Our Behavioral Health Treatment Center in Orange County, CA
Behavioral Health is just as important as physical health. Struggling with a psychological disorder can make it difficult to get out of bed, exercise, take care of yourself, and focus on your physical health. Moreover, behavioral health disorders can affect your moods in debilitating ways.
You may experience extreme panic or anxiety in certain situations. You may have overwhelming fear or intrusive thoughts. You could struggle to maintain a positive mindset. Behavioral Health treatment programs combine a variety of approaches to help you optimize your psychological health. In many cases, treating your behavioral health can also improve your physical health. That’s especially true when you’re seeking treatment for addiction as a co-occurring behavioral health disorder.
CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESS
Many factors contribute to behavioral health disorders. It’s not always easy to pinpoint a cause. Genetics, childhood attachment, stress, substances, and your external environment can contribute to mental illness.
In some people, behavioral health disorders are associated with imbalances in brain chemistry. Your central nervous system has a network of receptors that are influenced by neurotransmitters. This is how the different parts of your body communicate.
When you’re stressed, your body sends out a hormone that allows you to stay alert and manage your survival. Eventually, other chemicals balance out those stress hormones, bringing you back to equilibrium.
Some people with behavioral health disorders may have impaired central nervous system functioning. Medications, illnesses, drugs, biology, and other factors are often to blame.
Behavioral Health disorders also tend to run in families. While not all mental illnesses are hereditary, some people are born with more susceptibility to them than others. That means that they might be more likely to develop a behavioral health disorder when external influences trigger them.
Some of the other factors that may contribute to mental illness include:
- Childhood Trauma, Abuse or Neglect
- Loss of Someone Important in your Life
- Poor Interpersonal Skills
- Family Dysfunction
- Low Self-Esteem
- Major Life Changes, such as Divorce or Changing Jobs
Long-term substance abuse is correlated with an increased risk of anxiety, paranoia, and depression. It’s not always easy to determine whether the substance abuse caused the behavioral health disorder or the psychological issue that led someone to self-medicate with substances. But addiction often occurs alongside other behavioral health disorders.
TYPES OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS
There are hundreds of types of behavioral health disorders. Many of them can be categorized under the following groups:
Mood Disorders
Mood Disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety, and Phobias.
Personality Disorders
Personality Disorders include Paranoid, Schizoid, Antisocial, Borderline, Avoidant, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders.
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic Disorders include Schizophrenia, Brief Psychotic Disorder, Delusional Disorder, and Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder (for example, Meth Psychosis).
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders include Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, and Pica.
Trauma-Induced Disorders
Trauma-Induced Disorders include Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Acute Stress Disorder, Adjustment Disorders, and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder.
Substance Use Disorders
Substance Use Disorder occurs when a person becomes dependent on using illicit drugs or misusing pharmaceutical medications.
The symptoms for distinct behavioral health disorders are different. Some symptoms overlap between disorders, making diagnosis and treatment complicated. Some physical illnesses and side effects from medications can mimic symptoms of behavioral health disorders.
It’s important to work with a physician and psychological professional to get a clear diagnosis and pinpoint indicators of behavioral health disorders. Once you have a diagnosis, you can get the proper treatment and support that you need.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are many treatment options for mental illness. Because there are so many causes of mental illness, there are various approaches to treatment.
Some influence your brain chemistry. Others give you tools for managing your behavior. Many behavioral health treatment options address multiple aspects of your psychological condition to give you the best chances of living a meaningful, fulfilling life.
The primary types of treatment for behavioral health disorders include psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and holistic therapies.
Psychotherapy is a broad term that covers a variety of treatment approaches to behavioral health. It often involves talking with a counselor or therapist, uncovering the causes and triggers of psychological issues, and finding methods for coping with the complications of mental illness.
Many people are able to relieve symptoms of their mental illness through psychotherapy as a primary treatment. Different therapists use various tools to tailor their treatment plans to the individual. Patients may undergo psychotherapy treatment in an individual, family, or group setting.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-focused therapy allows clients to concentrate on their strengths so that they can harness them to reach their goals. This type of treatment requires a great deal of support from the therapist. But all types of psychotherapy require cooperation from the patient.
The therapist will help the client become more aware of their inherent skills and proficiencies so that they can become more confident in managing their behavioral health issues or addictions. Solution-focused therapy helps clients become motivated to identify what they want out of life and create ongoing meaning throughout their journey.
Prescription medication
Medications are often used in conjunction with psychotherapy treatment to help people with certain behavioral health disorders. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic medications are often prescribed as treatments for people with various behavioral health disorders.
What works for one person may not work for you, though. Everyone’s body and brain chemistry is different. You should work closely with a psychiatrist to ensure that you’re taking a dose and type of medication that works well for your illness and produces few side effects.
Holistic Treatment
Although you probably know that eating well and exercising are essential for your physical health, you may not realize that these lifestyle habits can be an effective behavioral health treatment. Exercise is a valuable first-line treatment for depression and anxiety and can enhance the usefulness of certain medications.
Fueling your body properly is an essential treatment too. Eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol can relieve symptoms of mental disorders.
You might not be aware that many holistic and alternative options exist for treating behavioral health disorders. Holistic treatments take all the aspects of who you are into account so that you can focus on your physical, spiritual, emotional, and behavioral health.
Treatment that tackles just one aspect of a behavioral health disorder can leave you struggling in other areas of your life. Holistic treatment is well-rounded and provides opportunities to improve your relationship with yourself and others. This type of treatment also helps you learn how to manage stress, cope with triggers and relieve some insecurities.
Some examples of the holistic behavioral health treatment programs that we offer at New Method Wellness include:
We also offer evidence-based approaches to behavioral health treatment, such as psychotherapy. Our goal is to help our clients achieve personal growth and develop the skills that are necessary for them to live rewarding lives.
To learn more about our programs, call 866-951-1824!
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Clinically Reviewed By:
Deanna J. Crosby, M.A., LMFT, LAADC, Psy.D. (C)
Deanna Crosby is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 20 years of experience working with clients in recovery. Her expertise has catapulted her into the spotlight. Featured on several episodes of the Dr. Phil Show as a behavioral health expert, DeAnna is a routine contributor for NBC News, The Huffington Post, Elle Magazine, MSN, Fox News, Yahoo, Glamour, Today, and several other prominent media outlets.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of California in Irvine, Crosby did postgraduate work at Centaur University where she graduated at the top of her class with a CAADAC certification in Centaur’s chemical dependency program. Following her time at Centaur, Crosby received her Master of Counseling Psychology degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she also attained a Doctoral Degree in Depth Psychology.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP
From all of us at New Method Wellness co-occurring treatment center, we wish you peace and serenity in knowing that you or your loved one will get the necessary help.
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