Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry
11333 NORTH SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SUITE 280 SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA 85254
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11333 NORTH SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SUITE 280 SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA 85254
Call Today
Every parent’s concern is their children’s success in life and it can be hard to tell whether your child is succeeding. Especially if he or she is shut in and angry at you for no reason at all. Many parents become frustrated because of their children’s behavior as soon as they hit their teen years. Parents sometimes forget that this is part of a normal teenager’s development and it is important to understand what your teenager is going through.
oiradmin August 21st, 2019
Posted In: Teen Mental Health, Uncategorized
Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID is considered to be a mental disorder which is characterized by having two or more personalities in a single person. Each of these personas are unique in their own way and can react in place of a person with this mental disorder. They can have their own unique voice, appearance, preferences and even skills. (more…)
Admin August 15th, 2019
Posted In: Uncategorized
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects how a person perceives the world around them. Their perception of reality is skewed and they have trouble dealing with day to day life. It can affect anyone from children to adults from all walks of life and it can be difficult to diagnose properly.
Schizophrenia has many similarities to other mental illnesses but with the right help, you can find out if you or a loved one is affected by this mental illness.
Hallucinations
Schizophrenics tend to hallucinate and see the world in a different way than others. For those looking at someone with schizophrenia it may seem like they are overreacting to nothing at all. To them however, these hallucinations are as real as they can be and these can be debilitating to those experiencing them. These hallucinations can affect each of a person’s senses in different ways.
Delusions
Delusions are thoughts that are not based on reality. A schizophrenic suffering from this can either be in great fear or overconfident depending on their delusion. Some can think that something is out to get them while others think that they’re a politician from another universe. These delusions work hand in hand with their hallucinations to make an experience feel even more real.
The man in their head could just be in the corner of their eye, watching silently as they eat or looking over them as they sleep or the voices in their head could be screaming at him to make his next election speech in the middle of a class. To the schizophrenic, the phantom man and voices are as real as his Physics instructor.
Disorganized Thought and Movements
Schizophrenics have trouble getting the right words out whenever they decide to speak. To a normal person, their statements might seem jumbled and not even related to the question. Having a conversation with a schizophrenic can be a challenge as they tend to veer off topic very frequently. Most conversations can go from the south pole to cup noodles in an instant without warning.
Schizophrenics can also suffer from irritability and jumpiness stemming from being overly alert because of their hallucinations and delusions. Some might even have mannerisms that may or may not seem odd to a normal person. Foot tapping and repeated cracking of their hands and fingers can be an example of this symptom. Self harm is included in this symptom as well.
Negative Symptoms
These symptoms are the normal human habits that a schizophrenic stops showing. Schizophrenics could avoid social interaction over long periods of time and drop their group of friends out of the blue. When talked to, they can sound monotone or show no emotion despite the topic being something they formerly enjoyed.
Negative symptoms can be the most debilitating set of symptoms of schizophrenia as it can force a person to just drop everything that mattered to them before it’s onset. They would quit careers that they excelled at, drop hobbies that they used to enjoy and throw away friendships that they’ve had for a lifetime. Schizophrenics just lose the drive to continue enjoying life.
oiradmin August 1st, 2019
Posted In: blog
Going through a life threatening event like illness and accidents can take a toll on anyone’s mental health. You might feel helpless, and unable to do the things you love after the event. Eventually, however, you’ll put the memory behind you. The same can’t be said of someone suffering from PTSD. The dread that they experienced from that traumatic event is nearly impossible for them to get rid of and it can last for months or even years.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD for short, is a mental disorder that can affect anyone at any time. All that has to happen is to experience or witness a terrifying or life changing event. Accidents and unpleasant experiences are the most common reasons for PTSD to manifest in a person. Fear is a normal response to danger and PTSD can be interpreted as an extreme version of fear.
Signs of PTSD
Someone with PTSD is not difficult to identify from another person’s point of view. You’ll see a drastic change in how they handle their day to day life and how they interact with others. They’ll be actively trying to avoid the topic of their trauma whether it be trying to talk it out with another or visiting the location of where the traumatic event happened. They are also harder to catch off guard or startle as they’ll be on edge almost all the time.
People suffering from PTSD also go through the extremes of emotions. One person suffering from PTSD might show signs of depression, another might have anger management issues, while another could show signs of both. Those suffering through PTSD are varied in how they handle this mental illness and it is important for loved ones to understand this.
Sleep is either a blessing or a curse for them as they either avoid it as much as possible or over indulge in it. Those who avoid it see sleep as an opportunity for the traumatic event to haunt them in their dreams. Those who spend too much sleeping on the other hand, use sleep as an escape to get away from the pain that they feel in day to day life remembering the traumatic event.
