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What is Acute Stress Disorder?

Acute stress disorder is a mental disorder that can occur after trauma. This can look a lot like post-traumatic stress disorder however acute stress disorder can be diagnosed even if the symptoms do not last for more than a month. Typically individuals who have been exposed to violence such as robbery, assault, mass shootings, and natural disasters may experience acute stress disorder. (Source: National Center for PTSD)

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of an acute stress disorder usually develop quickly in reaction to a stressful event. These symptoms can last for several days or weeks but usually resolve fairly quickly. Symptoms can look like:

• Anxiety, low mood, irritability, emotional ups and downs, poor sleep, poor concentration
• Recurrent dreams or flashbacks
• Avoidance of situations or things that will trigger memories
• Reckless or aggressive behavior
• Feeling emotionally numb and detached from others
• Physical symptoms such as: heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, headaches, abdominal pain, or breathing difficulty

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is a first line treatment for acute stress disorder. Brief trauma-focused CBT helps an individual struggling with acute stress disorder recognize the patterns of thinking that are destructive such as negative beliefs about yourself or the fear of traumatic events happening again and change their reaction or behaviors in response to these destructive thought patterns.
• Psychological First Aid: This focuses on addressing the initial needs and concerns through providing resources and support to individuals after a traumatic event.
• Psychological Debriefing: This is often used immediately after a traumatic event and is designed to be used as an early intervention after potentially traumatic events. This is more common in police, fire, emergency medicine, and military settings as opposed to a traditional psychotherapy setting.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that may develop after an individual has experienced something shocking, scary, dangerous, or life threatening. Feeling afraid during or after these traumatic situations is natural. When a person has PTSD these feelings will continue even when there is not a present danger to trigger these feelings. (source: NIMH)

Signs and Symptoms

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a variety of symptoms that may start as soon as a month after a traumatic event, all the way to years after an event. Symptoms of PTSD can cause difficulties in social situations, at work, and in relationships. They may also interfere with a person’s ability to perform daily tasks in severe cases. 

Symptoms are categorized into four types of symptoms. An individual with PTSD will have one to two symptoms in each category for a least a month. These types include:

Re-Experiencing Symptoms:

• Flashbacks or reliving the trauma
• Bad dreams
• Frightening thoughts

Avoidance Symptoms:

• Staying away from places, events or objects that remind of the experience
• Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the event

Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms:

• Being easily startled
• Feeling tense or “on edge”
• Having difficulty sleeping
• Having angry outbursts

Cognition and Mood Symptoms:

• Trouble remembering key features of the event
• Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
• Distorted feelings like guilt or blame
• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities

(Source: NIMH)

Common Treatments

Some people can recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within 6 months, while others may have symptoms that last longer or may become chronic. There are several ways to help individuals manage their PTSD. (Source: Mayo Clinic) These include:

Psychotherapy:

• Cognitive therapy – this helps an individual struggling with PTSD recognize the patterns of thinking that are destructive such as negative beliefs about yourself or the fear of traumatic events happening again.
• Exposure therapy – this helps an individual struggling with PTSD safely and constructively face situations and memories that are triggering PTSD symptoms.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) – this helps individuals with PTSD process traumatic memories and change how you react to these memories through gilded eye movements and exposure therapy.

Medications:

• Antidepressants – these medications help with symptoms of depression and anxiety. There are a few antidepressants that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of PTSD.
• Anti-Anxiety medications – these can help with severe anxiety related to the fear of being in a situation or remembering something that triggers symptoms of PTSD.

It is always best to speak to your doctor before starting or discontinuing medications to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder. 

What is Adjustment Disorder?

Adjustment Disorders are stress related conditions where you may experience more stress than would be normally expected in a situation. This reaction to a life change may continue well over three months, a lot longer than what is typically seen. Adjustment disorders may cause significant problems in relationships and or work. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of adjustment disorder vary by person but one thing is consistent: you experience more stress than would normally be expected. It can also impact how you think and feel and can sometimes impact your actions like:

• Feeling sad, hopeless
• Losing enjoyment in things you used to enjoy
• Worrying or feeling anxious
• Feeling nervous or stressed
• Experiencing trouble sleeping
• Losing your appetite
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Having difficulty functioning in daily activities
• Having difficulty concentrating
• Withdrawing from social supports
• Avoiding important things
• Having suicidal thoughts or behavior

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy – Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is the main treatment for adjustment disorders. This can look like individual therapy, group therapy, or family therapy. Psychotherapy can help provide emotional support, help you learn why an event affected you the way it did, and help you learn stress management and coping skills to deal with stressful events.

