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I Was in Foster Care: Could That Contribute to My Mental Health?

I Was in Foster Care: Could That Contribute to My Mental Health?

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Every person is exposed to unique risk factors that influence their vulnerability to developing substance use disorder (SUD) and other mental health disorders. Experiences of trauma can increase one’s risk of these health complications, even if these memories are repressed. Individuals who grew up in the foster care system likely have a traumatic past that continues to affect their mental health in daily life. Recognizing the impact of foster care on mental health is necessary for achieving lasting wellness. 

No matter what an individual is going through, Alter Behavioral Health is here to provide support and guidance in healing from mental health issues. We understand the lasting impact of trauma on health and healing. Further, we can help people understand how their experiences in foster care have influenced their mental health in their daily life. 

Understanding Foster Care

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, foster care is “a temporary service provided by States for children who cannot live with their families.” A child is placed into foster care because birth parents are unable to provide adequate care for their child, or the home presents prevalent safety concerns. Foster care may be utilized temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of problems experienced by a family as well as the age of the minor being placed into foster care. 

Many circumstances may cause a child to be placed into foster care. The following are a few examples:

  • Child neglect: The failure to meet a child’s basic needs. Examples of child neglect include being left alone for long periods of time, having inadequate nutrition, experiencing unsafe living environments, etc. 
  • Child abuse: Involves any situations of maltreatment perpetrated by an adult that is witnessed or experienced by a child. Examples of child abuse circumstances include physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse. 
  • Drug addiction: Living with a parent with SUD can lead to catastrophic effects experienced by the entire family. 
  • Incarceration: If a parent is incarcerated, the child must be placed in an alternative living situation. 
  • Major illness or death: A parent may become physically ill, interfering with their ability to care for their child. Additionally, if a parent passes away, their child may experience a foster care placement. 

In many of these cases, a relative or other family member may step in to care for the child in question. Therefore, any adult that steps in to raise a child can be recognized as a foster parent.

The Effects of Foster Care on Mental Health

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, “There are over 391,000 children and youth in foster care. Mental and behavioral health is the largest unmet health need for these children and teens.” Further, “Up to 80 percent of children in foster care have significant mental health issues, compared with approximately 18 to 22 percent of the general population.” Thus, there is an evident impact of foster care on mental health. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some of the complex challenges experienced by individuals in foster care include the following.

Histories of Trauma

Traumatic experiences are what ultimately drive foster placements. Therefore, children may be exposed to traumatic situations long before they are placed into foster care. It is necessary to understand that childhood trauma of any kind interferes with proper development. As a result, foster care can inform long-lasting mental health concerns that stretch through adulthood. 

Difficult Transitions

Children in foster care may endure multiple losses and transitions. This can inevitably affect their sense of self and overall well-being. They may experience traumatic separations from their parents and siblings or temporary placements. Further, it can be overwhelming to make effective adjustments when living with a new family. This lack of grounding can lead to significant strain and stress on children. As a result, these experiences can inform the development of mental health problems and disorders later in life. 

Relational Issues

A child’s sense of security, safety, and development is rooted in their caregivers. However, due to significant family disruptions, children in foster care lack the knowledge of healthy relational models needed to thrive in relationships throughout their lives. These relational issues can contribute to low self-worth, lack of social support, isolation, and more. Such issues can persist long through adulthood.

Treating Foster Care Trauma

The aforementioned challenges only scratch the surface of unique foster care experiences that influence a person’s mental health throughout their lifetime. It is not uncommon for adults to disregard their past foster care experiences when seeking healing from mental health, assuming that there is no connection between the two. However, these experiences take place in the most crucial developmental stages of an individual’s life. Therefore, they must be addressed and processed when healing from mental health problems. 

At Alter Behavioral Health, we offer treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We are passionate about helping individuals heal from the root causes of their mental health concerns. Using a wide range of evidence-based and holistic modalities, our therapists can help individuals recover from the complex influences of foster care as they heal from their mental health distress. 

Although foster care can provide incredible developmental opportunities for a child, the utilization of foster care means that a child has endured a traumatic past. Further, the transitions and relational circumstances in foster care can complicate a child’s mental health throughout their life. If you’re wondering if your mental health has been affected by your experiences in foster care, they likely have. At Alter Behavioral Health, we recognize how foster care can have long-lasting impacts on your mental health. We provide customizable treatment plans that prioritize whole-person healing, allowing you to process and overcome your past experiences of trauma as you heal from mental health distress. To learn more, call (866) 691-4386 today.

