Understanding mental health and addiction treatment, substance use disorder
Naomi Morgan, LMHC, LPC on “Serious mental illness”
Mentoring and guiding through therapy and dialogue, gaining clarity and understanding to making decisions , setting goals and moving forward successfully.
Like addiction, mental health disorders are treatable medical conditions, not someone’s fault. About half of people with a substance use disorder also experience serious mental illness.
Almost 1 in 5 adults in the USA will experience some form of mental health disorder, and 1 in every 22 is living with a serious mental illness, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive episodes. When a serious mental illness like this affects someone under the age of 18, it’s called a serious emotional disturbance.
A lot of stigma and judgement exists around serious mental illness. People may expect someone with serious mental illness to look visibly different, and they may tell someone they don’t "look ill" or that they should just "get over it" by using willpower.
Anxiety
A condition marked by excessive worry and feelings of fear, dread, and uneasiness that last six months or longer. Other symptoms of gad include being restless, being tired or irritable, muscle tension, not being able to concentrate or sleep well, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, sweating, and dizziness.
- An anxiety disorder characterized by excessive and difficult-to-control worry about a number of life situations. The worry is accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, inability to concentrate, irritability, muscle tension, and/or sleep disturbance. Apprehension of danger and dread accompanied by restlessness, tension, unattached to a clearly identifiable stimulus.
- Apprehension or fear of impending actual or imagined danger, vulnerability, or uncertainty.
- Fear and anxiety are part of life. You may feel anxious before you take a test or walk down a dark street. This kind of anxiety is useful - it can make you more alert or careful. It usually ends soon after you are out of the situation that caused it. But for millions of people in the United States, the anxiety does not go away, and gets worse over time. They may have chest pains or nightmares. They may even be afraid to leave home. These people have anxiety disorders. Types include
- panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias
- generalized anxiety disorder, treatment can involve medicines, therapy or both.
- Feeling of distress or apprehension whose source is unknown
- Feeling or emotion of dread, apprehension, and impending disaster but not disabling as with anxiety disorders. Feelings of fear, dread, and uneasiness that may occur as a reaction to stress. A person with anxiety may sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heart beat. Extreme anxiety that happens often over time may be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Destin
Bipolar Disorders I & II
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it go through unusual mood changes. They go from very happy, "up," and active to very sad and hopeless, "down," and inactive, and then back again. They often have normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression. The causes of bipolar disorder aren't always clear. It runs in families. Abnormal brain structure and function may also play a role. Bipolar disorder often starts in a person's late teen or early adult years. But children and adults can have bipolar disorder too. The illness usually lasts a lifetime.if you think you may have it, tell your health care provider. A medical checkup can rule out other illnesses that might cause your mood changes.if not treated, bipolar disorder can lead to damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. However, there are effective treatments to control symptoms: medicine and talk therapy. A combination usually works best. Destin
Chronic Pain
- A disorder characterized by the sensation of discomfort, distress or agony. An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings. causing physical or psychological misery, pain or distress. discomforting, distressful, or agonizing sensation associated with trauma or disease, with well-defined location, character, and timing. Pain is a feeling triggered in the nervous system. Pain may be sharp or dull. It may come and go, or it may be constant. You may feel pain in one area of your body, such as your back, abdomen or chest or you may feel pain all over, such as when your muscles ache from the flu. Pain can be helpful in diagnosing a problem. Without pain, you might seriously hurt yourself without knowing it, or you might not realize you have a medical problem that needs treatment. Once you take care of the problem, pain usually goes away. However, sometimes pain goes on for weeks, months or even years. This is called chronic pain. Sometimes chronic pain is due to an ongoing cause, such as cancer or arthritis. Sometimes the cause is unknown. Fortunately, there are many ways to treat pain. Treatment varies depending on the cause of pain. pain relievers, acupuncture and sometimes surgery are helpful. Pain can come and go and can be constant, causing irritability, anger, anxiety, depression, insomnia and much more, requiring counseling and mental health therapy, don't be afraid or shame to reach out, find yourself a licensed mental health Psychotherapist who is a qualified professional who can address and help with resolving some of those stressors.
