CONDITIONS WE TREAT

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 9.4% of children ages of 2 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. To further complicate things, it is not uncommon for a child with this condition to also have a learning disorder, thus adding to the academic challenges they face. While the symptoms of ADD/ADHD emerge in childhood, if left untreated, they can persist throughout a person’s life. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health has found that 5.4% of adult men and 3.2% of adult women have ADD/ADHD, and other research has shown that only about 20% of them have ever been diagnosed or received treatment. This condition is often overlooked in females because their primary issue is inattention, and they are less likely to exhibit the disruptive hyperactivity that is so often seen in males with ADHD.

It is normal for everyone to feel anxious at times, especially when faced with new or stressful situations, such as moving to another state, changing jobs, or giving an important presentation. However, people who have an anxiety disorder tend to worry and feel nervous about everyday responsibilities and events. Their worry and anxiousness are excessive and disproportionate to circumstances that don’t pose a threat. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in the U.S. Every year, 40 million American adults—more than 18% of the population—develop some form of anxiety. The condition is more common in women, who are almost twice as likely as men to develop an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Nearly 1 out of 3 teens also have anxiety, and research shows that number is rising. This condition often co-occurs in people who have ADD/ADHD, as well as those who struggle with depression.

Bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD), previously known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that results in significant and severe changes in mood, energy, activity levels and ability to carry out routine tasks. These shifts are more severe than the normal ups and downs that most people experience. According to the World Economic Forum, bipolar disorder ranks sixth on the list of the world’s leading causes of disability. Nearly 6 million adults in America are affected by bipolar disorder. Men and women are equally likely to develop the disorder, which tends to run in families. People with a parent or sibling with the condition are more likely to develop it. This indicates there may be a genetic factor involved. However, it’s important to know that having a family member with the condition does not mean that you will get it too. In addition, remember that your genetics are not your destiny. A growing body of evidence shows that your lifestyle habits can either turn on or turn off your genes.

Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice nor are they a sign of a personal weakness or character flaw. Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, are potentially life-threatening mental health disorders that are rooted in brain dysfunction. When left untreated, these conditions can have devastating council health and can further impair brain health. Research shows that eating disorders are associated with an elevated mortality risk and a higher risk of suicide. Because of this, it is critically important to seek help for eating disorders so you can lead a healthier life.

Every child has an occasional moment of disobedience or misbehavior. But when uncooperative, argumentative, and vindictive behavior is so frequent and problematic that it disrupts everyday life and relationships, it could be a sign of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). This condition is a behavioral disorder that is most notably characterized by children being chronically defiant with parents, peers, teachers, and other authority figures. They tend to say “no” even when saying “yes” is clearly in their best interest.

Depression (known as clinical depression or major depressive disorder) is the most common mental health problem in the nation and across the globe. Everybody gets the blues from time to time. For most of us, we bounce back from these low moods and get back to enjoying our lives. For some people, however, the sense of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and helplessness doesn’t dissipate. It begins to affect how you think, how you feel, and how you act. When these feelings persist, this mood disorder can interfere with daily life and that can lead to psychological and physical issues. Some symptoms are: hopelessness, Felling sad, and/or crying uncontrollably, lack of interest in activities, short temper, tiredness and sleep disorders, amnesia, changes in appetite or the lack thereof, and weight loss.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and recurrent episodes of psychosis. It affects cognition, the ability to speak coherently, how one feels, and their behavior. This can greatly reduce quality of life, leading to disability and other disorders, such as depression, anxiety, etc. Those suffering from this disorder often require life-long treatment to manage symptoms and prevent associated complications and improve overall outcomes.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a serious and often debilitating mental health condition that is characterized by obsessions—intrusive thoughts, images, or urges—and/or repetitive behaviors, called compulsions, that help to neutralize the distress caused by the obsessions. While most people have distasteful and unpleasant thoughts from time to time, they tend to pass pretty quickly and do not get stuck in an endless loop inside their head. However, this is not the case for people who suffer from OCD. Left untreated, their persistent obsessions and compulsive rituals can take over their life and lead to significant problems with personal, interpersonal, occupational, academic, and social functioning.

Many people are exposed to trauma during their lives, whether they experience it themselves, personally witness it happen to someone else, or discover that a loved one had a traumatic event. Afterwards, it is normal for anyone to have several distressing symptoms in the days and weeks that follow, which in most cases, subside naturally over time. However, when symptoms persist and interfere with academic, occupational, relational, and social functioning it may be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a potentially debilitating condition that can significantly disrupt a person’s life. PTSD can affect anyone—even young children. Being abused, physical and sexual assault, military combat, and motor vehicle accidents are common causes of PTSD. This condition is also seen in first responders—firefighters, police, and EMTs—who are routinely on the front lines attending to emergencies, severe or fatal injuries, and crisis situations. The repeated exposure to traumatic circumstances resulting in stress have been shown to significantly impact mental health and can be devastating to the personal and professional lives of first responders. It is important to understand that PTSD is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness, rather it develops as a response to traumatic events. However, if it is left untreated, PTSD can cause a wide array of serious symptoms and even lead to suicide.