety disorder
  • Panic disorder
  • Agoraphobia
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
  • Separation anxiety disorder

Of these disorders, phobias and social anxiety disorders are the most prevalent. All of these disorders center around a strong physical reaction to a perceived threat. If anxiety disorders are left unchecked, they can easily become debilitating and lead to other health complications. Because of their broad and often pervasive nature, anxiety disorders create an environment for the comorbid condition to surface. Before the topic of comorbid conditions can be discussed, it is essential to know what causes anxiety disorders initially. 

The Origins of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders have many different potential points of origin. Though there is much uncertainty around the causes of anxiety disorders, the popular opinion amongst researchers is that they arise in response to early traumatic experiences. Experiences with sexual, emotional, or physical abuse have been closely linked to later developmental issues and mental health conditions such as anxiety. 

Researchers also suggest that prolonged exposure to intolerable conditions contributes to the formation of anxiety disorders. This may look like prolonged or consistent periods of neglect, starvation, malnutrition, and unsanitary living conditions. Anxiety disorders are especially prevalent in adults who witnessed traumatic events as children.

It is important to recognize that trauma is very subjective and varies case by case. What some may call an objectively traumatic experience may leave some individuals seemingly unaffected while others may develop debilitating conditions like anxiety. 

Anxiety issues can also spawn from underlying health issues. Many individuals who struggle with chronic illness and chronic pain also report heightened anxiety that interferes with their daily life. Some of these issues include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tumors, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic pain from autoimmune diseases.  

Finding the Right Diagnosis: Comorbid Conditions

Comorbidity, or having multiple conditions occurring simultaneously, is very common in individuals who struggle with anxiety disorders. Often people will try to find ways to alleviate their anxious feelings through self-medication or alternative means. 

One of the most common conditions that accompany anxiety disorders is substance use disorder (SUD). This disorder commonly develops as individuals try to self-medicate their anxiety disorder through narcotics and other harmful substances. The goal isn’t initially to develop an addiction but rather to find a way to cope with the anxiety and get back to a normal pace of life. Unfortunately, the dependency rate for many of the substances that are commonly used is very high.

Another common co-occurring disorder that accompanies anxiety disorders is depression. Depression and anxiety are commonly linked together as co-occurring disorders as they both have origins in early development. Research indicates that it is typically anxiety disorders usually manifest first in early adolescence, followed by depressive disorders in adolescence and early adulthood. 

Depression is very debilitating and can often have long-term effects. The following are some of the symptoms of depressive disorders:

  • Loss of motivation
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Dramatic weight gain or weight loss
  • Lethargy and low energy
  • Despair
  • Low sex drive
  • Withdrawal and isolation

Many individuals experience these symptoms for brief periods in their lives, which does immediately indicate a major depressive disorder. Depression is often confused with sadness. While some of the symptoms may be similar, depression occurs over a prolonged period, or episodes may happen consecutively. 

Getting the Right Diagnosis for Anxiety and Comorbid Conditions

Diagnosis is a crucial and often difficult part of evaluating a treatment plan. Assessing the disorder tricky because anxiety is commonly underlying another more prominent condition. For example, individuals who are addicted to substances may seek help for sobriety because that condition is prominent and utilizes a lot of energy. Meanwhile, their anxiety disorder is left unchecked. 

One of the most prominent forms of treatment for those who struggle with anxiety is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a form of talk therapy that is conducted in a secure and confidential relationship between a client and a professional counselor. This form of therapy is especially effective for treating anxiety disorders because it is largely dedicated to processing and grieving traumatic experiences and developing coping strategies. Also, professional counselors can accurately assess if medications will be a useful tool in the therapeutic process. 

Anxiety disorders are serious conditions and should be handled with care. They can also be accompanied by a wide range of comorbid disorders that make diagnosis and treatment especially difficult. Many individuals try to self-medicate their anxiety disorders through the use of substances. This often makes matters even worse as the root of the anxiety is left unaddressed. At Alter Behavioral Health, we have developed special programs designed to treat anxiety disorders and all comorbid conditions. Individuals seeking help will be greeted by a highly qualified and skilled staff that is dedicated to providing the help and guidance needed to tackle these tough issues. For more information about our treatment plans and program, call (866) 691-4386.

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 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.

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.