Can Gender Dysphoria Be the Reason Behind Other Disorder Symptoms?

Can Gender Dysphoria Be the Reason Behind Other Disorder Symptoms?

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An article from the American Journal of Public Health estimates that there are about one million transgender adults in America, with numbers increasing annually. Transgender individuals are particularly vulnerable to experiencing gender dysphoria, a condition marked by severe psychological distress that occurs when an individual’s biological sex does not match their gender identity. Such distress can have long-lasting impacts on an individual’s well-being, especially if it goes untreated.

Similar to any untreated mental health condition, untreated gender dysphoria can increase an individual’s risk of developing mental health disorders and substance use disorder (SUD). For this reason, it is imperative that individuals recognize the necessity of professional treatment in healing from gender dysphoria, co-occurring disorders, and any other associated symptoms. At Alter Behavioral Health, we are passionate about providing gender-affirming care to our clients struggling with gender dysphoria and any associated health concerns. 

What Is Gender Dysphoria?

According to Gender Dysphoria by Garima Garg, Ghada Elshimy, and Raman Marwaha, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) defines gender dysphoria as “a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics.” This condition may begin to develop during childhood. However, it is more commonly developed during or after puberty. 

Individuals who experience gender dysphoria often experience an internal sense of chaos, feeling as if they were born into the wrong body. Such turmoil can inevitably affect an individual’s ability to function in daily life, let alone impair interpersonal relationships and inhibit their ability to find their place in the world. 

Symptoms of Gender Dysphoria

The publication titled “Medical Interventions for Transgender Youth,” published by Endotext [Internet], provides a table that identifies the DSM-5 criteria for gender dysphoria. For a proper diagnosis, at least two of the following six manifestations must be present for at least six months:

  • As mentioned previously, “a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics”
  • A strong conviction that one is experiencing authentic feelings and reactions of another gender

As well as a strong desire to:

  • Alter or rid one’s sexual anatomy due to marked incongruence in expressed gender
  • Have the sexual autonomy of another gender
  • Be of another gender
  • Be treated as another gender

Moreover, the condition of gender dysphoria “is associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.”

The Heavy Burdens of Gender Dysphoria

Although the level of unease or dissatisfaction that accompanies gender dysphoria can vary, it is often so intense that it impairs an individual’s sense of self. In addition, a person with gender dysphoria is vulnerable to experiencing a plethora of hardships in their daily life. These challenges often interfere with a person’s willingness to seek or pursue mental health treatment. 

As a result of increased stigmatization and discrimination, some of the immense challenges that individuals with gender dysphoria experience include:

  • Economic hardships
    • Increased risk of poverty and unemployment
    • Discrimination in education
    • Increased risk of homelessness
  • Health disparities
    • Increased rates of HIV infection
    • Lack of primary and gender-affirming care
    • High rates of attempted suicide
  • Relational issues
    • Peer, familial, and societal rejection

The Effects of Gender Dysphoria on Mental Health

Individuals who experience gender dysphoria and associated challenges are subject to profound mental health distress. Gender dysphoria can harm an individual’s self-worth, perpetuating feelings of guilt, shame, blame, and more. Further, an individual with gender dysphoria may become fixated on their gender expression, informing the development of eating disorders and other mental health problems.

Some of the specific mental health concerns that often result from gender dysphoria include:

  • Negative self-image
  • Dissociative symptoms
  • Increased conflict in interpersonal relationships
  • Slowed educational or occupational development
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Self-harming behavior
  • The development of mental health disorders:
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Eating disorders
    • Mood disorders
    • Personality disorders
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Additionally, individuals with gender dysphoria experience increased risks of addiction and substance use disorder (SUD). In an attempt to treat or resolve unmanageable symptoms of gender dysphoria, an individual may turn to alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate. Moreover, they may feel more compelled to engage in substance use alongside other peers with gender dysphoria in nightlife or party scenes. Not only does substance use only mask underlying gender dysphoria symptoms, but it also makes an individual more vulnerable to developing a co-occurring chemical dependency. 

Treating Gender Dysphoria at Alter Behavioral Health

At Alter Behavioral Health, we pride ourselves on creating customizable treatment plans for all of our clients. We curate these plans using a whole-person approach to care to ensure that each client has the best chance at securing lasting wellness in their lives. In addition to treating a diagnosis or set of symptoms, we customize treatment based on our client’s unique needs and recovery goals. 

