Mental health and wellness

We understand the profound effect addiction can have on you and everyone else in your life. Our multidisciplinary team offers hope for recovery from addictive behaviors, as well as all extremities of those conditions. We offer a variety of specialized treatments for adults age 18 and over, as well as medically supervised detoxification, when necessary.

ADHD is a mental health condition characterized by difficulty concentrating, extreme activity or lack of control over impulsive behaviors. Many adults struggle with ADHD without realizing it, likely experiencing it as a child without being properly diagnosed. There is help available, whether you’re a college student or a retiree.

If you have difficulty getting organized, dealing with daily responsibilities, such as paying bills, being on time to work or starting or staying on a task, our specialized treatments can help you take back control of your life.

ADHD is a manageable condition when properly diagnosed and addressed through a combination of medication and behavioral therapies.

If you think you have ADHD, call us for a comprehensive assessment at (469) 535-8000.

It’s natural to experience some worry over the stresses of work and family life. But when mild worry turns to extreme anxiety that interferes with your day-to-day activities, it’s time to ask for help. Persistent or worsening anxiety may be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Those with an anxiety disorder often experience constant and debilitating fear.

You are not alone. The most common type of emotional disorder, anxiety affects about 40 million people in the United States each year. Some variations include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder — Condition characterized by worry about daily life events.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) — The need to repeat a routine over and over.
• Panic disorder — Disorder with extreme fear of impending doom.
• Phobias — An extreme fear of specific people, places or things that do not present an actual danger.
• PTSD — Fear that repeatedly occurs after experiencing a traumatic event.
• Social phobia — Condition defined by persistent anxiety over being judged by others.

Anxiety often occurs along with other medical issues. Through a combination of medication for depression and intensive therapeutic strategies, our comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatment programs will empower you to effectively manage your symptoms and live your version of a normal, happy life.

Everyone has their ups and downs. But those with bipolar disorder have extreme swings in mood, energy and activity level, alternating between manic and depressive stages. That’s why the condition is also referred to as a manic-depressive illness.

During manic episodes, you may feel “high,” elated, restless or agitated, have trouble sleeping, experience a major boost in your activity level or engage in high-risk behaviors, such as gambling or reckless driving. During depressive episodes, you may feel “down,” or hopeless, experience a loss of interest in activities, see a change in your sleeping and eating patterns, or have suicidal thoughts. Some people with bipolar disorder have numerous episodes of mania, while others rarely experience them.

Bipolar disorder can occur at any age, though onset is typically around age 25. There are several types:

• Bipolar I — Condition characterized by manic episodes that last longer than a week and are so severe, you require hospitalization. Depressive episodes last at least two weeks.
• Bipolar II — This includes patterns of depression and mania, but manic episodes are much less severe.
• Cyclothymic disorder — Disorder characterized by mild episodes of mania and depression.
• Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder — Indicated by at least four major episodes within a year.

Most of us will struggle with low self-esteem at some point in our lives. However, when your self-image and worldview go to extremes, this kind of distorted thinking could indicate borderline personality disorder.

Borderline personality disorder, sometimes called BPD, brings about patterns of false perceptions, extreme emotions, frequent mood swings and impulsive behavior that interferes with daily function. As a result, your relationships can be intense and chaotic, and you may push away close friends and family.

Symptoms may include:

• High-risk behavior
• History of unstable, “love-hate” relationships
• Intense fear of abandonment or rejection
• Periods of paranoia
• Sudden shifts in self-identity, goals or values
• Threats of self-harm
• Wide mood swings that may include intense anger, anxiety or happiness

Depression is much more than feeling "a little blue," and can bring on feelings of overwhelming sadness and hopelessness. Activities you once enjoyed become a chore, getting out of bed seems impossible, you may have little-to-no energy, have no appetite, become prone to overeating or develop insomnia. Severe depression can interfere with your daily life, and even lead to physical pain or suicidal thoughts.

There are a variety of types of depression. For example, persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is a depressed mood that lasts for two years or more. New mothers may be affected by postpartum depression. Many people are affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which typically occurs during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight. Depression also affects those with mental illness, such as psychosis or bipolar disorder. You are not alone.

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders, affecting millions of people each year. It touches almost every age, ethnic and socioeconomic background, though women are more likely to be affected than men.

