MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
- Feeling very sad, hopeless or worried.
- Not enjoying things that used to give you joy.
- Being easily irritated or frustrated.
- Eating too much or too little.
- Changes in how much you sleep.
- Having a difficult time concentrating or remembering things.
- Experiencing physical problems like headache, stomach ache or sexual dysfunction.
- Thinking about hurting or killing yourself.
TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR Therapy)
- Art Therapy
- Interpersonal Therapy
WHAT IS INSOMNIA?
SYMPTOMS OF INSOMNIA
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking up during the night
- Waking up too early
- Not feeling well-rested after a night’s sleep
- Daytime tiredness or sleepiness
- Irritability, depression or anxiety
- Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering
- Increased errors or accidents
- Ongoing worries about sleep
TREATMENT
- Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
- Ramelteon (Rozerem)
- Zaleplon (Sonata)
- Zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo, Zolpimist)
- Relaxation techniques
- Essential Oils, meditation, and breathing techniques can all be used to help the symptoms of insomnia. These techniques can target muscle tension,
- Sleep Restriction
- Sleep redistricting involves restricting sleep to only night time. No naps or small rests throughout the day. This essentially initiates a state of sleep deprivation in the hopes of capitalizing on that sleepiness at night when you would normally be asleep.
- Stimulus Control Therapy
- Stimulus control therapy involves staying away from the bedroom and bed for everything but sex and sleep. Working, eating, and hanging out in bed can give false signals to the brain that this area is a place for activities and stimulation. The bed should be saved as only a place of relaxation and sleep.
WHAT IS AN ANXIETY DISORDERS
Imagine having knowledge that the world may end, but you cannot seem to remember when or how, or how to stop it. These feelings of uncontrollable dread and worry would permeate every aspect of your life, limiting your ability to function normally. This is often how those that suffer from anxiety describe the condition: overwhelming feelings of dread that are excessive, persistent, and out of scale for the amount of threat present.
Anxiety disorders can come in many forms: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, etc. At You Health Primary Care we are equipped to provide treatment for anxiety in the whole Florida. Our team of psychiatric providers and therapists can help you ease your feelings of worry and stress.
SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY
Physical symptoms:
- Cold or sweaty hands
- Dry mouth
- Heart palpitations
- Nausea
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
- Muscle tension
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling panic, fear and uneasiness.
- Nightmares.
- Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences.
- Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts.
- Inability to be still and calm.
- Ritualistic behaviors, such as washing hands repeatedly.
- Trouble sleeping.
SEVERAL TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS EXIST:
- Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and often avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.
- Anxiety disorder due to a medical condition includes symptoms of intense anxiety or panic that are directly caused by a physical health problem.
- Generalized anxiety disorder includes persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about activities or events — even ordinary, routine issues. The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance, is difficult to control and affects how you feel physically. It often occurs along with other anxiety disorders or depression.
- Panic disorder involves repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). You may have feelings of impending doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid, fluttering or pounding heart (heart palpitations). These panic attacks may lead to worrying about them happening again or avoiding situations in which they’ve occurred.
- Selective mutism is a consistent failure of children to speak in certain situations, such as school, even when they can speak in other situations, such as at home with close family members. This can interfere with school, work and social functioning.
- Separation anxiety disorder is a childhood disorder characterized by anxiety that’s excessive for the child’s developmental level and related to separation from parents or others who have parental roles.
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) involves high levels of anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness and concern about being judged or viewed negatively by others.
- Specific phobias are characterized by major anxiety when you’re exposed to a specific object or situation and a desire to avoid it. Phobias provoke panic attacks in some people.
- Substance-induced anxiety disorder is characterized by symptoms of intense anxiety or panic that are a direct result of misusing drugs, taking medications, being exposed to a toxic substance or withdrawal from drugs.
- Other specified anxiety disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are terms for anxiety or phobias that don’t meet the exact criteria for any other anxiety disorders but are significant enough to be distressing and disruptive.