Upon arrival at our facility, clients will undergo initial assessments and screenings to properly diagnose any mental health disorders. Proper diagnoses are essential for crafting an effective treatment plan. From there, we work with our clients to identify treatment modalities and approaches that will best fit their needs. Individuals struggling with gender dysphoria and other mental health disorders can find refuge and healing at our facility. 

Gender dysphoria is a complex mental health condition characterized by psychological distress that interferes with an individual’s ability to function normally in daily life. Commonly, gender dysphoria occurs alongside other mental health disorders and symptoms, such as a negative self-image, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. If you are struggling with gender dysphoria, Alter Behavioral Health can help. We are a mental health treatment facility that applies a modern understanding of care and emphasizes treating a diagnosis as well as the person. We offer a wide range of therapeutic approaches and modalities to ensure that you can achieve lasting symptom management and wellness in your life. To learn more, call us at (866) 691-4386.

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

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

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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.

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

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

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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?

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

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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):

As scientists continue to investigate the brains of people who have mental illnesses, they are learning that mental illness is associated with changes in the brain’s structure, chemistry, and function and that mental illness does indeed have a biological basis.

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.

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

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

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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:

A boundary is a border or limit which we set in order to protect ourselves. Personal boundaries may be physical or emotional and provide an important tool in protecting and caring for ourselves.

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:

  1. Physical
  2. Intellectual
  3. Emotional
  4. Social
  5. Spiritual
  6. Vocational
  7. Financial
  8. 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.

Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy for Treating ADHD

Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy for Treating ADHD

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In recent years, the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become increasingly common. According to an article in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, “ADHD has a global prevalence of 5.9% to 7.1% in children and 1.2% to 7.3% in adults.” Several theories aim to address the increasing prevalence of ADHD, including greater public and professional awareness of the condition. Nevertheless, discussing effective treatment options for those with ADHD is crucial for motivating treatment engagement and recovery. 

Alter Behavioral Health is a mental health treatment center that is devoted to the success, creativity, and happiness of all individuals. We offer a wide range of therapeutic programs and services to individuals seeking treatment and recovery from all types of mental health concerns. Moreover, we specialize in the treatment of ADHD using a combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatments. 

Understanding ADHD

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains that ADHD “is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.” It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is most commonly diagnosed during childhood. However, it is important to note that many individuals do not receive a proper ADHD diagnosis until they reach adulthood. 

The type and severity of signs and symptoms of ADHD vary on a case-by-case basis. For example, some people may only struggle with symptoms of inattention, while most struggle with symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. Some examples of symptoms that a person with ADHD may exhibit include:

  • Inattention:
    • Difficulties with staying on task
    • Inability to sustain focus
    • Issues with staying organized
    • Frequently overlooking important details at work or school
    • Issues with following through on instructions
    • Avoiding tasks that require sustained mental effort
    • Constantly losing important items
    • Being easily distracted
  • Hyperactivity-impulsivity
    • Restlessness
    • Difficulties with acknowledging potential long-term consequences of behaviors
    • Low tolerance for frustration
    • Excessively talking
    • Constantly in motion
    • Issues with sitting or staying still
    • Anxiety

Dismantling the Stigma of ADHD

Despite being a legit mental health condition, ADHD is commonly addressed using humor and stereotypes. For example, those with ADHD may be identified as lazy, inconsistent, and careless. In an attempt to dismantle hurtful stigma, it is important to recognize that individuals with ADHD struggle significantly in completing and following through with tasks. Like all other mental health disorders, this is because ADHD deeply affects the brain. 

ADHD in the Brain

According to an article in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, the brains of those with ADHD experience dysregulation in various neural pathways and regions involved in attention, impulse control, and stimulus integration. Additionally, ADHD is the result of neurotransmitter deficiencies that would otherwise activate the brain’s reward system properly. 

One of these neurotransmitters that is often shorted due to ADHD is norepinephrine. Combined with deficiencies in other related neurotransmitters, a person with ADHD is unable to concentrate effectively or experience value in daily activities. Moreover, impulsive behavior is heightened through an urge to stimulate neurotransmitter-generating activities. 

Those with ADHD should not feel ashamed or guilty for their inability to follow through with tasks or for their impulsive behavior. ADHD is a condition that can affect anyone, and therefore, its symptoms have no reflection upon an individual’s character. Fortunately, there are a host of treatment options available for symptom management and treatment of ADHD. 

