Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental health disorder that can occur after someone has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. PTSD impacts millions of people every year and can affect people of any age. Since every individual is different, not everyone who experiences the same trauma will develop PTSD. It is normal to…
Antidepressant medications and psychotherapy provide relief for millions of people who suffer from depression. However, for some, these methods are ineffective, or the side effects of antidepressants are too much to tolerate. For these individuals, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) offers a non-invasive, drug-free alternative for treating depression. TMS has also been shown to effectively treat…
Dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder, refers to an individual suffering from a substance use disorder and mental health disorder simultaneously, a pervasive situation. People struggling with mental illness often turn to drugs or alcohol, seeking relief from their symptoms, leading to substance abuse or addiction. Alternatively, individuals with substance abuse or addiction can develop mental…
World Suicide Prevention Day falls on the 10th of September every year. It is the day where people worldwide help raise awareness about the tenth leading cause of death in this country. On average, there are 132 suicides each day. This devastating issue is one that requires professional intervention as well as help from individuals…
“Therapy” is a broad term to describe a treatment system that has multiple components. Therapy is most commonly associated with psychotherapy or “talk” therapy, but this is only one of many therapeutic approaches. The main goal of therapy is to relieve emotional distress and other symptoms associated with mental health conditions, including substance use disorders.…
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…