dID yOU KNOW...
1 in 4
people suffer from a mental illness
450 Million
people are suffering from a mental illness
66%
go undiagnosed or never seek professional help
One in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.
Currently there are around 450 million people that are suffering from such conditions, making mental health disorders one of the top causes leading to poor health, and contribute to many disabilities worldwide.
The sad thing is, treatments are available but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder go undiagnosed and never seek help from a health professional.
Just know that you are not alone in this…
Sonar Behavior Clinic offers prompt, and evidence based treatment and management of your psychiatric and mental illnesses.
And all from the convenience of your own home
Signs and symptoms of
a mental illness
Changes in Sleep/Appetite
Decline in personal care and sudden changes in sleep/appetite can be a symptom of Mental Illness.
Isolation
Desiring more time alone, and a lack of interest in activities that you once enjoyed can be a symptom of Mental Illness.
Trouble Focusing
Having trouble concentrating, or remembering things can be a sign of Mental Illness.
Mood Changes
Sudden shifts in your mood, and increased feelings of depression can be a sign of Mental Illness.
Heightened Sensitivity
If you experience an increased sensitivity to lights, sound, smell and touch, this may be a sign of Mental Illness.
Nervousness/
Fear
Being strongly suspicious of others, and feeling overwhelmed by fear or nervousness can be a sign of a Mental Disorder.
Feeling Disconnected
Not feeling connected to others, yourself, or your surrounding environment can be a sign of Mental Illness.
Apathy
Loss of interest to participate in daily activities can be a sign of Mental Illness.
Common Conditions
That we Treat
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Anxiety
Anxiety affects nearly 30 percent of adults with the overwhelming exposure to daily stresses, and it one of the most common mental disorders. Believe it or not, anxiety is a normal reaction to fear. It is our Body’s and minds way of letting us know that we are in danger, and need to pay attention, and sometimes can be beneficial.
However normal levels of anxiousness and nervousness can result in excessive fear after repeat exposure, resulting in a state of anxiety. The good news is that anxiety is treatable, and there are many treatments available that are safe, and effective.
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Depression
Depression can negatively impact the way that you feel, and think. Taking a toll on your quality of life. Depression can vary from individual to individual, and can very much be as sensitive as the daily weather. Some days are sunny, and some days are stormy.
Depression sometimes may leave you feeling sad and overwhelmed, with a loss of interest in activities that you enjoyed at one point in time in your life. Depression may impact one’s ability to focus at work or home.
The good news is that Depression is manageable, and there are several treatments available to help you balance and reclaim your life.
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ADHD
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or better known as ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. Not being able to pay attention, or by having hyperactive or impulsive reactions are some of the key patterns to an ADHD Disorder.
It is normal to have some levels of lack of focus and be be inattentive at times. With ADHD these levels are higher than normal and occur more frequently interfering with school, work and relationships.
Diagnosis of ADHD does require a more comprehensive exam, by someone who is certified to treat and diagnose in this field. Although ADHD is not considered curable. There are several Treatment Options available that can help reduce symptoms and manage and improve one’s function and quality of life.
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Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder is one of the most common mood disorders, and is known to cause extreme and intense mood swings. When one is Happy, they are extremely euphoric and full of energy. And when one is down, it can lead to intense feelings of sadness and depression.
There are several different types of Bipolar disorder that share similar symptoms, but with different frequencies. Some of the most common symptoms are anxious distress, melancholy or psychosis.
If you suspect you may have symptoms of Bipolar disorder, it is important to seek help from a mental health practitioner, that can evaluate you professional and come up with a treatment to help manage your episodes and improve your quality of life.
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Autism
Autism is one of the fastest growing disorders, where nearly 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with Autism. Autism varies from person to person. In fact so different, that no two people are alike with Autism.
Autism is considered to be a bio-neurological developmental disorder, that usually begins to appear before the age of 3. Individuals with Autism usually have difficulties with verbal and non-verbal communication making social interaction and leisure activities difficult.
There is still lots to discover about Autism, however early intervention and treatment are key to managing Autism, and in some cases completely overcome.
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Body DysmorphiA
Body Dysmorphia is a mental health disorder where one is hyper focused on flaws of the body, and often are an imagined flaw that others can not even see.
With Body Dysmorphia one is obsessive with their looks, and often are checking themselves in the mirror, or comparing themselves to other.
Body Dysmorphia can cause severe emotional distress, and can end up controlling one’s life and lead into other eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Many with Body Dysmorphia may resort to excessive dieting and exercising. In some cases the individual may be so consumed with shame causing them to withdraw from others.