Treating ADHD

The first step in treating ADHD is receiving a diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional. When seeking a diagnosis, an individual can ask questions and become more informed about the underlying factors that drive their ADHD symptoms. Additionally, a professional can suggest the most effective treatment options available for healing. 

At Alter Behavioral Health, our primary treatment approaches for ADHD include pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. We recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all for treatment, which is why we can personalize our client’s treatment plans to fit their unique needs and goals. 

Pharmacotherapy

This treatment involves the use of pharmaceutical medications to treat various symptoms of ADHD. Stimulants are the most effective medication type for ADHD, as they work to increase dopamine levels and other important neurotransmitters in the brain. As a result of stimulant medications, an individual may experience increased motivation, pleasure, and attention. 

It is important to highlight that using medication for a mental health disorder is not as simple as taking a prescription and experiencing an immediate reduction in symptoms. Often, medication is a process that takes time, often referred to as medication management. Working with a qualified mental health professional, a person may need to trial different medication types and dosages to ensure effective results. Additionally, understand that medication can take a few weeks to work properly. 

Moreover, medication is often not enough on its own to cease the symptoms of ADHD. An individual will need to address the connections that lie between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to experience lasting healing and recovery. In this way, pharmacotherapy in combination with psychotherapy often informs the most effective results. 

Psychotherapy

Although psychotherapy may not be enough on its own to treat ADHD, it can be extremely effective when used in tandem with prescription stimulants. Often, individuals with ADHD leave their condition untreated or are not properly diagnosed until adulthood. When ADHD is untreated or left undiagnosed, it can wreak havoc on an individual’s life. Once that individual begins treatment, they will need to address and navigate the consequences that their ADHD has had on their life. 

With psychotherapy, an individual will learn coping skills and stress management techniques for navigating common maladaptive thoughts and behavior patterns that often result from ADHD. For example, habitual cycles of negative self-talk and other self-destructive behaviors, such as substance use, can be common. Therefore, by regularly working with a therapist in psychotherapy, a person can break out of these patterns and begin to identify with an ever-healing, ever-changing self. 

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. However, it is a highly stigmatized condition, with those with ADHD often labeled as “lazy” or “careless.” Nonetheless, it is a condition that results from neurotransmitter deficiencies in the brain. Fortunately, there are several effective treatment approaches that can help with symptom management for those with ADHD. At Alter Behavioral Health, we are committed to providing excellent mental health care to adults seeking healing. We specialize in the treatment of mental health and co-occurring disorders, highlighting our use of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for the treatment of ADHD. To learn more about our programs and options, give us a call today at (866) 691-4386.

Was My PTSD Misdiagnosed as Depression?

Was My PTSD Misdiagnosed as Depression?

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Mental health treatment should be supportive and kind. It should be challenging yet educational and healing. If not, a person’s mental health may be more harmed. Proper treatment and diagnosis are necessary for healing. However, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression often get misdiagnosed, as some professionals mix up the symptoms. Alter Behavioral Health begins with an assessment and diagnosis to make sure this does not happen to you during treatment.

PTSD: The Experience and Symptoms

Experiencing something traumatic, such as being abused or a car crash, can linger and develop into PTSD. Not all experiences of trauma cause PTSD, although symptoms may begin within three months of the initial event but can occur years later as well. If you have PTSD, you may experience one or all of the following symptoms:

  • Having flashbacks or re-experiencing the trauma, causing a person to relive the trauma or have persistent thoughts and dreams
  • Avoidance of  thoughts, people, or places that remind of the trauma
  • Reactivity, which causes quick reactions, such as angry outbursts
  • Altered cognition and mood, distorted thoughts or feelings about oneself or the world, or not remembering parts of the trauma

You can get treatment to heal from PTSD, but it takes effort and time to finish. Three of the most effective trauma-focused therapies include:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps make connections between thoughts, emotions, and behavior to understand how trauma affected you and change how you feel
  • Exposure therapy: Exposing yourself to the memories by talking about them again and again, or in some cases, visiting places, to lessen the severity of the memories
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This uses repeated sounds or movement to focus the brain while you talk through the trauma to work through the feelings

Describing Depression

Depression alters a person’s outlook on life, motivation, and enjoyment of activities, people, and life in general. While “I’m depressed” gets thrown around in conversations as a replacement for “I’m bored” or “I’m sad” a lot, depression is serious. There are five main types of depression:

