Mental Health Archives - Page 2 of 2

Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health in Hispanic Communities

Rates of the prevalence of substance use disorder in Hispanic communities typically mirror that of the general U.S. population. However, some indicators show that substance use and mental health disorders, including co-occurring disorders requiring dual diagnosis treatment, may be slightly higher due to sociodemographic factors.

These factors may also prevent or deter those who suffer from substance use and mental health disorders from receiving the much-needed treatment to get them on the road to recovery.

Those in the Hispanic, Latinx (Latino/Latina), and Chicano communities can face difficulties when seeking the necessary treatment for mental health challenges. Using the Treatment Connection portal is an easy way to find trusted treatment providers and programs.

Sociodemographic Factors

Researchers examined the relationship between substance use and culture in the Hispanic community. They have determined several factors contributing to drug and alcohol addiction, including:

Cultural Values: Like many other cultures, some values within Latinx culture promotes abstinence and avoidance as the only means to address drugs or alcohol addiction.
Language: Researchers have found the stress of having to learn a non-familiar language can contribute to substance use rates. The process of learning, adapting, and assimilating can be significant stressors and triggers, especially when resources to provide aid for this are minimal.
Place of Birth: In some studies, it has been determined that birthplace may play a role in drug and alcohol use. Those who immigrate to the United States are less likely to turn to substances. However, for each generation born into the country, the chances of substance use disorder and mental illness increase. For example, a first-generation immigrant of Hispanic origin is slightly more at risk of using and abusing drugs than their parents.
Sociodemographics: Age, marital status, and employment status also seem to impact one’s likelihood to develop a substance use disorder. Married Latinx report fewer alcohol and drug-related challenges while those who are younger and often single report higher usage. For those who may be unemployed at any age, the risk and prevalence of use are much higher.

Treatment Disparities in the Hispanic Community

Assimilating to a new country and its culture can bring about many mental health challenges. As immigrants are faced with discrimination, stereotyping, prejudice, and even governmental laws, they may turn to substance use to help cope with the anxiety, stress, depression, and pressure that they may feel.

Unfortunately, studies also reveal that those within the Hispanic community are also faced with disparities in available options when they find themselves in need of mental health and substance use treatment. For example, several surveys indicate that Latinx people experience the following when seeking treatment:

Less access to treatment facilities
Longer wait time to access treatment options
Less satisfaction with services received
Reduced access to insurance/payment options

Aside from the systematic disparities Hispanics and Latinx experience in receiving necessary treatment, several cultural factors may hinder their desire and ability to enter into a treatment program. Shame and embarrassment that they may be experiencing a mental health challenge may prevent some individuals from entering a treatment program. Similarly, the fear of disrupting family relationships or the ability to work also prevents many people from receiving the treatment they need.

Seeking Substance Use or Mental Health Treatment in the Hispanic Community

Regardless of one’s birthplace, language, cultural values, substance use, and mental health disorders, serious diseases can lead to devastating outcomes if left untreated. At Treatment Connection, we help everyone who needs substance use or mental health treatment gain access to treatment programs to help them get on the road to recovery. If you or a loved one needs treatment, we can help you find the appropriate program to suit your needs, bearing in mind your specific cultural and family requirements.

Visit Treatment Connection to take a 13-question assessment and find the best type and intensity of addiction treatment for you or a loved one.

DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG POST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material (collectively, “Information”) contained on this blog post are for informational purposes only. None of the Information is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog post.

4 Signs of Depression That Might Surprise You

When people talk about depression, you’ll hear about the profound sadness, exhaustion, and disinterest. But that’s only part of the story. While these signs of depression are common, there are other, sometimes subtle but telling, symptoms you might miss. Depression is one of the most common mental health issues. It frequently affects millions of people every year. However, it is a very treatable condition. What’s vital is that individuals educate themselves about the signs of depression so they can get themselves or those they care about the appropriate support. Treatment Connection can give you a sense of what to expect.

Trouble Sleeping

If you feel depressed, you might sleep long hours (10 or more). In some cases, you do it because you’re tired. But it can also be a means to escape life.

However, others experience prolonged wakefulness and insomnia. You might struggle to fall asleep or wake up repeatedly at night.