Body Dysmorphia is not easy to treat, but there are individualized treatments and medications , that with cognitive therapy have seen success rates.
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PTSD
Posttraumatic Stress disorder, also known as PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that usually occurs in individuals that have been a part of, or have witnessed a traumatic event.
Many people associate PTSD with just Veteran’s, but PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced trauma. People respond to trauma in different ways.
With PTSD the trauma may become so severe, that is may be difficult to process alone, and may keep one in a state of constant stress and anxiety effecting one’s ability to function in day to day life.
PTSD may make it difficult to function and carry out daily tasks. May make it difficult to sleep, making one fatigued, and may cause one to isolate and withdraw from others.
There are several effective Treatments such as EMDR Therapy, and Cognitive Therapy that when combined with medication have seen great results.
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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is serious and effects how one behaves, thinks and feels. Schizophrenia usually is diagnosed after a state of psychosis where odd behaviors and signs of losing touch with reality may occur.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia can be categorized into 3 different areas.
Psychotic Symptoms which include Hallucinations, delusions, and unorganized speech or thought processing.
Negative Symptoms such as loss of interest in things, isolation, reduced motivation, and decrease in efforts to communicate.
Cognitive Symptoms may include difficulty focusing, difficulty remembering things, or making decisions.
Schizophrenia and its causes are still trying to be understood today, but treatments are available and focus on managing through medication to help improve day to day function.
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Dysthymia
Dysthymia also known as Persistent Depressive Disorder, is a milder form of depression, but is known to be a longer lasting state of depression.
Symptoms of Dysthymia may include trouble focusing or concentrating, low energy, abnormal sleep cycles, and decrease in day to day interactions
People with dysthymia tend to lack productivity due feeling overtaken by the feeling of depression.
Dysthymia is treatable and cycles can be managed and shortened with therapy and prescription medications to help reclaim balance.
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Nightmare Disorder
Nightmare Disorder, also known as Parasomnia, is a dream disorder that is anxiety based during sleep, resulting in frequent nightmares, or undesirable experiences during the sleep state.
Nightmare disorder is usually diagnosed by the experiences that one shares with a professional.
Nightmares can be an indication of an unknown medical condition or may be stress induced.
Although nightmare Disorder does not require treatment usually, however if there are frequent sleep disturbances that effect your daily function or anxiety, several treatment options are available to help reduce stress and anxiety, along with help you develop a better quality of sleep.
oct
Sleep Disorder
There are more than 80 known sleep disorders. Ranging from Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, Parasomnia to Restless Leg Syndrome are just a few to mention.
Sleep Disorders are known as conditions that may disturb your quality of sleep, which may lead to making it difficult to function in your day to day routine.
Sleep disorders do not just affect your mental health, but can also affect your physical health, making it difficult for the body to relax, restore and repair itself.
Some Sleep disorders can be caused by our habits, and some may be ways our body is trying to communicate that something medically is going on.
There are several options available to treat sleep disorder from therapy, developing healthy habits, natural supplements and medications can all help one restore their sleep cycle.
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Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder is when one experiences an intense amount of fear, and becomes overwhelmed, causing a severe physical reaction resulting in a Panic attack.
Panic attacks have many variations and can strike at any time. Which can create anticipation, creating more anxiety, as one fears when the next panic attack may occur. This can then impact one’s quality of life, and may lead one to withdraw more.
Symptoms of panic attacks can range from Nausea, chills, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, sweating and intense fear of doom or danger are just a few.
Although, there is no sure way to prevent a panic attack, there are several things you can do to help reduce the severity from exercise, therapy, develop healthy habits to medications to help manage anxiety levels.
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Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment Disorder is a condition that is related to stress and is stress induced.
With Adjustment Disorder, the high amounts of stress begin to cloud one’s own judgement and perception of self, often leaving one feeling lost, or overwhelmed.
Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder can range from feeling sad and hopeless, to frequent crying, avoidance of important things, and feeling overwhelmed and wanting to be alone more than usual, or substance abuse.
Although there are no guarantees to preventing Adjustment Disorder. There are healthy ways to develop healthy coping skills and learning to be resilient during stressful situations. Medications to help manage stress and anxiety can also be beneficial, alongside developing healthy habits and that aid in stress management.
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Oppositional Defiance Disorder
Oppositional Defiance Disorder, also known as ODD is a behavioral disorder where there are excessive patterns of anger, temper tantrums, mood swings and vindictive behavior towards authority figured.
