Understanding and Treating Co-Occurring Disorders
Overcoming a mental illness or substance use disorder on its own is difficult. Recovering from both at the same time is an extremely complex challenge. Fortunately, help is available in the form of co-occurring disorders treatment at High Focus Centers. To best recover from co-occurring disorders, it’s important to understand them. What Are Co-Occurring Disorders? A co-occurring disorder is defined as having multiple behavioral health disorders simultaneously, such as a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or eating disorder. For example, one suffering from depression and dependency on prescription painkillers would be deemed to have a co-occurring disorder. In some [...]
How to Support Your Loved One with a Psychological Condition This Holiday Season
Learning a loved one has a mental health disorder can leave you feeling a bit shaken. However, it’s important to try and be supportive and empathetic, especially towards the end of the year. The holiday season is all about spending time with friends and family, but those with mental illness can struggle with their anxiety, depression, and stress during this time of year. Here are a few tips on how you can support your loved one with a psychological condition this holiday season. Let Them Know You’re There One of the best things you can do for a loved one [...]
4 Things to Remember When Searching for a Therapist
If you are suffering from mental illness, searching for a therapist is an important step towards recovery and having a better life. However, finding a therapist can be a difficult and deeply personal task. You are trying to find a person with the right skills, training, and personality to help you overcome your specific condition. This is not a process that should be rushed or done carelessly. Here are a few things to keep in mind when searching for a therapist. Don’t Get Caught Up in Titles When searching for a therapist, people often spend too much time thinking about [...]
The Dangers of Untreated Mental Illness
Millions of Americans suffer from mental illness every year. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that 43.8 million adults in the United States experience mental illness annually. Around 10 million people suffer from a mental illness that severely interferes with major life activities. Sadly, more than half of these mental illnesses go untreated, leaving adults and children unnecessarily suffering from symptoms. The reasons why people don’t seek treatment are vast. The stigma and shame around receiving treatment can keep people from getting help. Poverty or embarrassment can also keep someone from asking for assistance. It may be difficult [...]
Warning Signs of Psychiatric Illness in Adults
While there is more awareness surrounding mental illness than ever before, it can still be difficult to identify symptoms within yourself or loved ones. Here at High Focus Centers, we’re focused on not only helping those with mental health issues and disorders, but on educating them so that they can better help themselves. Here are a few warning signs of psychiatric illness to be aware of in adults. Most Common Symptoms and Warning Signs One of the first things to understand when it comes to mental illness is that it’s best not to be alarmed when one shows just a [...]
How to Recognize Depression Symptom Differences in Teen Boys and Girls
For teenagers, navigating the world can prove difficult and confusing. Finding a sense of self, establishing a peer group, and dealing with hormonal and bodily changes all contribute to ups and downs. Yet for teens dealing with depression, symptoms go beyond the usual struggles. Unfortunately, only one out of every five teenagers suffering from depression actually gets help due to their inability to recognize the symptoms, which is why parental involvement is key. Although boys and girls suffer from similar symptoms, there are notable differences. If you are concerned your teen may be depressed, read on to recognize warning signs [...]
Benefits of DBT Skills Training for People with Depression
Dialectical behavior therapy or DBT was originally developed to treat people with borderline personality disorder, particularly those who were chronically suicidal. However, mental health experts are now finding that DBT skills training can be used in outpatient psychiatric care to address symptoms of depression as well as many other mental illnesses. What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy? Dialectical behavior therapy is a modified form of cognitive behavioral therapy developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan that focuses on "accepting" uncomfortable and unhealthy behaviors and thoughts instead of struggling against them. The idea behind it is that once such a behavior is validated, changing [...]