To make matters worse, nearly a third of people with severe depression also suffer from frequent nightmares that make it hard to get a good night’s sleep. Only around four percent of the general population reports frequent nightmares.

Nightmares aren’t always about monsters and scary things. These may also include frequent dreams about death, injury, or loss in addition to events that bring on shame, sadness, anger, or frantic feelings.

Forgetfulness

People who get their diagnosis by middle age have a much higher chance of developing dementia versus those who are not depressed. So it’s not surprising that trouble remembering things can be a sign.

When the brain is depressed, it shuts down certain emotional responses and functions. In fact, if you compare a brain of a person suffering from this condition with someone who has a generally healthy brain, you’d see a significant reduction in brain activity.

Storing, processing, and recalling memories is one of the most important mental tasks the brain has. But it can’t do it well when depressed.

Chronic Pain

Of course, chronic pain can lead to depression. They often go hand in hand. But often, it’s the other way around, even though many people fail to realize it.

In the same way, reduced brain activity affects memory. It also impacts the natural chemicals the brain produces to manage pain. So even a little ache can feel 10 times worse if you’re depressed.

Add to this that you may not be getting enough exercise, eating the healthiest foods, or maintaining the best posture because you’re tired or lack motivation. Chronic pain very commonly follows.

You might also have a generally negative outlook that causes you to focus on little pains. Focusing on something that hurts always makes it feel worse.

This is certainly not to say that the pain isn’t real. It feels as real as any pain. But if you have chronic pain that medical professionals are having trouble pinpointing a cause for, depression treatment may help.

Substance Use Disorder

They call it “self-medicating” for a reason. People experiencing depression may choose substances like alcohol, heroin, kratom, meth, LSD, marijuana, or cocaine.

Whether the substance is legal where you are or not, any substance that significantly alters the mind can harm.

Addiction may develop. And these change the brain’s structure, making the brain function worse when you’re not using it. These kinds of substances can also cause cognitive and mental health decline over time–not to mention other risks.

Substance misuse and depression are a vicious cycle. Both make each other worse. So if you’re being treated for either one, it’s important to get depression treatment and substance use disorder treatment simultaneously.

This is called dual diagnosis care.

What to Expect in Depression Treatment

Medication is only a piece of the mental health treatment puzzle. To manage symptoms like these, you need to get to the root causes of your condition.

This may involve actions like:

Attending outpatient therapy
Entering a residential treatment program
Making certain lifestyle changes to improve your life situation, wellness, and joy in life
Improving your nutrition and exercise routine

If you’re suffering from symptoms like these, know that you’re not alone. Help is available. Please explore your treatment options. You can start by using Treatment Connection’s online Treatment Needs Assessment tool.

Finding a Therapy Program That Is Right for You

Mental health struggles are a common issue for people from all walks of life. Fortunately, there are now methods available to help you recover. Psychotherapy may play a crucial role in effective recovery. But what kind of therapy is best for you? And where can you find a suitable therapy program in your area?

Treatment Connection is your source for finding a therapy program that is right for you. Use our convenient online tool to get started in recovery today.

What to Look for in a Therapy Program

Here are four basic aspects to consider when looking for a therapy program:

The Nature of Your Mental Health

There are many different kinds of mental illnesses. Mental health professionals break these conditions down into categories that include:

Anxiety disorders
Depressive disorders
Bipolar disorders
Trauma- and stressor-related disorders
Eating disorders
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders

Each of these categories includes several specific illnesses. For example, the depressive disorders category includes major depression, the most widespread mental health condition. Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, belongs to the trauma- and stressor-related disorders category.

There are therapy options for all of these illnesses. However, not all therapies work equally well for all conditions. For this reason, you should look for providers who specialize in treating the particular illness affecting you.

Evidence-Based Treatment

Today, evidence-based treatment is considered the gold standard for mental health care. This is the name for treatments that have:

Been studied extensively by expert researchers
Proven to be effective for many people with a given illness

Many therapies have been put to this rigorous test. Only some have passed muster as effective treatment options. When searching for therapy programs or counseling programs, check if they rely on evidence-based care. If they do, this mark of quality helps ensure that you will receive proper support for your recovery.

An Experienced Staff

Not just anyone can offer effective therapy for serious mental health issues. It takes years of training to learn how to treat these issues. And it takes additional years of real-world experience to master the key therapy skills.