  • Major depression: Where you experience episodes of depression symptoms, such as listlessness or lack of motivation
  • Persistent depression: This is when major depressive episodes occur frequently
  • Clinical depression: When a person experiences depression throughout their life, almost by default
  • Bipolar depression or manic depression: Intense swings between positive or energetic and depressive
  • Postpartum depression: Occurs in some women after giving birth

While these five types of depression can look similar, they affect a person’s life at different intensities. Everyone experiences depression differently, especially if they have past trauma in their life. Common symptoms of all types of depression are:

  • Negative persistent feelings, such as sadness or hopelessness
  • Loss of interest in activities, hobbies, or people
  • Insomnia or sleeping too much
  • Anxiety or restlessness
  • Slowed thinking or movement
  • Reoccurring thoughts of death or suicide

Depression vs. PTSD

PTSD and depression often get mixed up because PTSD can cause depression or depression-like symptoms. However, they are two very different disorders.

Depression can be debilitating, whereas PTSD often triggers the fight-or-flight response. A person can freeze and not know what to do or be able to move when having a PTSD flashback. Alternatively, depression can cause manic energy or avoidance. They sound similar but affect a person’s life differently.

Someone may naturally start managing their PTSD, as most people will adapt and learn to survive the trauma. With PTSD, a person may be distracted from memories and thoughts. They may be able to put off a flashback with the help of others. In comparison, depression makes a person not want to exist or show up in their own life. Even with all the coping skills in the world, depression without professional help can be dangerous.

Dangers of Misdiagnosis

Someone can go through their life with a misdiagnosis, thinking they need to heal certain parts of themselves and missing other parts that need healing. Misdiagnosis can cause a person to deny symptoms because it is not part of their disorder. It can cause repression of memories because they do not align with the diagnosis.

When depression and PTSD are mixed up, a person may only be working on their outlook on life, not knowing there are traumatic memories that need exploring. That can cause turmoil in their life, such as being reactive to people and not understanding why.

Treatment for PTSD at Alter Behavioral Health

Receiving treatment for PTSD includes a supportive and comforting environment, around-the-clock medical and mental care access, focused treatment, and peer support. Alter Behavioral Health provides more than treatment, but helps connect you to community services, helps you build skills for a successful life, and helps you plan for after treatment. They also have you work closely with your treatment team to make sure your therapy and treatment goals are being reached. When they are not, you and your therapist will work together to make changes so you can be successful.

You will also receive whole-person treatment at Alter Behavioral Health. While some therapists or treatment programs only look at and treat the symptoms of the disorder you are there for, whole-person healing looks at you as a whole. This includes your emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, and occupational wellness. If one or more of those areas of your life are suffering, it will affect your disorder and you as a whole.

Being misdiagnosed can be harmful to your mental health. At Alter Behavioral Health, we prioritize assessment and diagnosis upon entering our program for accurate diagnosis. When you have an accurate diagnosis, you can get the correct type of treatment to change your life. With evidence-based care and a safe place to heal, whether from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression, we have the program for you. Contact us today at (866) 691-4386 to hear about our program options. With a nationally recognized program, you can trust us with your healing. Only you can make the ultimate step to improve your life, but we will be right there with you, helping along the way. 

How Does Living With Untreated Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Affect My Life?

How Does Living With Untreated Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Affect My Life?

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Some cultures do not accept mental health problems as real. They may teach people to bury their problems, or a person is too embarrassed, so they ignore the symptoms. Whatever the reason, it is possible to miss the symptoms of a disorder. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a commonly missed disorder, especially in women. Ignoring symptoms of a psychological disorder can have adverse effects on a person’s health. However, you can receive diagnosis and treatment at Alter Behavioral Health for ADHD.

Exploring ADHD

More than a person’s ability to pay attention is affected by ADHD. Someone with ADHD may experience the following symptoms:

  • Inattention: Someone struggles to stay on task, sustain focus, or maintain organization
  • Hyperactivity: Someone may not be able to stay in one place, such as experiencing restlessness or talking too much
  • Impulsivity: Someone may act without thinking or struggle with self-control

People often assume incorrect facts about someone with ADHD because of how it presents itself. Such as they are lazy or that only men develop ADHD. Some people also think that ADHD needs constant medication to manage the symptoms. Another myth is that ADHD is a learning disability and that children with the disorder need to try harder.

