310-601-9999

Mental Health Center

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

by
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

February 21st starts the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. We want to help spread the word and let everyone know there is help and hope for everyone affected by an eating disorder. This is more important today than ever before. Recent research shows over 10,000 people die each year due to an eating disorder. Also, eating disorders are found in people of all backgrounds, ages, gender, and interests. Around 30 million males, females, athletes, veterans, children, young adults, people with disabilities, and more will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. Below are some other alarming statistics that show treatment needs to be a priority: Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses Eating disorders affect men and women. Statistics show one million men and ten million women have an eating disorder at any given time Very few adults, usually less than ten percent, seek treatment for their …

Read more

Self-care Spotlight 001

by
Self-care Spotlight 001

By Ashley Barnes, Ketamine Therapy Coordinator at Mental Health Center Self care is a concept that is often misinterpreted. Many believe it is synonymous with self-indulgence, deeming it unnecessary and frivolous. In reality, we need to engage in self care in order to maintain our mental and physical health, keep up with our numerous responsibilities, and to find a sense of balance in our lives. If we don’t attend to ourselves and our own needs, we will find it increasingly challenging to attend to others’ needs. Readers may have heard the same idea communicated through the cup analogy. Imagine your life being represented by a full cup of water. In front of you are other cups, some representing responsibilities such as work or school, others representing organizations or communities you may be involved in, and other cups may be the people in our lives. The water represents our time, energy, …

Read more

Family History and Mental Illness

by
Family History and Mental Illness

What the research says. Much of scientific literature seeks to address heritability and genetic links to certain mental health disorders. To start, it is important to understand what is meant by heritable. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines the word as meaning “the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (such as height) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones” (2022). A 2017 twin study found schizophrenia to be 79% heritable (aligned with findings of previous research), and when expanding illness outcomes to schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the heritability estimate was 73% (Hilker et al., 2017). A study conducted in 2018 explored the potential multigenerational transference of psychiatric disorders, specifically honing in on bipolar disorder; the study found that out of a sample size of nearly 1,000, the illnesses seen in prior generations were associated with the same type of illness in offspring of a …

Read more

Addiction Treatment Plan: Screening, Assessment, and Treatment

by
addiction treatment plan

Addiction is a disorder of the brain that causes a person to act compulsively in activities that provide a rewarding sensation. An individual will continue to engage in reward-seeking behaviors even if they are experiencing negative consequences, such as the loss of a job, deteriorating relationships, or legal problems. In many cases, people who experience a substance use disorder or addiction to a specific substance will continue to abuse the substance until a medical emergency or legal matter emerges. In this article, we will explore the various stages of developing an addiction treatment plan, including the screening, assessment, and treatment process. The Addiction Treatment Plan Developing an effective treatment plan involves several steps, starting with a screening, followed by an assessment by a licensed mental health professional, and recommended path forward toward the most effective addiction treatment plan possible. Here’s what you need to know about the various stages of …

Read more

The Many Benefits of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy

by
benefits of cognitive-behavioral therapy

There are many benefits of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Suppose you met the partner of your dreams today. You think about them all day and with each thought, you feel happy and excited. Eventually, you think about them so much you decide to send them a message and ask them on a date. Now suppose you have been married for years. A recent argument over finances ended with your partner saying some very hurtful things to you. You have been reliving that moment in your thoughts. To cope with the stress your thoughts are creating, you decide to go to a bar for a drink.  As you can see, what you think influences how you feel. And your feelings influence how you react or behave. Thoughts are like the first domino that leads to the falling of other dominoes represented by Cognitive-behavioral therapy your feelings and actions. What if you could learn how …

Read more