All of this means that your therapy provider’s training and experience levels matter. The best providers have developed a well-earned reputation for quality and trustworthiness. Don’t hesitate to ask about these things when selecting a therapy program.

Hospitalization, Inpatient, or Outpatient Treatment

Not everyone with the same illness is equally affected by it. For any given condition, potential symptoms range from mild to severe. Your specific symptoms help determine the most appropriate program to enter for treatment.

Some people begin their recovery journey with hospitalization. This may be necessary if you are severely affected by your condition. Treatment for moderate-to-severe mental illness may also be provided in a non-hospital inpatient program. People with mild-to-moderate symptoms may get all the help they need in an outpatient program. Your doctor will help you determine which of these settings works best for you.

Find the Right Counseling Program for Your Needs at Treatment Connection

Need help finding the right kind of therapy program? Treatment Connection is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We feature a nationwide online directory of top local providers. All listed providers have been screened in advance for quality and expertise. In this way, we help make sure that you only choose from the best options in your area.

All searches at Treatment Connection are completely anonymous so you can feel at ease looking for the support you desire. You also have the option of looking for providers by name or by any zip code in the U.S. Day or night, we support your efforts to recover from mental illness.

Tips for Avoiding Your Anxiety Triggers

Anxiety is a fact of life for just about everyone. For some people, the common signs of anxiety only have a minor, temporary effect. However, others have much more serious problems and require professional treatment. In either case, you may find that certain things trigger your feelings of anxiousness. You can take steps to learn how to cope with these anxiety triggers. You can also take steps that will help you avoid them altogether. Here are some tips on how to achieve this goal.

Understand and Recognize Your Anxiety Triggers

Not everyone experiences anxiety in the same kinds of ways. In addition, not everyone has the same kinds of anxiety triggers. Take time to read up on how these triggers form and operate. In addition, take the time needed to recognize your own specific triggers and when they arise. Common sources for bouts of anxiety include things such as:

Social interactions and/or speaking in public
Financial pressures
Strained intimate relationships
The daily demands of parenting
Pressures at work or in school
Serious illness
Threatening, scary, or unpredictable current events

You may be able to learn about and recognize your triggers on your own. However, you may also need help from your doctor or a mental health expert.

Exercise Can Ease the Intensity of Your Anxiety Triggers

Research shows that regular exercise can be an effective weapon against anxiety. This is possible because exercise helps lower your body’s levels of stress hormones. When the number of these hormones drops, you may find that you’re less sensitive to the things that trigger anxiety. You can get a benefit from aerobic exercises or activities that include:

Bicycling
Walking
Gardening
Sports such as tennis and basketball
Jogging

You can also get a benefit from anaerobic exercises like strength training.

Your Diet Has an Impact on Your Susceptibility to Anxiety

The foods you eat and the beverages you drink have a significant impact on your daily mood. A well-balanced, nutritious diet will help you stay on an even keel. In contrast, a diet filled with junk food and empty calories can have the opposite effect. Generally speaking, when your mood is more stable, you are less susceptible to the effects of stress and anxiety.

One common dietary item is known to have an especially notable impact on anxiety: caffeine. When you drink or eat things that contain caffeine, you boost the levels of one of your main stress hormones. By limiting your consumption of these foods and beverages, you help keep anxiety in check.

Seek Mental Health Treatment When Needed

Despite your best efforts, you may find that anxiety dominates your life. If your anxious feelings significantly disrupt your ability to function, you may have a diagnosable anxiety disorder. In such circumstances, professional mental health treatment is a must.

Anxiety treatment has two main components: psychotherapy and medication. There are therapies specifically designed to help you address your anxiety triggers. With their help, you can diminish the impact those triggers have on your life.

The two types of medication most often used to treat anxiety are anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants. Some people also benefit from other medications. Potential options include sedatives and beta-blockers.

Seek Effective Anxiety Treatment With Help From Treatment Connection

At Treatment Connection, we specialize in helping you find the best local providers for mental health treatment. Our nationwide network allows you to do anonymous searches for treatment resources either by name or zip code. And our built-in quality assurance system means that only truly qualified providers will appear in your results. When anxiety treatment is needed, there’s no reason to delay. Let Treatment Connection help you get started today.

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