Mental Health
Everyone faces difficult times in life, but mental health problems require immediate treatment. Our specialized programs for men and women are designed to get you back on your feet quickly.
More often than not, when challenging times arise you may have been able to “bounce back” from the trial. The extent that you are able to do so is called resilience. But if you lack the support system or inner coping skills and resources to rely upon after a hard blow, depression, an anxiety disorder, or some other mental illness may surface.
Typically mental health disorders are comprised of a combination of effective, behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual elements which regard you unable to function in society. Symptoms of mental health may appear through emotions, behaviors, and physical problems such as depression, anxiety, defiance, phobias, suicidal thoughts, rage, fatigue, digestive problems, headaches, sleep impairments and weight gain/loss.
Any number of these symptoms may suggest a mental illness especially if you are losing your ability to function in your day to day life. Family and friends being supportive and encouraging is nice, but you realize something is wrong. Mental illness cannot cure itself. Rather, if left untreated, mental health disorders can exacerbate and lead to a devastating end.
At Growth Extended, we have treatment programs specially tailored for adolescents and for adults struggling with trauma and mental health issues. We provide caring trained professionals who listen, and help you begin to put the pieces back together. We have experienced clinicians who develop individualized treatment plans to overcome your mental health condition and learn healthy coping skills and stress relief techniques. Moreover, we encompass state of the art treatment facilities for residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels of care. We are nationally recognized centers that have been bestowed the coveted gold seal of accreditation from the Joint Commission based upon best standard practice and quality of care. Using the latest evidence-based treatment modalities for mental health conditions, Growth Extended specializes in the following disorders:
- Depression usually presents itself with sorrow, irritation, an inability to take pleasure in life, fatigue, and impairment in eating/sleeping, worthlessness, guilt or anger. With a prevalence level as high as 1 in every 10 persons, depression is a pervasive disorder that millions of people struggle with on a daily basis. And although everyone gets sad, depression is different in the intensity, severity and duration. The symptoms remain manifest at least two weeks and produce a considerable negative impact on most facets of a person’s life. Maladaptive behaviors include reoccurring thoughts of suicide/death, suicidal gestures/attempts, isolation, psychosis, somatic complaints, insomnia etc.
- Bipolar Disorder While there are different types of bipolar disorder, overall, bipolar usually presents itself between the ages of 15 – 25 years with extreme shifts in mood swings between periods of being “happy” (manic) to irritability and depression. These mood swings are unpredictable and can happen very swiftly. The manic phase consists of euphoria, impulsivity and racing thoughts while the depressive phase consists of loss of energy, hopelessness and sadness. Maladaptive behaviors include the depressive cycle, behaviors include suicidal ideations/attempts and anhedonia (loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities). For the manic phase, behaviors consist of drug use, impulsivity, sexual promiscuity or spending recklessly.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a mental health issue that manifests itself in the form of an anxiety disorder. It contains extreme worrying and undue fear that horrible things will happen. While there are many types of phobias and anxiety related disorders, Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD) is a pervasive feeling of fear that accompanies any decision or any act. The fear is described as extreme, powerful and severe. Moreover, the fear is experienced as so unbearable it is incapacitating. Maladaptive behaviors include an inability to get on an elevator, inability to cross the street, an ability to make a decision or an inability to leave your home.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating anxiety disorder that surfaces in response to being exposed to a real injury or a threat of injury (death), physical abuse, sexual abuse, robbery, combat or natural disaster. The heightened sense of danger and impending doom causes a three- fold response of reliving (flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance (detachment, apathy) and increased arousal (inability to concentrate, pounding heart).Maladaptive behaviors include guilt, headaches, dizziness, difficulty sleeping and isolation.
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a behavioral disorder that is typically prevalent in children and adolescents however the seeds of ODD can continue to be seen in adulthood. The overt behaviors noted with this disorder reveal defiance, anger, rebellion and disdain for rules and authority figures. There is oftentimes a negative attitude that accompanies the rebellious behaviors along with a pessimistic outlook on the future. Maladaptive behaviors include frequent conflict with authority figures such as teachers, principals, parents, police and judges. Relationships are strained at home, school, work and possibly legal institutions have been introduced.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that comprises a twofold criteria: thinking and doing. Specifically, there are uncontrollable excessive thoughts that cause rumination and fear (obsessions). These obsessions trigger a behavioral manifestation of repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that serve to assuage the fear. Any attempt to disconnect the behaviors from the thoughts will typically exacerbate the obsessions and thereby increase the compulsions. Maladaptive behaviors include in either the thinking (superstitions, fear of germs/illness) or in the compulsion (touching door knobs, counting tiles, excessive cleaning).
- Social Anxiety, also known as social phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder that demonstrates itself in extreme discomfort and fear in social settings. There is a pervasive fear you are being judged and scrutinized by others. Whether the fear is perceived as rational or irrational by the person, the fear is experienced as overwhelming and insurmountable. Significant factors that contribute to this disorder are bullying, sexual abuse and family conflict. Maladaptive behaviors are demonstrated in problems meeting new people, avoiding social settings and isolation from social gatherings.
- Attention Deficient Disorder/Attention Hyperactivity Deficient Disorder (ADD/ADHD) is a mental health disorder that produces extremely high levels of activity, and disruptive behaviors. Although typically diagnosed to children, adults may also suffer from ADD/ADHD. The more common behaviors seen are difficulty sitting and remaining still, distractibility, inability to remain focused and hardships in following instructions. Maladaptive behaviors consist of problems getting along with others, difficulty in school, problems at work, difficulty concentrating, disorganization and impulsivity.
The maladaptive behaviors associated with any mental health disorder can sometimes include suicidal thoughts. Suicide is not uncommon with any of the mental health conditions mentioned above. If suicidal thoughts or behaviors develop, follow these steps and seek immediate help.
- Call 9-1-1 or go to the hospital immediately if danger is imminent
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 800-273-8255 and talk to a trained counselor
- Talk to your family or a close friend about your feelings
- Contact your health care professional or mental health provider
- Call your minister or spiritual leader for help
Millions of Americans suffer from one or more mental health disorders that impede and stunt their growth. At Growth Extended we realize that trying to function with everyday tasks can be an impossible request. The condition may make it difficult to function at school at work and in your personal relationships.
You need to be given the opportunity to go to a treatment center that understands. At Growth Extended we do and we are ready to help. If you are ready to get help for yourself or for a loved one, do not wait. The sooner you can get help, the better chance you have for a successful recovery. Our admissions team is ready to discuss our treatment programs with you.