Depression
- A disorder characterized by melancholic feelings of grief or unhappiness, melancholy feeling of sadness and despair.
- A mental condition marked by ongoing feelings of sadness, despair, loss of energy, and difficulty dealing with normal daily life. Other symptoms of depression include feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, loss of pleasure in activities, changes in eating or sleeping habits, and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression can affect anyone, and can be successfully treated. Depression affects 15-25% of cancer patients.
- Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It's more than just a feeling of being "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, change in weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, , energy loss
- feelings of worthlessness
- thoughts of death or suicide
- depression is a disorder of the brain. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, environmental, psychological, and biochemical factors. Depression usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30, and is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.there are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants and talk therapy. Most people do best by using both.
- Depressive states usually of moderate intensity in contrast with major depression present in neurotic and psychotic disorders.
- Mild depression that is not considered clinical depression. For clinical depression, use major depression.
- Unpleasant, but not necessarily irrational or pathological, mood state characterized by sadness, despair, or discouragement; "the blues"; may also involve low self-esteem, social withdrawal, and somatic symptoms such as eating and sleep disturbance. Destin
Eating Disorders
- A broad group of psychological disorders with abnormal eating behaviors leading to physiological effects from overeating or insufficient food intake.
- A group of disorders characterized by physiological and psychological disturbances in appetite or food intake.
- Eating disorders are serious behavior problems. They include
- anorexia nervosa, in which you become too thin, but you don't eat enough because you think you are fat
- bulimia nervosa, involving periods of overeating followed by purging, sometimes through self-induced vomiting or using laxatives
- binge-eating, which is out-of-control eating
- women are more likely than men to have eating disorders. They usually start in the teenage years and often occur along with depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. Eating disorders can cause heart and kidney problems and even death. Getting help early is important. Treatment involves monitoring, mental health therapy, nutritional counseling and sometimes medicines.
- Group of disorders characterized by physiological and psychological disturbances in eating behavior, appetite or food intake. mental health and addiction treatment substance use disorder Destin
Trauma and PTSD
- A class of traumatic stress disorders with symptoms that last more than one month. There are various forms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depending on the time of onset and the duration of these stress symptoms. In the acute form, the duration of the symptoms is between 1 to 3 months. In the chronic form, symptoms last more than 3 months. symptoms develop more than 6 months after the traumatic event. Acute, chronic, or delayed reactions to traumatic events such as military combat, assault, or natural disaster. An anxiety disorder precipitated by an experience of intense fear or horror while exposed to a traumatic (especially life-threatening) event. The disorder is characterized by intrusive recurring thoughts or images of the traumatic event; avoidance of anything associated with the event; a state of hyper-arousal and diminished emotional responsiveness.
- An anxiety disorder that develops in reaction to physical injury or severe mental or emotional distress, such as military combat, violent assault, natural disaster, or other life-threatening events. Having cancer may also lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. Symptoms interfere with day-to-day living and include reliving the event in nightmares or flashbacks; avoiding people, places, and things connected to the event; feeling alone and losing interest in daily activities; and having trouble concentrating and sleeping.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a real illness. You can get PTSD after living through or seeing a traumatic event, such as war, a hurricane, rape, physical abuse or a bad accident and afraid after the danger is over. It affects your life and the people around you. PTSD can cause problems like flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again, trouble sleeping or nightmares, feeling alone, angry outbursts, feeling worried, guilty or sad. PTSD starts at different times for different people. Signs of PTSD may start soon after a frightening event and then continue. Other people develop new or more severe signs months or even years later. PTSD can happen to anyone, even children. Medicines can help you feel less afraid and tense. It might take a few weeks for them to work. Talking to a specially trained doctor or counselor also helps many people with PTSD. Using various techniques such as using Rapid Resolution Therapy to clear and resolve trauma, or using CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy also called talk therapy, EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing of trauma events. Destin
Self Esteem
Self-Harming
You're Addicted...But, do you understand it?
Seelly Massey, LMHCI "Addiction can affect anyone
People from all backgrounds experience addiction. Addiction doesn't care how old you are, how much money you make, or the color of your skin; it has no bias. While the initial choice to use a drug is often voluntary, the powerful effects of addiction makes it very hard to stop, even if someone wants to.
