Mental Health Services
I offer a wide range of personalized primary mental health services. I work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues providing highly personalized approach tailored to your needs and preferences.
Depression
Anxiety
Trauma, PTSD
Some of the signs and symptoms of depression according to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5, include the following:
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Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells
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Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
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Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
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Pessimism, indifference
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Loss of energy, persistent lethargy
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Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
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Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
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Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal
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Unexplained aches and pains
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Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Diagnosing depression involves a psychiatric evaluation and physical tests to determine whether a person’s symptoms are actually being caused by a different disorder. A person must have been experiencing symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression.
Reference: MayoClinic.org
Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time.
Symptoms
Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:
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Feeling nervous, restless or tense
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Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
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Having an increased heart rate
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Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
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Sweating
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Trembling
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Feeling weak or tired
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Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
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Having trouble sleeping
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Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
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Having difficulty controlling worry
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Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety.
Reference: MayoClinic.org
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may start within one month of a traumatic event, but sometimes symptoms may not appear until years after the event.
PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person.
Intrusive memories.
Symptoms include:
Behavioral: agitation, irritability, hostility, hypervigilance, self-destructive behavior, or social isolation
Psychological: flashback, fear, severe anxiety, or mistrust
Mood: loss of interest or pleasure in activities, guilt, or loneliness
Sleep: insomnia or nightmares
Also common: emotional detachment or unwanted thoughts.
Reference: MayoClinic.org
Stress management
Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life. A small amount of stress can be good, motivating you to perform well. But many challenges daily, such as sitting in traffic, meeting deadlines and paying bills, can push you beyond your ability to cope.
Your brain comes hard-wired with an alarm system for your protection. When your brain perceives a threat, it signals your body to release a burst of hormones that increase your heart rate and raise your blood pressure. This "fight-or-flight" response fuels you to deal with the threat.
Once the threat is gone, your body is meant to return to a normal, relaxed state. Unfortunately, the nonstop complications of modern life and its demands and expectations mean that some people's alarm systems rarely shut off.
Stress management gives you a range of tools to reset and to recalibrate your alarm system. It can help your mind and body adapt (resilience). Without it, your body might always be on high alert. Over time, chronic stress can lead to serious health problems.
Don't wait until stress damages your health, relationships or quality of life. Start practicing stress management techniques today.
Reference: MayoClinic.org
Self-esteem
Self-esteem is the way we think about ourselves and the value we place on ourselves.
We all criticise ourselves from time to time, but if you often think badly about yourself or judge yourself negatively, you may have low self-esteem. You may not know the cause of your low self-esteem, but there are steps you can take to improve it.
Self-esteem is different to self-confidence. Confidence relates to a person’s ability in a particular area of their life. A person can be very confident about their particular abilities, but still have low self-esteem. Achieving confidence in a particular area of life won’t necessarily improve self-esteem.
What are the symptoms?
Signs of low self-esteem include:
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saying negative things and being critical about yourself
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joking about yourself in a negative way
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focusing on your negatives and ignoring your achievements
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blaming yourself when things go wrong
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thinking other people are better than you
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thinking you don’t deserve to have fun
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not accepting compliments
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avoiding challenges for fear of failing
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being overly upset by disapproval or criticism
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feeling sad, depressed, anxious, ashamed, angry or worthless
Reference: healthdirect.gov.au/self-esteem
Intimate-partner violence
Domestic violence — also known as intimate partner violence — occurs between people who are or have been in a close relationship. Domestic violence can take many forms, including emotional, sexual and physical abuse, stalking and threats of abuse. It can happen in heterosexual or same-sex relationships.
Abusive relationships always involve an imbalance of power and control. An abuser uses intimidating, hurtful words and behaviors to control his or her partner.
It might not be easy to recognize domestic violence against men. Early in the relationship, your partner might seem attentive, generous and protective in ways that later turn out to be controlling and frightening. Initially, the abuse might appear as isolated incidents. Your partner might apologize and promise not to abuse you again.
You might be experiencing domestic violence if your partner:
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Calls you names, insults you or puts you down
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Prevents you from going to work or school
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Stops you from seeing family members or friends
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Tries to control how you spend money, where you go or what you wear
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Acts jealous or possessive or constantly accuses you of being unfaithful
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Gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs
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Tries to control whether you can see a health care provider
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Threatens you with violence or a weapon
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Hits, kicks, shoves, slaps, chokes or otherwise hurts you, your children or your pets
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Forces you to have sex or engage in sexual acts against your will
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Blames you for his or her violent behavior or tells you that you deserve it
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Threatens to tell friends, family, colleagues or community members your sexual orientation or gender identity.
Reference: MayoClinic.org