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If you are seeking mental health treatment in Los Angeles, you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost one-fifth of American adults have a mental illness, meaning that a significant portion of the population is in need of services for mental health.
While mental health conditions are common among adults, they can affect different people in different ways. For example, there are a variety of mental health conditions present in the population, each of which has its own symptoms.
Those seeking Los Angeles mental health treatment may have one of the common mental health conditions below.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Depression is a common mental health condition that can interfere with daily life. Symptoms of depression are as follows:
Those who receive mental health treatment in Los Angeles to address depression are likely to participate in psychotherapy, and some people may receive medication in addition to therapy services. Therapeutic modalities including cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and problem-solving therapy, are commonly utilized in treating depression. While therapy will differ based upon the specific modality used, all psychotherapies have in common: sitting with a mental health clinician and talking through problems.
Beyond different types of therapies, there are a variety of medications used to treat depression. These medications can take a few weeks to work, and doctors may have to try a few different medications to find the one that works best for a particular patient. Brain stimulation techniques, such as ECT, may be an option for those who do not respond to therapy and/or medication.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
Therapy in Southern California may be used to treat anxiety, which is also a common mental health condition. Generalized anxiety disorder, which involves excessive worry and fear, is probably what comes to mind first when thinking of anxiety. There are several different types of anxiety disorders, but symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder or GAD are as follows:
Like depression, anxiety can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people to learn new ways of thinking and reacting without being consumed by anxiety. Individuals with anxiety disorders may also benefit from exposure therapies, which expose them to sources of fear and help them learn to manage these feelings. Anxiety can also be treated with a class of medications called benzodiazepines, or with antidepressants.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Someone looking for mental health treatment in Los Angeles may also be in need of care for bipolar disorder, a condition that involves cycling between periods of an extremely elated or energetic mood, called mania, and a sad or hopeless mood, called depression. Some people may experience more severe cases of bipolar disorder, which can require hospital treatment to keep them safe during periods of mania.
When experiencing a manic mood, a person with bipolar disorder may lose their appetite, show little need for sleep, and seem especially energetic and upbeat. The high mood during a manic state can cause some people to become quite irritable and jumpy. Other symptoms of mania include racing thoughts, excessively fast talking, and extreme productivity. In some cases, the impulsivity that comes with a manic episode can lead to risky behavior such as spending excessive amounts of money, engaging in unprotected sex, or using drugs and alcohol.
In contrast, a depressive episode during bipolar disorder involves feelings of sadness and feeling either slowed down or restless. Someone living through a depressive episode may also experience changes in sleeping and eating habits, appear forgetful or inattentive, and lose interest in their usual activities.
A combination of talk therapy and medications can help people with bipolar disorder to manage their symptoms. Mood stabilizing medications, and in some cases, antipsychotics, are commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.
How Does PTSD Happen?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a response to a shocking or dangerous event, such as a natural disaster, severe abuse, or the unexpected death of a family member. Common symptoms include flashbacks of the event, nightmares, and avoidance of things that remind a person of the trauma. Someone with PTSD may also have trouble sleeping, startle easily, and display outbursts of anger, or begin to view the world in a negative light.
For those seeking PTSD treatment, therapy, such as cognitive restructuring or exposure therapy, can be beneficial. During exposure therapy sessions, a mental health counselor safely exposes a patient to the traumatic event, such as by asking them to recall it or write about it, and then helps them to develop coping strategies for any fears or anxieties that arise. Cognitive restructuring can help people to view traumatic events differently, so they do not blame themselves for the event.
Doctors may also prescribe medications to address specific PTSD symptoms, like anxiety or sleep problems. Treatment will depend upon a patient’s unique needs.
Mental Health Treatment Los Angeles
If you have a mental health condition that interferes with your daily functioning, professional treatment can improve your quality of life. Mission Harbor Behavioral Health offers mental health treatment in Los Angeles and surrounding Southern California locations for those looking for therapy in Southern California. We offer dual diagnosis treatment, so we are able to treat both mental health and addiction. While we do not provide detox or residential services, we have several levels of care, including intensive outpatient services, partial hospitalization, and a separate outpatient program specifically for adolescents.
The facilities at Mission Harbor are staffed with trained experts to best assist patients with their mental health issues. We are capable of dealing with any and all cases with a licensed staff, equipment, and approved techniques. Our mission is to help those who want to help themselves, and we support your decision in seeking help.
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