TREATMENT
Medications can’t cure an anxiety disorder. But they can improve symptoms and help you function better. Medications for anxiety disorders often include:
- Anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, may decrease your anxiety, panic and worry. They work quickly, but you can build up a tolerance to them. That makes them less effective over time. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for the short-term, then taper you off or the provider may add an antidepressant to the mix.
- Antidepressants can also help with anxiety disorders. They tweak how your brain uses certain chemicals to improve mood and reduce stress. Antidepressants may take some time to work, so be patient. If you feel like you’re ready to stop taking antidepressants, talk to your provider first.
- Beta-blockers, usually used for high blood pressure, can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of anxiety disorders. They can relieve rapid heartbeat, shaking and trembling.
WHAT IS PSYCHOSIS?
The word psychosis is used to describe conditions that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. When someone becomes ill in this way, it is called a psychotic episode. During a period of psychosis, a person’s thoughts and perceptions are not reflective of the reality others experience, and the individual may have difficulty understanding what is real and what is not. Our staff here at You Health Primary Care, is adept at providing compassionate psychiatric and therapy care for those suffering from psychosis symptoms. Reach out today to get the help you deserve and to find your balance.
SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS:
Typically, a person will show changes in his or her behavior before psychosis develops. Behavioral warning signs for psychosis include:
- Sudden drop in grades or job performance
- New trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
- Suspiciousness, paranoid ideas, or uneasiness with others
- Withdrawing socially, spending a lot more time alone than usual
- Unusual, overly intense new ideas, strange feelings, or no feelings at all
- Decline in self-care or personal hygiene
- Difficulty telling reality from fantasy
- Confused speech or trouble communicating
Symptoms of psychosis include delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear). Other symptoms include incoherent or nonsense speech and behavior that is inappropriate for the situation. A person in a psychotic episode also may experience depression, anxiety, sleep problems, social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and difficulty functioning overall.
TREATMENT FOR PSYCHOSIS:
- Individual or group psychotherapy is typically based on principles of cognitive behavior therapy. This therapy is tailored to each patient’s needs and emphasizes resilience training, illness and wellness management, and building coping skills.
- Family support and education teach family members about psychosis, coping, communication, and problem-solving skills. Family members who are informed and involved are more prepared to help loved ones through the recovery process.
- Medication management (also called pharmacotherapy) helps reduce psychosis symptoms. Medication selection and dosing are tailored to patients with early psychosis and their individual needs. Like all medications, antipsychotic drugs have risks and benefits. Patients should talk with their health care providers about side effects, medication costs, and dosage preferences (daily pill or monthly injection). At You Health Primary Care, we offer treatment for psychosis at affordable rates. Call us today at (786) 529-6651 to book an appointment.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions). To get rid of the thoughts, they feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing/cleaning, checking on things, and mental acts like (counting) or other activities, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.
Many people without OCD have distressing thoughts or repetitive behaviors. However, these do not typically disrupt daily life. For people with OCD, thoughts are persistent and intrusive, and behaviors are rigid. Not performing the behaviors commonly causes great distress. Our providers at You Health Primary Care employ psychiatric treatment, therapy, and lifestyle design to treat OCD most effectively. Tackling the illness from all angles results in the best quality of life for our patients.
SYMPTOMS
Obsessions are unfounded thoughts, fears, or worries. They happen often and cause great anxiety. Reasoning does not help control the obsessions. Common obsessions are:
- A strong fixation with dirt or germs
- Repeated doubts (for example, about having turned off the stove)
- A need to have things in a very specific order
- Thoughts about violence or hurting someone
- Spending long periods of time touching things or counting
- Fixation with order or symmetry
- Persistent thoughts of awful sexual acts
- Troubled by thoughts that are against personal religious beliefs
While you may know that the thoughts are unreasonable and not due to real-life problems, it’s not enough to make the unwanted thoughts go away.