Medications – Medications commonly used to treat adjustment disorders include antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. These medications change the way your brain uses chemicals that control mood or stress. Medications take time to become effective. It is best to consult your doctor before taking or discontinuing any medications to help with adjustment disorders. 

What is Dissociative Disorder?

Dissociative disorders are mental disorders where an individual experiences a disconnect or lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, actions, identity, or their surroundings. This disconnect is involuntary. Dissociative disorders can develop after a traumatic event and can be worsened by stressful situations. Everyone has at least one episode in their lives, however in order to be diagnosed, a person must experience these dissociative disorders chronically. (Source: NAMI)

Signs and Symptoms

Dissociative disorders have symptoms depending on the type of disorder a person has. In general, a person with dissociative disorder may experience:

• Significant memory loss of specific times, people, events, and personal information
• A sense of being detached 
• A perception of your environment as distorted or unreal
• A lack of self-identity
• Inability to cope with stress
• Out of body experiences
• Additional mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or emotional numbness

To learn more about the three major types of dissociative disorders visit The National Alliance on Mental Illness. 

Common Treatments

The course of treatment depends on the type of dissociative disorder you have. However, dissociative disorders in general are managed through psychotherapy and medications.

Psychotherapy –  Talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful in understanding the cause of your problem and form new ways of coping with stressful circumstances. Other psychotherapies like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can be helpful in processing trauma that may be underlying a dissociative disorder.

Medication – Medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or antipsychotic drugs can be useful in treating additional mental health issues that may be related to dissociative disorders.

What is Major Depressive Disorder?

Major Depressive Disorder is a common and serious mood disorder. It is more than just feeling sad, it causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities. Major Depressive Disorder can affect people of all ages, genders, and racial, ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds. Some individuals experience depression once in their lifetime, however for most depression can be a recurring pattern throughout their life. Major Depressive Disorder requires understanding and medical care. If left untreated, depression can impact your work and relationships. (Source: NAMI)

Signs and Symptoms

Major Depressive Disorder can present in different ways depending on the person. If you experience some of the following signs most of the day, nearly everyday, for more than two weeks, you may be suffering from depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, irritability
• Loss interest in activities or hobbies
• Change in sleep, concentration, or appetite
• Decrease in energy or concentration
• Thoughts of deat or suicide
• Physical pain or aches that do not have a clear physical cause

Common Treatments

Major Depressive Disorder can be treated. The earlier you begin treatment the more effective it can be. Major Depressive Disorder is commonly treated with:

Psychotherapy – Several types of evidence based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, family focused therapy, and problem solving therapy can be used to address depression. 

Medications – Medications commonly used to treat depression include antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications. These medications change the way your brain uses chemicals that control mood or stress. Medications take time to become effective. It is best to consult your doctor before taking or discontinuing any medications to help with depression. 

What is Persistent Depressive Disorder?

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is a chronic low level form of depression. Though it is not as severe as major depressive disorder, your mood may still range from mild to severe. Unlike major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder symptoms usually come and go over a period of years but never disappear from more than two months at a time. You can also experience episodes of major depressive disorder before or along with persistent depressive disorder. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

Signs and Symptoms

Persistent depressive disorder can present in different ways depending on the person. If you experience some of the following signs most of the day, nearly everyday, for two years or more, you may be suffering from persistent depressive disorder:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, irritability
• Loss interest in activities or hobbies
• Change in sleep, concentration, or appetite
• Decrease in energy or concentration
• Thoughts of deat or suicide
• Physical pain or aches that do not have a clear physical cause

Common Treatments

Persistent depressive disorder can be treated. The earlier you begin treatment the more effective it can be. Depression is commonly treated with:

Psychotherapy – Several types of evidence based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, family focused therapy, and problem solving therapy can be used to address depression. 