Seeking Professional Help
It’s rare for those with PTSD to ever seek help on their own and you might have to push them in the right direction to do so. It is best to seek professional help as soon as you notice a loved one suffering from the signs of PTSD as it can heavily affect a person’s personality and outlook on life. Younger victims of PTSD especially need professional help as it can affect them until their adult lives and it will be harder to cure by then.
It can be hard to support someone with PTSD but with the right help they can once again live fulfilling lives. All you need is to give them your support and be patient with how their perception of the event has affected them. Soon enough they’ll be back in control of their lives so long as they’re given professional help and the right treatment as soon as possible.
oiradmin July 19th, 2019
Posted In: blog
Everyone wants to be physically fit. To be able to run several miles without breaking a sweat. But not everyone shouts out to the world that they want to be mentally fit. What does running 100 miles matter if your thoughts are clouded and you start lashing out at those running in the game of life with you? If you want to know how to improve your mental health, read on.
Eat a Proper Diet
A proper diet is a great way to maintain your mental health. Go for health food like lean meat, green leafy vegetables, and fish. If the food is filled with sugar, and fat avoid eating too much of it. Avoid food like chips, fast food, and sodas.
And no, a Diet Coke is not an exception.
Eating the wrong kind of food can cause a multitude of problems like hormonal imbalances and an uneven sleep schedule which will definitely affect your mental health in the long term.
Exercise
Exercise isn’t only a great way to improve your physical health but also your mental health. It is even prescribed by professionals to cure mild depression and anxiety. Exercise releases endorphins in your brain that gives you that happy feeling after a good jog.
Communicate
Being alone doesn’t help one’s mental health as we are social beings. Surround yourself with people with a positive outlook in life. You’ll eventually end up smiling in the face of adversity as well.
Make sure to let your friends and family know when things are becoming too much for you to handle. They’ll be more than happy to support you and help you figure out what to do in your darkest hours.
Manage Stress
Life is stressful. There is no getting around that, but don’t let stress eat away at your life. Do your best to think of stress as a way to temper your resolve for the future and not as a problem to be worried about. Look for ways to fix the sources of your stress.
Is it your neighbor who keeps playing loud music in the middle of the night? Communicate with them and share your woes. It’s better than bottling it up to yourself.
Is it your job? Try to find creative ways to make your job more meaningful and fun.
Not all problems can be solved however and that neighbor might be too stubborn or your job is just difficult to enjoy. In the end, the best way to manage stress is to throw it out the window every once in awhile and enjoy life.
Enjoy Life
Do what you love. Take some time out with friends and family while forgetting about the stresses of your job. Take that hiking trip that you’ve always wanted to go to.You deserve to enjoy life.
Don’t let anyone or anything tell you otherwise.
Mental health is just as important as physical health and it shows in day to day life. If you have a friend or family member with a cloud above their head, don’t hesitate to show them how to lead a mentally healthy lifestyle or this blog to shine a little sunlight in their life.
oiradmin July 10th, 2019
Posted In: blog
A little similar to ADHD, a child suffering from ADD also have poor impulse control, which can lead to the development of inappropriate behavior. While this can be quite alarming, this condition is only a result of a functional difference in the brain. This does not entirely mean that a child with ADD cannot be taught what is right from wrong. (more…)
oiradmin May 19th, 2019
Posted In: ADD
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that can cause extreme shifts in mood, behavior, and energy level. This condition is often characterized in two different stages. One is the manic episode which is commonly described as high, while the other is low which is also known as the depressive episode. This is why, the bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive disorder. But regardless of the name or episode shift, it is understandable how alarming it is for parents with children who are suspiciously suffering from the condition. So, to help you assess if your child or teen suffers from it, here are the early signs that you have to watch out for. (more…)
oiradmin May 10th, 2019
Posted In: Bipolar Disorder
Keeping a watchful eye on your teen’s mental health is just as important as monitoring his or her physical health. Mental health issues often emerge during various tumultuous growth and change that accompany adolescence. During these years of transitioning, teens can easily get overwhelmed with all the pressures and issues they encounter. These factors often contribute to mental health disorders which can be life-threatening. (more…)
oiradmin May 2nd, 2019
Posted In: Teen Mental Health
Depression knows no age. Like many health problems, it can affect anyone, at any age group.
The number of children who struggle with depression has increased over time. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, around 3% of children ages 6 to 12 may develop serious depression. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children affecting 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 1.9 million). (more…)
oiradmin April 25th, 2019
Posted In: Depression
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), sometimes called Multiple Identity Disorder, is a
mental disorder characterized by two at minimum, distinct personality states. DID is one
of the most talked about illnesses. (more…)
oiradmin April 18th, 2019
Posted In: blog