Trauma, genetics, life circumstances, brain structure and other medical conditions, such as chronic pain, can trigger depression. It also may go along with addictive behaviors. But there is hope for recovery. Even the most severe types of depression can be treated, and the earlier you start treatment, the more effective it can be.

Psychosis is not an illness itself, but a symptom of a mental illness. Characterized by a mental break from reality, psychosis involves extreme disruptions to thoughts and perceptions, seeing and believing things that are simply not real. Individuals with psychosis may also experience schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other mood disorders.

A complex condition that generally cannot be managed without help, it is critical to seek help at the first signs of psychosis so you have the best hope of reversing symptoms and promoting recovery. Some of the early warning signs and symptoms include:

• Decline in personal hygiene
• Decreasing school or job performance
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling suspicious of others
• Hearing, seeing or tasting things that others do not
• Isolation, or withdrawing from family and friends
• Persistent, false thoughts or beliefs that are not deterred by facts
• Showing extreme emotions, or no emotion at all

While PTSD is typically associated with military combat veterans, it is, in fact, an anxiety disorder that can affect anyone who has experienced a violent or traumatic event. Certainly, war and acts of terrorism can leave intense emotional scars, but PTSD can also be triggered by a car accident or other injury, natural disaster, domestic abuse, assault or rape. It can affect those who were victims of the trauma themselves, as well as those who witnessed any of these experiences.

Symptoms may include heightened anxiety about the event or reminders of the event, nightmares, and flashbacks, or the inability to stop thinking about the details of the trauma. Symptoms vary in intensity, and may become more severe when you are dealing with other life stressors. In many cases, PTSD symptoms start within a month of the trauma and begin interfering with daily function. Getting treatment early can greatly improve your ability to cope and help lessen symptoms over time.

Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder that can be highly disabling. Though it affects only about one out of every 300 people, the condition can have a profound impact on your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. People with schizophrenia may hear voices, have hallucinations, experience delusions or seem like they have lost touch with reality. They also may “disconnect” from life, sitting for long periods of time without moving or talking. In most cases, hallucinations and delusions start between the ages of 16 and 30.

In its early stages, schizophrenia may share some of the symptoms as other forms of mental illness, including withdrawing, irritability, a change in grades or friends. You may be more at risk for developing schizophrenia if you have a family history of the illness, but it is most likely a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Some environmental factors may contribute to the causes of schizophrenia, including early exposure to some viruses, or problems during pregnancy or childbirth. But the exact cause of the condition is largely unknown.

People with schizophrenia may also have illnesses such as PTSD, OCD or major depression, or they may also struggle with a substance abuse problem. Our expert medical team has years of experience treating schizophrenia alongside co-occurring conditions. Often, when one condition improves, so does the other. We treat schizophrenia using a combination of the most advanced antipsychotic medications and psychosocial therapies, designed to reduce the frequency and intensity of troubling schizophrenia symptoms.

Suicide is among the top nine leading causes of death for people ages 10-to-64 years old. It is also the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-to-14 and 20-to-34 years old. Those numbers continue to rise. Although a person who experiences a job loss, divorce or cancer diagnosis may experience periods of intense sadness, anxiety or anger, this doesn't mean they will take their own life. Suicidal thoughts represent another level of mental anguish that requires attentive care.

Suicide attempts often are the result of a life stressor in combination with an underlying psychiatric condition, such as clinical depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD or BPD. Individuals who have previously attempted to take their own lives are also at a higher risk for the second attempt. Those who have a family history of suicide and mental illness, and those dealing with an injury or medical problem are also at higher risk for suicidal thoughts. Environmental stressors, such as bullying or harassment, can also be a major factor.

Warning signs of a planned suicide attempt may include:

• Abrupt mood changes, from sadness or anxiety to extreme calm
• High-risk behaviors, such as driving too fast
• Isolating from friends and family
• Loss of interest in things and activities that once were important
• Self-destructive behaviors, including alcohol abuse and illegal drug use
• Showing a fascination with death, and talking about death or suicide
• Tying up loose ends, such as giving away belongings or changing a will

Through customized therapy and other interventions, our expert team will address your underlying mental health conditions, giving you relief from overwhelming feelings and hope for a better tomorrow.