Medications – Medications commonly used to treat persistent depressive disorder include antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications. These medications change the way your brain uses chemicals that control mood or stress. Medications take time to become effective. It is best to consult your doctor before taking or discontinuing any medications to help with depression. 

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Feeling anxious from time to time is normal, especially with the amount of stress most of us experience in our day to day lives. When this anxiety becomes excessive and difficult to control, a person enters the realm of experiencing a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Individuals with GAD may feel extremely worried or nervous about things even when there is little or no reason to worry about them. These worries can become disruptive to daily tasks. (Source: NIMH)

Signs and Symptoms

Generalized anxiety disorders can develop gradually over time, often beginning during adolescence or early adulthood. (Source: NIMH)

Individuals with GAD may:

• Worry about everyday things
• Have difficulty controlling their feelings or worries
• Understand they worry more than they should
• Feel restless
• Have difficulty concentrating
• Have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Have headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches, or unexplained pains
• Be irritable or feel “on edge”

These symptoms may get better or worse at different times. For instance symptoms may be worse during high periods of stress. (Source: NIMH)

Common Treatments

Some anxiety is normal but it is important to seek help when you feel as though you are worrying excessively and it is interfering with your day to day life. Symptoms related to anxiety may relieve on their own however symptoms of a generalized anxiety disorder can be more severe and may not simply go away on their own. (Source: Mayo Clinic) In this case GAD can be treated using:

Psychotherapy: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used to treat generalized anxiety disorders. This type of therapy teaches the individual different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations that may help them feel less anxious or worried.

Medications: 

• Doctors may prescribe different medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), or benzodiazepines, to help with the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is always best to speak to your doctor before starting or discontinuing medications to help treat generalized anxiety disorder.

What is Panic Disorder?

Panic Disorder is a serious condition that usually appears in teens or early adulthood. People with panic disorder experience sudden and repeated attacks of fear lasting several minutes or longer called panic attacks. These panic attacks are characterized by a fear of losing control or disaster when there is no real danger. Panic disorder can cause a disruption in a person’s life because they worry that another panic attack will begin while they are carrying out normal routines. (Source: NIMH)

What is a Panic Attack?

Panic attacks are sudden overwhelming fear that begins without warning and without any obvious reason. This is more intense than just feeling “stressed out” that most people experience. Panic attacks are often marked by the sudden onset without a way to stop the attack, an intense level of fear that is disproportionate to the situation. Panic attacks usually pass in a few minutes however a person may experience repeated attacks that can recur for hours (Source: American Psychological Association)

Panic Attacks can have physical symptoms such as:

• Racing Heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Paralyzing terror
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea
• Trembling, sweating, shaking, choking
• Chest pain
• Hot flashes or sudden chills
• Tingling in fingers or toes

Signs and Symptoms of a Panic Disorder

Individuals who experience panic disorder may have:

• Sudden and repeated panic attacks without warning
• Feelings of being out of control
• Worries around when the next panic attack will occur
• Fears or avoidance of places where panic attacks occurred in the past

Common Treatments

Panic disorder is generally treated with psychotherapy, medications, or both. Most specialists agree that a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies are the best treatment for panic disorder.

Psychotherapy – Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is especially useful when treating panic disorders for the first time. This technique teaches different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting when experiencing a panic attack.

Medication – Doctors may prescribe medications to help with panic disorders such as:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Beta-Blockers
• Benzodiazepines

It is always best to speak to your doctor before starting or discontinuing medications to help treat panic disorder. 

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety that involves an intense fear or anxiety of a place or situation where you may feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. With agoraphobia you may avoid situations like being alone outside of your home, traveling using public transportation, standing in line, or being in a crowd. Agoraphobia can develop after having a panic attack due to the fear of having another panic attack in a similar situation. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptoms include the fear of:

• Leaving home alone
• Being in a crowd
• Waiting in lines
• Being in an enclosed space
• Being in an open space
• Using public transportation
• Avoiding places or situations

In addition when you venture into a place or situation you may experience fear or anxiety that seems out of proportion to the actual danger of the situation. Symptoms of agoraphobia may last six months or longer.