All of those are incorrect myths. While men are 13% more likely to develop it, women often get overlooked or not assessed for ADHD, so research only estimates six percent of women have the disorder. ADHD does not mean that a child needs to try harder. In fact, it means that the child needs more support. ADHD is its own disorder and affects people differently. No one should assume they understand what it is like living with the disorder unless they have it.

How Untreated ADHD Can Become Harmful

Some people have their ADHD diagnosed incorrectly as a behavioral disorder. Others may not know they have a disorder, as people can brush off symptoms, claiming a person is inattentive or “ditzy.” However, untreated ADHD, while not life-threatening, can still have negative outcomes on a person’s mental health or relationships.

In addition to misdiagnosing, someone with ADHD, especially children, may get overmedicated to manage the symptoms. This can create substance use problems or changes to the brain during development. ADHD symptoms can also cause friction in relationships. Inattention, talking too much, or self-control issues may exasperate loved ones. Losing the support of a friend or family member can be disheartening or make someone think they do not deserve attention and support.

ADHD can also cause mental health professionals to overlook other psychological disorders, thinking the symptoms are due to impulsivity or inattention. That can be dangerous, as with behavioral disorders, there is a  persistent and severe feeling of anger or defiance. This can create further problems in school or work or with friends and family.

Symptoms of ADHD

A psychological disorder needs to be evaluated and diagnosed by a mental health professional. However, knowing the symptoms can help you identify if you need to be evaluated for another disorder or if you need ADHD-specified treatment. Symptoms are not limited to but include:

  • Seemingly carelessness towards activities, conversations, tasks, or work
  • Not seeming to listen when being directly talked to
  • Finding it hard to follow through on tasks, schoolwork, or work
  • Difficulty with organization or doing things in a sequence
  • Fidgeting, tapping, or restlessness
  • Unable to do tasks quietly
  • Constant motion
  • Excessive talking
  • Disrupting conversations or questions
  • Losing objects or supplies
  • Being easily distracted

Treatment at Alter Behavioral Health

Co-occurring disorders are when someone has substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health disorder. This can be a combination of any mental health disorder, such as ADHD, autism, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to name a few. An estimated 20% of adults with SUD also live with ADHD.

Not only do ADHD symptoms pose a threat to a person’s life and health, but they can cause other disorders to develop that pose an additional threat. Alter Behavioral Health offers different levels of care to support whatever healing needs a person has, including the ability to tailor treatment to focus on ADHD.

Therapy and Pharmacotherapy

One of the top ways to treat any psychological disorder is with talk therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a top therapy modality used to treat ADHD and other disorders. “CBT involves identifying patterns of thinking and false beliefs to change behaviors.” When connections between thoughts and emotions are made, a person is able to recognize how it affects their behavior. This leads to being able to change it, like learning copings skill to not interrupt others.

Psychological disorders can change the neurons in the brain. Altered brain chemistry can cause mood or behavioral problems. When that is the case, a therapist may prescribe pharmaceutical treatment or medication. With the aid of medication, a person can get help regulating their brain chemistry to improve symptoms of the disorder. For example, someone with ADHD may have a low tolerance for stress. Medications can help decrease the production of cortisol, the chemical that causes stress. That way, you do not feel angry or frustrated easily and can manage feelings or thoughts around the situation.

Treatment Programs

Alter Behavioral Health offers residential and outpatient treatment. This way, whatever the psychological needs or personal responsibilities, a person can receive help. With residential treatment, you live and stay in the treatment program. This helps when someone cannot manage their disorder symptoms on their own. Staff and peers provide accountability and support throughout the day and night.

Outpatient treatment is different in that a person lives at home and attends treatment only a few hours a week, like when children go to school and return home in the evening. This provides support while someone works or goes to school, and they can still learn how to manage their ADHD or other disorders.

Has your behavior become increasingly inconsistent? Having an untreated mental health disorder can cause harm to your health and life. Alter Behavioral Health provides you with the diagnosis and treatment you may be missing. With a combination of therapy, group therapy, medication management, and holistic healing, you get to the root of your emotions and trauma to understand your behavior. Learn how to not only cope with your disorder but how to cope with the stress that comes with day-to-day life. Our staff is there to support you throughout your healing journey through residential, partial hospitalization, and outpatient programs. Contact us at (866) 691-4386 to hear more about healing with us. 

What Can I Expect From Mental Health Treatment?

What Can I Expect From Mental Health Treatment?