When drugs or alcohol are used so often that they have significant negative effects on your life, making it unlivable to the quality it was before, this is called a substance use disorder.
It causes intense cravings for alcohol or drugs, and can include:
- Using illegal drugs like heroin or cocaine, or excessive alcohol drinking.
- Using prescription drugs in ways other than prescribed, or using someone else’s prescription.
It's hard to stop on your own
Addiction is a chronic and treatable disease. Using drugs repeatedly changes the brain, including the parts that help exert self-control. That’s why someone may not be able to stop using drugs, even if they know the drug is causing harm, or feel ready to stop.
Some common behaviors of addiction and substance use disorder include:
- Trying to stop or cut down on drug use, but not being able to.
- Using drugs because of being angry or upset with other people.
- Taking one drug to get over the effects of another.
- Making mistakes at school or on the job because of using drugs.
- Drug use hurting relationships with family and friends.
- Being scared at the thought of running out of drugs.
- Stealing drugs or money to pay for drugs.
- Being arrested or hospitalized for drug use.
- Developing a tolerance, and needing larger amounts of drugs or alcohol to get high.
- Overdosing on drugs.
Alcoholism and drug addiction in family
Alcohol and Drug Addiction effects the family as a whole and effects all relationships across our lives, our partner, our spouse, our children, our work, school, and friends. As some reach treatment and begin recovery process, life and family dynamics change for the better, at times the process becomes confusing and complicated, relationships change, some creates conflicts and we reach out to sort out the chaos. mental health and addiction treatment Destin
Alcoholism and drug addiction in family
Alcohol and Drug Addiction effects the family as a whole and effects all relationships across our lives, our partner, our spouse, our children, our work, school, and friends. As some reach treatment and begin recovery process, life and family dynamics change for the better, at times the process becomes confusing and complicated, relationships change, some creates conflicts and we reach out to sort out the chaos. Destin
Gambling
Gambling is an interesting psychological phenomenon, and there has been extensive research on how psychological processes affect gambling behavior. Here are five interesting gambling phenomena.
1. Being in a good mood leads to increased gambling
A recent study found a relationship between things that cause a positive mood (# of days of sunshine; success of local sports teams) and increased gambling. The explanation was that positive mood leads to more risk taking.
2. Gambler's fallacy
So, a roulette player watches as seven black numbers come up in a row, so he puts all of his money on red. This well-known psychological process is called the gambler’s fallacy and is the mistaken belief that if an event happens repeatedly, a different event is imminent. In reality, the odds of any particular event occurring are always the same.
3. Changing expectations regarding winning
In a clever study, racetrack bettors were asked to estimate the odds that their favored horse would win, both before and after betting on the horse. After placing their bets, gamblers tended to believe that their horse had a greater chance of winning than before they bet. The increased commitment caused them to be more hopeful.
4. The bandwagon effect
When lottery jackpots reach record levels and garner a great deal of media attention, there is a frenzy of ticket buying, as people decide that they don’t want to be left out of the process. At these times, even people who have never before played the lottery will “jump on the bandwagon” and purchase some tickets.
5. Gambling systems and superstitions.
Gambling is, by its very definition, a random event. Yet, many gamblers firmly believe that they can devise a system to win at gambling. This includes trying to predict patterns in random numbers (there are none), trying to select “hot” slot machines and avoid “cold” ones (e.g., continuing to play a machine because it is “hot;” playing a machine that hasn’t paid off in a long time, thinking it’s “due”), or performing some ritualistic behavior in order to keep getting wins (I know of several gamblers who tap slot machines with a lucky “talisman”).
As you know, gambling can be terribly addicting, and these psychological processes often work to increase that addiction. Neuroscience research has found that gambling addiction has many of the same neural processes as drug addiction.
A key to breaking a gambling addiction is to break down fallacies about gambling and learning to manage the addiction.
There are a number of very good websites and hotlines to help deal with gambling addiction, including the National Council on Problem Gambling mental health and addiction treatment Destin
Internet Addiction
Excessive use of online porn can be thought of as a manifestation of both Internet addiction and sex addiction. In fact, porn addiction is one of the most commonly reported sex addiction problems, especially among younger individuals and among what Carnes calls "Phase 1" sex addicts, the lighter version that doesn't involve others.