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy – Several types of evidence based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy. This may look like working with a therapist in order to learn and practice skills to reduce your anxiety or fear. 

Medications – Medications commonly used to treat agoraphobia include antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. These medications change the way your brain uses chemicals that control mood or stress. Medications take time to become effective. It is best to consult your doctor before taking or discontinuing any medications to help with anxiety or agoraphobia. 

Alternative Medicine – Some dietary and herbal supplements claim to help with anxiety. Although alternative supplements are available over the counter they may still have serious side effects. Iit is always best to consult your doctor before taking any supplements. 

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

It is normal and common to feel nervous when entering some social situations. Social anxiety disorder these everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, fear, self-consciousness and embarrassment. The fear and anxiety are so significant that they feel out of control leading to a significant disruption in a person’s ability to attend school, go shopping, attend events, go to work, or do everyday things. Social anxiety disorder usually starts during youth especially in those who are extremely shy and can last for many years up to a lifetime without treatment. (Source: NIMH)

Signs and Symptoms

Social anxiety disorder can look like:

• Fearing and avoiding situations where you may be judged
• Worrying about embarrassing or humiliating yourself
• Fearing and avoiding interactions with strangers
• Fearing that others will notice your anxiety
• Fearing and avoiding situations where you may be the center of attention
• Having anxiety in anticipation of a situation
• Spending time after a situation analyzing and identifying flaws in interactions
• Expecting the worst possible outcome from a negative experience
• Avoiding common social situations such as going to work or school, making eye contact, entering an occupied room, eating in front of others, or using public restrooms

Common Treatments

Treatment can vary depending on how much social anxiety affects your life. Most commonly, social anxiety is treated using psychotherapy, medications, or both. 

Psychotherapy – Therapy styles like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you to change the way you think, behave, and react to situations when you are feeling anxious and fearful. Additionally, exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy can be used with individuals who experience social anxiety. This type of therapy can help you improve coping skills and develop confidence to deal with anxiety inducing situations as you gradually build up to facing situations you fear the most. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

Medications – There are different types of medications that can help with symptoms of social anxiety. These include anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and beta-blockers. It is always important to talk with your doctor before starting or stopping any medications to help with social anxiety.

What is Stress?

Stress is how the brain and body respond to the demands of life. Small amounts of stress can be good and it is natural to feel stressed in certain situations such as meeting deadlines, performance, life changes, traumatic events. Stress may be a one time or short-term occurrence or it can happen repeatedly over longer periods of time. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

Main Types of Stress

Acute Stress: this is your body’s immediate reaction to a perceived threat, challenge, or scare. A single episode of acute stress does not generally cause problems but may lead to difficulties such as tension headaches, stomach issues, or other serious health issues. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

Chronic Stress: This happens when stress piles up and sticks around in your life. The stress becomes persistent and long lasting as compared to acute stress. This long term stress can be harmful to your health. Normally after a stressful situation your body receives a cue to return to normal functioning however the body doesn’t receive this signal during chronic stress. This can lead to serious disruptions in your immune system, digestive system, it can impact your sleep, mood, and may cause serious diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression or anxiety. (Source: NIMH)

Signs and Symptoms

Stress can affect your health whether you realize it or not. Stress can affect your body, your thoughts, and your behavior.

Common effects of stress

On your body:

Headaches

Muscle tension or pain

Chest pain

Fatigue

Change in sex drive

Upset stomach

Sleep difficulty

On your mood:

Anxiety

Restlessness

Lack of motivation or focus

Feeling overwhelmed

Irritability or anger

Sadness or depression

On your Behavior:

Overeating/undereating

Angry outbursts

Drug or alcohol misuse

Tobacco use

Social withdrawal

Exercising less often

(Source: Mayo Clinic)

Common Treatments

Taking steps to manage stress can help reduce the risk of negative health effects. Here are some ways that may help you cope with stress:

