At every stage of life, good mental health is crucial to our overall well-being. Life is full of ups and downs, and our mental health status fluctuates to reflect these changes. Everyone experiences periods of depression, anxiety, stress, fear, grief, and anger. For most, these periods are caused by a particular event, sometimes past traumas,…
Mental health issues are rising in the United States. Specifically, anxiety and depression rates are steadily rising across the country. These conditions are especially prevalent in young people, a major change over the last two decades. Dangers that arise with mental health issues are the unsafe coping mechanisms, such as using drugs or alcohol to…
Dual diagnosis is a term you often hear when looking into drug and alcohol addiction treatment. It’s an important concept to understand, too, because many of those who need treatment for addiction have a co-occurring mental health disorder. If you don’t treat both conditions at once, the addiction treatment may be less effective. However, a…
Of the nearly four million people in Los Angeles and the greater LA metropolitan area, almost five percent identify as LGBTQ. Compared to the general population, the rates of substance use disorders and mental health disorders among the LGBTQ community are significantly higher. Open discrimination has resulted in many people choosing to avoid seeking the…
Traditional psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is an integral part of the treatment for addiction and co-occurring disorders. However, a successful treatment program should be comprehensive, utilizing other approaches such as cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and experiential therapies, to name a few. An integrated approach to treatment is essential to ensure that programs are flexible enough to be…
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, referred to simply as TMS, was invented in 1985 and approved for use by the FDA in 2008. Multiple clinical studies have shown TMS to be highly effective for the treatment of depression. In addiction treatment, TMS therapy programs treat depression that either contributed to the substance use disorder or arose as…
Professionals have known for years that there is a strong connection between addiction and mental health, as it is common for them to occur together (often referred to as comorbidity). For those struggling with addiction, mental health issues, or both, it can be helpful to know why this connection exists. Mental health treatment programs are…
Bipolar disorder is a condition that affects around 2.8 percent of the adult population in the United States. This mental health issue can be treated through therapy and medication, and if you or a loved one is struggling, it’s important to reach out for help. At Westwind Recovery®, we offer dual diagnosis treatment to help…
May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States since 1949. It was created to educate the public about the wide-reaching impacts of mental illness and reduce its stigma. Organizations work to advocate for policies that support people suffering from mental health issues and their families. At Westwind Recovery®, we know…
Pain is a natural reaction to illness or injury, alerting us that something is wrong. Usually, when the illness or the injury is healed, the pain goes away. When pain persists for at least three months or longer, it is considered to be chronic. The underlying causes of chronic pain are wide-reaching. Research indicates that…