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Living and thriving with a mental health disorder, or psychiatric disorder, is possible. However, when you first start exhibiting symptoms and behavioral changes from a developing psychiatric disorder, it can be hard to imagine living with one. For stability, understanding your disorder, and how to live with it, mental health treatment is out there.

What Is Mental Health Treatment?

At Alter Behavioral Health, psychiatric disorders are defined as “a [type] of disorder that primarily affects one’s thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.” Being burdened with thoughts and emotions can cause your behavior to feel out of control. When you get to that point, it that can signify the need for an intervention.

Mental health treatment is like an intervention or an interruption of thoughts or behavior. In a treatment program, you will attend group and individual therapy. These groups range in topics and depend on the group’s needs but tend to focus on skill building. With the help of peers and therapists, you work through problems as they immediately come. You also work through past experiences and hear peers talk about their own experiences.

By hearing group members share, you can come to understand that there are others out there who are also working through similar experiences or thoughts as you. You may not feel so alone or like something is wrong with you. Learning new social skills and putting coping skills into practice is another benefit. Peers can help inspire you but also provide strength and encouragement. Treatment can be important to help you learn certain skills and truths about life.

What to Expect When You Attend Mental Health Treatment

In a mental health treatment program, you will learn about your disorder and how to cope with it. Whatever your disorder may be, you can also find positivity and strength in it. Through different therapies, you also learn to regulate and cope with the emotions that come along. Treatment can be a hard process but one that is ultimately rewarding.

Learn With the Help of Therapy

A person with a psychiatric disorder will experience distorted thoughts and false belief patterns about themselves and life. Due to this, therapy is the main way that professionals have found to help psychiatric disorders. Combined with appropriate medications, therapy can help a person have a successful life. The two main therapy modalities used are:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of therapy focuses on the relationship between thoughts, cognition, behavior, and emotions. With the help of CBT, a person learns strategies and skills to regulate, process, and feel emotions and thoughts, which influences appropriate behavior.
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Self-driven DBT focuses on emotional regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. DBT tries to build on existing skills and knowledge to successfully navigate feelings, other people, and stress.

There are other therapies, such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or acceptance therapy. However, you and a therapist will decide what will work for you and your psychiatric needs.

Mental Health Treatment Programs at Alter Behavioral Health

It can be hard to confide in others about your mental health. Alter Behavioral Health puts every effort into responding to your individual needs. This includes your therapeutic needs, financial, medical, or legal needs. Starting with a thorough assessment, Alter Behavioral Health offers treatment for different time restraints, different disorders, or co-occurring disorders.

Residential Treatment Programs

Some people need more intense, prolonged, or integrative mental health treatment. Residential treatment can be the start of your treatment journey. Located in Irvine, the home you stay in is curated and decorated with safety and peace kept in mind. Rather than having to worry about establishing a place to live that supports your well-being, you can live and focus on healing.

Residential treatment is designed to support you throughout your day as you live in the treatment facility. There, you participate in group therapy, individual therapy, and psychoeducational groups to fill your day. A person does not have to stress, as there are breaks and time in between to take in the beautiful scenery, rest, or work on treatment goals independently.

Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) or partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are the two outpatient programs available. Outpatient is an in-between step between residential and weekly therapy sessions. In outpatient, a person is able to live at home, do what they need to do, and still attend mental health treatment. Depending on work, school, family, or other needs, outpatient treatment is between six to 30 hours a week of therapeutic treatment. Whereas you follow a schedule and time constraints in residential, you are in charge of your timeline in outpatient.

Crisis Stabilization

Some people can struggle with severe, immediate, intensified emotions, experiences, or concerns. This can cause a mental crisis, where a person cannot function as they normally would. If this is the case, crisis stabilization is available for immediate, short-term stabilization. This helps a person get into the right head-space for further treatment. It can also be a way to help a person function in their lives again.

Leaving home to participate in a therapy program can be scary. Having to sit with strangers and talk about personal feelings and life experiences sounds intimidating. Have you been struggling with these feelings? Alter Behavioral Health prioritizes your healing and treatment, so you get to engage in treatment at your pace. With different therapies, whatever your disorder or disorders, you will find a treatment program that tackles your concern thoughts, behaviors, or concerns. Seeking treatment does not need to only be scary but can become empowering. You deserve to be successful in life and proud of yourself. Contact us today at (866) 691-4386 to learn how to improve your outlook on life.