Compulsions are repetitive, ritualized acts. They are meant to reduce anxiety caused by the obsession(s). Examples are:
- Repeated hand-washing (often 100+ times a day)
- Checking and rechecking to make sure that a door is locked or that the oven is turned off for example
- Following rigid rules of order, such as, putting on clothes in the same order each day, or alphabetizing the spices, and getting upset if the order becomes disrupted
Compulsive acts can become excessive, disruptive, and time-consuming. They may interfere with daily life and relationships.
People may avoid situations in which they might have to face their obsessions. Some try alcohol or drugs to calm themselves.
TREATMENT
Medication: anti-anxiety or anti-depressant (SSRIs) medications are often used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Therapy: Therapy is also effective in controlling the symptoms and thought patterns of OCD. The most effective type of treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
WHAT IS PANIC DISORDER/PANIC ATTACKS?
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you’re losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.
Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away, perhaps when a stressful situation ends. But if you’ve had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder.
SYMPTOMS OF PANIC DISORDER/ PANIC ATTACKS
Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms:
- Sense of impending doom or danger
- Fear of loss of control or death
- Rapid, pounding heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
- Chills
- Hot flashes
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramping
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
- Numbness or tingling sensation
- Feeling of unreality or detachment
TREATMENT
Your doctor may decide that medication should be part of your therapy, to lessen your attacks’ physical symptoms. It might be part of the first steps, for instance. They might prescribe:
- An antidepressant, which is generally the first choice to prevent future panic attacks.
- An anti-anxiety prescription drug such as a benzodiazepine. For people with substance use disorders, doctors may prescribe other medications.
You and your doctor may have to try more than one medication before finding what works best. Some people do best with more than one type.
WHAT IS ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVE DISORDER (ADHD)?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults. Individuals with ADHD typically struggle with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can significantly impact their daily life and functioning.
Inattention symptoms may include difficulty sustaining attention during tasks, losing things frequently, forgetfulness, and lack of organization. Hyperactivity symptoms may include fidgeting, restlessness, and difficulty sitting still. Impulsivity symptoms may include interrupting others, making impulsive decisions, and having difficulty waiting their turn.
ADHD can also cause problems with executive functioning, such as planning, prioritizing, and initiating tasks. These difficulties can lead to problems in academic, occupational, and social settings.
While the exact causes of ADHD are unknown, research suggests that genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors may play a role in the development of the disorder. However, ADHD is treatable through a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
If you suspect that you or someone you know may have ADHD, seeking the help of a mental health professional is recommended. A psychiatrist or other mental health provider can help determine if an individual has ADHD and develop a personalized treatment plan to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
SYMPTOMS OF ADHD
Inattention means a person may have difficulty staying on task, sustaining focus, and staying organized, and these problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension.
- Be disorganized
- Lack focus
- Have a hard time paying attention to details and a tendency to make careless mistakes. Their work might be messy and seem careless.
- Have trouble staying on topic while talking, not listening to others, and not following social rules
- Be forgetful about daily activities (for example, missing appointments, forgetting to bring lunch)
- Be easily distracted by things like trivial noises or events that are usually ignored by others.
- Have a hard time getting along with others because they can’t read people’s feelings and moods
- Daydream a lot
- Be too wrapped up in their own thoughts to hear you
Hyperactivity means a person may seem to move about constantly, including in situations when it is not appropriate, or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, hyperactivity may mean extreme restlessness or talking too much. Kids with hyperactivity may:
- Fidget and squirm when seated
- Get up frequently to walk or run around
- Run or climb a lot when it’s not appropriate (In teens, this may seem like restlessness)
- Have trouble playing quietly or doing quiet hobbies
- Always be “on the go”
- Talk excessively
TREATMENT
Medication: Medication is one of the most common treatments for ADHD. These can include both stimulant and non-stimulant options. Finding the best medication for you depends on your needs and preferences, what your provider thinks is best for you, etc.