Porn addiction develops much like a drug addiction. After an initially rewarding experience with pornography, individuals may experience uncontrollable urges to obtain sexual satisfaction through that form of entertainment (1). The connection between internet porn and sexual gratification is positively reinforced, and the urges become more frequent and more powerful. These connections can become so strong that simply sitting down at a computer elicits a sexual response.
As with drug addiction the problems arise when urges to view porn conflict with an individual's daily responsibilities. Instead of leaving for work on time, the addict may decide to stay at home and watch porn: Some porn addicts report staying at home for porn sessions that can last as long as 8-10 hours. The shame and guilt that often accompany these compulsive sexual experiences are also thought to greatly affect the experience of sex addicts and to reinforce the positive experience they receive from their shameful act. Many porn addicts report that they end up in a distressing situation in which their shameful sexual release is the only positive experience they get to have.
It should be noted that the majority of people who use online pornography do so recreationally, with little ill effect (2). As is the case with drug addiction, it is only a subgroup of people that becomes "addicted" and suffers serious consequences (e.g. lost jobs, disturbed marriages).
Whether we are talking about pornography, gambling, or shopping, our golden rule for diagnosing behavioral addictions has been: no impairment, no addiction.
The refuge of the internet
Internet porn addiction can also bring about a different psychological toll than the shame we discussed earlier. As tolerance develops, individuals may also begin to need more deviant material to achieve the same high. This is again similar to the increased quantity and variety need experienced by many drug users and it's where rape fantasies, fetishes, and child pornography often come into play. Exposure to such material can grossly distort beliefs about human sexuality and ruin interpersonal relationships. Patients who progress in this fashion often report feeling unsatisfied with their sexual experiences and unsatisfied with their partners (2).
I noted that shame is a major component of the addiction cycle. This is especially true for sexual addiction. Social norms tell the addict that there is shame in buying an adult magazine and that there is shame in soliciting a prostitute. Internet porn substantially reduces the risk of getting caught, and therefore of being shamed. Many individuals who experience porn addiction are able to hide their activity from their partners and remain anonymous on the web. Online porn is easily accessible, it's available all the time, and getting free porn is easy. When you add complete anonymity into the mix, you get a recipe for a potentially serious addiction (2)
Relapse is common during recovery as patients often experience withdrawal symptoms when their normal consumption of pornography is reduced. In this case, like in many others, relapse is to be thought of as a misstep, and not a failure. In addition to these standard methods, patients can often benefit from the use of Internet filters and "accountability" software that sends a report of their online activity to a partner or therapist. Again, it's important to recognize that although porn addiction is serious, there are solutions out there and help resources in general are growing with the recent jump in awareness brought about by high-profile cases. mental health and addiction treatment Destin
Batterer's Intervention and Anger Management
As situations get out of hand, at times injuries are identified, resulting from an unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate, coerce, causing harm to self and or others resoling in legal consequences, probation, court orders, Etc. Destin
Mood Disorders and Behavioral Issues
DUI Approved Providers for all Court mandated Treatments
Treatment helps people disrupt addiction's powerful effects on the brain and behavior, and regain control of their lives Destin . There are many kinds of treatment; your recovery may include one or more of these
Detoxification (Detox)
Supervised withdrawal from substance use a process that helps the body rid itself of substances while the symptoms of withdrawal are treated. Detoxification by itself is not treatment; it is a first step that can prepare a person for treatment. More details about pretreatment and detox.
Interim care
When immediate admission to other care isn’t available. Many facilities have long waitlists, but can still help. Interim care provides daily medication and emergency counseling. This can be a helpful bridge from beginning recovery to admission to a regular outpatient, inpatient, or residential setting.
Outpatient
Treatment at a program site while a patient lives on their own. Outpatient treatment is best for people willing to attend regular appointments and counseling sessions. Since there is no overnight care, it’s important to have a stable living environment, reliable transportation, and supportive family or friends.Care frequency depends on the program, with some requiring daily attendance and others meeting one to three times per week. Outpatient care usually lasts from about two months to one year.