Many with ODD also tend to have other underlying behavioral disorders such as: ADHD, Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and Depression are just a few.
Some cases of ODD may result in more serious conditions where one resorts to violence.
The exact cause of ODD is not known, as there are several risk factors that may contribute from: genetics, family life, brain chemistry to surrounding peers.
There are several different factor t in to consideration when treating ODD. Treatments vary depending upon one’s age, alongside severity of ODD.
There are several safe and effective medications to help treat and manage ODD, along with several different therapies that have found to be effective in addition to medication.
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OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, is a disorder where repeated obsessive thoughts, result in compulsive behavior.
These compulsive behaviors can take over one’s life nd become an excessive cycle with OCD.
Some common symptoms of OCD can include: fear of germs or contamination, excessive cleaning or hand washing, having things in perfect symmetry or perfect order, and repeatedly rearranging or checking things.
OCD is a common long lasting condition with treatments available. Many people with OCD have responded well to psychotherapy and medication combined.
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Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is a behavior and emotional disorder that commonly occurs in children and teens.
Conduct Disorder is diagnosed when children and teens shows an ongoing pattern of excessive violence, and aggression towards others. Many may defy rules and social norms putting others or their own health at risk.
Many with Conduct Disorder may show a lack of empathy and remorse along with other prosocial emotions, and may result in bullying or other aggressive behavior.
Treatment for Conduct Disorder is an individualized treatment combining therapy and medication to help develop better management of emotions and coping skills.
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Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is a severe psychological and eating disorder where one has an extreme fear of becoming overweight and is usually characterized by extremely low bodyweight.
Individuals with Anorexia tend to have a distorted perception around their weight and become obsessed with food restriction and excessive exercise to lose weight and prevent weight gain.
Those with Anorexia may also show signs and symptoms of behavior and emotional disorders as well. Some of these symptoms may include: frequent skipping of meals, or refusal to eat, lying about how much they ate, not wanting to eat in public, and Irritability.
Anorexia can contribute to many health complications, and may need hospitalization. If not treated Anorexia can become fatal.
There are several treatments available for Anorexia, however the most successful tends to be a team approach with a doctor, nutritionist and psychiatrist who specialize in eating disorders.
There are several moving pieces to treating Anorexia which include ongoing therapy, nutrition education and medication to help balance and manage underlying behavior and other mental disorders.
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Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa or Bulimia is a severe and serious eating disorder that can be potentially life threatening if not treated.
Bulimia, similar to Anorexia, is associated with a deep rooted fear of becoming overweight and is hyper focused on self-perceived flaws in body image.
Many with Bulimia take different excessive measures to prevent weight gain, often resorting to self-induced vomiting and excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.
Symptoms of Bulimia may include: eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting, hiding food, fasting or avoiding certain foods, forcing oneself to vomit, and abuse or excessive use weight loss supplements or laxatives to lose weight.
Treatments are available for Bulimia and the most effective treatment includes psychotherapy, nutritional education and medication to help balance underlying emotional and other mental disorders, while working alongside a Doctor that understands eating disorders.
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opioid Use Disorder
Opioid Use Disorder is a chronic lifelong disorder, where a codependence of opioids are developed to deal with or manage pain, that can have serious consequences with prolonged use, leading to disabilities, relapses, and possibly death.
Opioids are a class of drugs used to treat acute pain for a short duration of time, or used as a way to manage pain under the care of a physician, but can be highly addictive.
Opioids reduce the perception of pain, but can also cause drowsiness, mental confusion, and euphoria, which may result in an increase in usage due to the high levels of positive reinforcement and relief that opioids provide.
Signs and Symptoms of Opioid Use disorder include taking larger amounts over an extended time, or in shorter durations in between, lack of desire to cut down on opioid use and manage pain in other ways, reducing activity or connection due to opioids becoming the main priority and main focus in one’s life.
Many with Opioid Use Disorder may also find themselves visiting multiple Doctors to get additional prescriptions, and perhaps frequent different pharmacies so that the amount of pills are not noticed.
Opioid use disorder is similar to other substance use disorders and can easily be developed with Opioids highly addictive traits.
Because Opioids are so highly addictive, they can create severe withdrawal symptoms intensifying the use and desire for Opioids even more, and in many cases may need medical supervision to help safely manage the body’s response to the withdrawal symptoms from opioids.
There are treatments available to help manage opioid use disorder and help restore balance.