Therapy: therapy often goes hand in hand with medication treatments, and often each skills, resources, and neurological differences in the ADHD brain and how to navigate them day to day, even without medication.
LOW SELF ESTEEM ISSUES
A person with low self esteem has a low regard for themselves, which can manifest itself in traits such as indecision, hypersensitivity to criticism, and guilt. Whilst low self-esteem does not make up a condition alone, in combination with other symptoms it can point to conditions including (but not limited to) anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders.
Our You Health Primary Care providers are located in Miami, FL are dedicated to helping all patients with low self-esteem.
SYMPTOMS
Signs of low self-esteem include:
- saying negative things and being critical about yourself
- joking about yourself in a negative way
- focusing on your negatives and ignoring your achievements
- blaming yourself when things go wrong
- thinking other people are better than you
- thinking you don’t deserve to have fun
- not accepting compliments
- avoiding challenges for fear of failing
- being overly upset by disapproval or criticism
- feeling sad, depressed, anxious, ashamed, angry or worthless
TREATMENT
Talk therapy: the best treatment for low self-esteem usually involves talk therapy at the forefront. This would include work to help the patient recognize what they are good at, build new relationships, be kind to themselves, and learning assertiveness.
Medication: because low self-esteem so regularly accompanies other conditions like anxiety and depression, medications to treat each may be part of your treatment plan.
WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes rapid shifts in mood that alter behavior and thinking, alternating between long periods of severely elevated moods (mania) and very depressed moods (depressive episodes). Though the severity of bipolar disorder differs from person to person, when left untreated, the condition worsens. At You Health Primary Care, we offer board-certified psychiatrists to take a balanced and holistic approach to manage bipolar disorder. They provide comprehensive care and innovative therapies to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. To schedule a consultation, call the office (786) 529-6651.
SYMPTOMS
The bipolar disorders types include:
- Bipolar I disorder — severe mania and depression
- Bipolar II disorder — hypomania and depression
- Cyclothymic disorder — episodes of hypomania and depression
The symptoms of a manic episode can include:
- Feeling very up, high, or elated
- Feeling jumpy or wired, more active than usual
- Having a very short temper or seeming extremely irritable
- Having racing thoughts and talking very fast
- Needing less sleep
- Feeling like you are unusually important, talented, or powerful
- Do risky things that show poor judgment, such as eating and drinking too much, spending or giving away a lot of money, or having reckless sex
The symptoms of a depressive episode can include:
- Feeling very sad, hopeless, or worthless
- Feeling lonely or isolating yourself from others
- Talking very slowly, feeling like you have nothing to say, or forgetting a lot
- Having little energy
- Sleeping too much
- Eating too much or too little
- Lack of interest in your usual activities and being unable to do even simple things
- Thinking about death or suicide
The symptoms of a mixed episode include both manic and depressive symptoms together. For example, you may feel very sad, empty, or hopeless, while at the same time feeling extremely energized.
TREATMENT
Medication: Medication can help control the symptoms of bipolar disorder. You may need to try several different medicines to find which one works best for you. Some people need to take more than one medicine. It’s important to take your medicine consistently. Don’t stop taking it without first talking with your provider. Contact your provider if you have any concerns about the side effects of the medicines.
Therapy (talk therapy) can help you recognize and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It can give you and your family support, education, skills, and coping strategies. Several different types of psychotherapy may help with bipolar disorder.
Other treatment options include:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is a brain stimulation procedure that can help relieve symptoms. ECT is most often used for severe bipolar disorder that is not getting better with other treatments. It may also be used when someone needs a treatment that will work more quickly than medicines. This might be when a person has a high risk of suicide or is catatonic (unresponsive).
- Getting regular aerobic exercise may help with depression, anxiety, and trouble sleeping
- Keeping a life chart can help you and your provider track and treat your bipolar disorder. A life chart is a record of your daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events.
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