Hospital inpatient
24/7 care connected to a hospital, lasting days or weeks. These are usually connected to a hospital or clinic, and provide detox and rehabilitative care. People with serious mental or medical concerns, as well as substance use disorders, are the most likely to use inpatient treatment.Teens and adolescents benefit from the structure of inpatient treatment to fully understand their needs and make a treatment plan.
Residential
Live-in care, lasting for one month to one year. A stable setting for long-term phased treatment. Each facility has specific rules and expectations for both residents and their families. Residential care usually lasts from a few months to a year.They’re best for people without stable living or work situations, and/or who have limited or no family support in treatment. They also help people with very serious disorders who have been unable to get and stay sober or drug free in other treatment.
Transitional housing
A temporary space to stay while transitioning from an intensive treatment setting. Sometimes called a halfway house or sober living facility.As part of the path to independent living, these facilities support people in recovery with temporary places to live. They may also have support programs around employment and education, or case managers to help residents succeed during and after their stay.
Co-occurring mental health and substance use treatment
Integrated care that addresses substance use and mental illness. Having both a substance use and mental health disorder is called a co-occurring disorder. About half of people who experience one will also experience the other. Addressing both is critical for success in recovery, and integrated treatment programs can help.Integrated care brings together different areas of expertise to treat the whole person, and ensure that treatment for one factor doesn’t interfere with treatment of others.
Tele-Health (including internet and mobile options)
Care given over the phone or online to support treatment and recovery. Tele-Health can be a tremendous help to people who are unable to regularly get to a treatment facility. While it’s not the first step in treatment, Tele-Health can be a key part of a treatment plan, especially for patients living far away from a facility.
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CONTACT SEELLY MASSEY, LMHCI TODAY
Customers have questions, WE have answers. Her knowledge and experience will answer your most frequently asked questions, so everybody benefits. Destin
Marriage, Couples and Family Therapy
Marital and Premarital
- Relationship distress with spouse or intimate partner
- Improve Poor Communication
- counseling for spousal or partner abuse problems
- Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
- Other problems related to primary support group, including family circumstances
- Partner relational problem
- Partner relational problem counseling
- Partner relationship problem
- Problem with aged spouse or partner
- Problems with aged spouse or partner
- Relationship distress with spouse or intimate partner
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CHILD CENTERED PLAY THERAPY
Play Therapy is defined by APT as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained Play Therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development."
Play Therapy should only be provided by graduate-level mental health professionals who have met the required education, clinical licensure, and additional specialized training and supervision specific to Play Therapy.
Play Therapy isn’t Just Play
Play Therapy is not the same as regular, everyday play. While spontaneous play is a natural and essential part of the developmental process, Play Therapy is a systematic and therapeutic approach. Play Therapists have earned a graduate mental health degree and are licensed mental health professionals with extensive training, supervision, and education in Play Therapy. Play Therapy incorporates a growing number of evidence-based practices and techniques (SAMHSA, 2014), and should only be utilized by specially trained mental health professionals.
While some Play Therapists do not possess a specialized Play Therapy credential, a Registered Play TherapistTM (RPT), Registered Play Therapist-SupervisorTM (RPT-S), or School Based-Registered Play TherapistTM (SB-RPT) are those professionals who have met the stringent standards set by APT to become a credentialed Play Therapist. Ask to see the Play Therapist's certificate that he or she meets the requirements and is in good standing with the Association for Play Therapy.
It is unethical and misleading for other professionals who work with children/adolescents and incorporate toys or play-based techniques into their work, but are not trained Play Therapists, to represent themselves as a "play therapist".
You've already watched every episide of Super Nanny,...only trust your babies with a certified and proven specialist in your community, now call Seelly Massey, LMHCI today. Destin
Know the warning signs
Many people don't seek treatment for mental health disorders or don’t know their symptoms could be connected to a mental health condition. Destin, There's no easy test to tell if actions or thoughts are typical for a person, symptoms of a physical illness, or signs of a mental health disorder.
Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental health disorders in adults and adolescents can include the following:
- Excessive worrying or fear
- Feeling excessively sad or low
- Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
- Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
- Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
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- Avoiding friends and social activities
- Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
- Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
- Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
- Changes in sex drive
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- Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don't exist in objective reality)
- Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior or personality (”lack of insight” or anosognosia)
- Abuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
- Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
- Thinking about suicide
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- Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
- An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance
What's on your mind today?
Spirituality
Spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives. In general, it includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life. As such, it is a universal human experience—something that touches us all. People may describe a spiritual experience as sacred or transcendent or simply a deep sense of aliveness and interconnectedness.
Some may find that their spiritual life is intricately linked to their association with a church, temple, mosque, or synagogue. Others may pray or find comfort in a personal relationship with God or a higher power. Still others seek meaning through their connections to nature or art. Like your sense of purpose, your personal definition of spirituality may change throughout your life, adapting to your own experiences and relationships Destin
Suicidal Ideation
Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see the National Helpline Database.
Strictly speaking, suicidal ideation means wanting to take your own life or thinking about suicide. However, there are two kinds of suicidal ideation: passive and active. Passive suicidal ideation occurs when you wish you were dead or that you could die, but you don't actually have any plans to commit suicide.
Active suicidal ideation, on the other hand, is not only thinking about it but having the intent to commit suicide, including planning how to do it.
Suicidal ideation is one of the symptoms of both major depression and the depression found in bipolar disorder, but it may also occur in people with other mental illnesses or no mental illness at all.
SYMPTOMS
Warning signs that you or a loved one are thinking about or contemplating suicide include:
- Isolating yourself from your loved ones
- Feeling hopeless or trapped
- Talking about death or suicide
- Giving away possessions
- An increase in substance use or misuse
- Increased mood swings, anger, rage, and/or irritability
- Engaging in risk-taking behavior like using drugs or having unprotected sex
- Accessing the means to kill yourself, such as medication, drugs, or a firearm
- Acting as if you're saying goodbye to people
- Feeling extremely anxious
If you think a loved one is thinking about or planning suicide, ask. It's a myth that you'll give another person the idea to kill him or herself. Asking shows that you're concerned and that you care about the person.
Be aware that passive suicidal ideation, wishing that you could die in your sleep or in an accident rather than by your own hand, is not necessarily any less serious than active suicidal ideation. It can quickly turn active and it most certainly has a blend of active and passive components.
If your loved one admits that they are thinking about suicide, make sure they are safe.
Be there for them if and when they need you. If the situation is serious, you may need to involve your loved one's doctor or mental health professional or perhaps call a suicide hotline for advice or help.
Keep checking on them until you feel certain that they're in a safe state of mind again. Destin
GRIEF, Has Never Been A Sacred Phenomena, You Know?
At Coastal Counseling Clinical Hypnotherapy& Psychotherapy Center Destin we understand, and grieving individuals may find it helpful to use some of the following strategies to help them process and come to terms with loss:
- Talk about the death of your loved one with friends or colleagues in order to help you understand what happened and remember your friend or family member. Avoidance can lead to isolation and will disrupt the healing process with your support systems.
- Accept your feelings. You may experience a wide range of emotions from sadness, anger or even exhaustion. All of these feelings are normal and it’s important to recognize when you are feeling this way. If you feel stuck or overwhelmed by these emotions, it may be helpful to talk with a licensed psychologist or other mental health professional who can help you cope with your feelings and find ways to get back on track.
- Take care of yourself and your family. Eating healthy foods, exercising and getting plenty of sleep can help your physical and emotional health. The grieving process can take a toll on one’s body. Make sure you check in with your loved ones and that they are taking the necessary healthy steps to maintain their health.
- Reach out and help others dealing with the loss. Spending time with loved ones of the deceased can help everyone cope. Whether it’s sharing stories or listening to your loved one’s favorite music, these small efforts can make a big difference to some. Helping others has the added benefit of making you feel better as well.
- Remember and celebrate the lives of your loved ones. Anniversaries of a lost loved one can be a difficult time for friends and family, but it can also be a time for remembrance and honoring them. It may be that you decide to collect donations to a favorite charity of the deceased, passing on a family name to a baby or planting a garden in memory. What you choose is up to you, as long as it allows you to honor that unique relationship in a way that feels right to you.