• Be observant – recognize your body’s response to stress. Awareness is the first step in making a change. If you don’t know when you are stressed, you can’t do anything to help cope with the stress.
• Get regular exercise – exercise can help boost your mood and help to improve your health.
• Try a relaxing activity – explore relaxation or wellness programs. These may include meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises.
• Set goals and priorities – be mindful of what you have accomplished and how much you are taking on. Prioritize what needs to be addressed immediately and what can wait. Learn to say “no” when you feel like you are becoming overwhelmed. 
• Stay connected – Keep in touch with others who can help provide you with support. Ask for help from family, friends, your community, your coworkers, anyone you feel comfortable with asking for help reducing your stress.
• Talk to your health care provider or a mental health professional – Don’t wait until your stress is causing serious health concerns. Talking to someone early on about your stress can help prevent stress from becoming harmful to your health. If you find that your stress is affecting your work or relationships, talking with a mental health professional can help you recognize where you can make changes and help you create coping skills to help when life becomes stressful.

(Source: NIMH)

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common long lasting disorder where an individual has uncontrollable, recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) that they feel the urge to repeat over and over. These behaviors could be hand washing, checking on things, or cleaning. These thoughts and behaviors often significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions. It is important to note that not all rituals or habits are reflecting OCD. An individual with OCD generally cannot control their thoughts or behaviors even when they are recognized as excessive (Source: American Psychiatric Association)

Signs and Symptoms

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can have symptoms for just the obsessions, for just the compulsions, or for both.

Obsessions – These are persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that can cause anxiety. Commonly this looks like:

• Fear of getting contaminated by people or the environment
• Fear of blurting out obscenities or insults
• Fear of unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts
• Concern with order, symmetry, or precision
• Fear of losing or discarding something important

Compulsions – These are the repetitive acts or behaviors an individual feels the urge to do in reaction to their obsession. Commonly these look like:

• Excessive or ritualized hand washing, showering, brushing teeth
• Repeated cleaning of objects
• Ordering or arranging things in a particular way
• Repeatedly checking locks, switches, or appliances
• Constantly seeking approval or reassurance
• Repeated counting

Common Treatments

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is commonly treated using medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two. Most patients will respond to treatment, however some patients may continue to struggle with symptoms.

Psychotherapy – Certain types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can be effective in treating OCD. Studies have shown that a type of CBT called Exposure and Response prevention can also help reduce compulsive behaviors in OCD.

Medication – Most often a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat OCD. SSRIs are generally used to treat depression however with the correct dosage, some individuals with OCD can experience improvement. As always, it is important to talk with your doctor before starting or discontinuing medication to treat OCD.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is a condition marked by difficulties regulating emotions. This is an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These intense feelings are often experienced for extended periods of time and an individual may have difficulty returning to a baseline after a stressful event. Sometimes individuals with borderline personality disorder have difficulty with impulse control, difficulty within relationships, and difficulty with dangerous behaviors like self-harm. (Source: NAMI)

Signs and Symptoms

Individuals with borderline personality disorder may have mood swings and may display uncertainty about how they see themselves and their role in the world. Some hallmark signs and symptoms include:

• Avoiding real or imagined abandonment
• Quick changes in interests and values
• Unstable personal relationships going from one extreme to another
• Viewing things in extremes (all good or all bad)
• Distorted and unstable self image or sense of self
• Impulsive and dangerous behaviors (excessive spending, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, etc.)
• Self harming behaviors, suicidal thoughts or behaviors
• Periods of intense depression, irritability or anxiety
• Chronic feelings of boredom or emptiness
• Inappropriate anger or problems controlling anger
• Difficulty trusting

Common Treatments

Borderline personality disorder can be treated using psychotherapy and medications. Generally psychotherapy is the first-line treatment for individuals with borderline personality disorder.

Psychotherapy – Treatment with psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder usually is in the form of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy, or psychodynamic psychotherapy. During psychotherapy, individuals learn how to control intense emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and improve relationships. 

Medications – There is no one medication that is used to treat borderline personality disorder. In fact, the benefits of medications are unclear in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. However, occasionally medications such as mood stabilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotic medications may be used to help with mood swings and disorganized thinking. It is always best to speak with your doctor before starting or stopping any medication to help with borderline personality disorder symptoms.

What is Suicidal Ideation?

The National Institute of Mental Health defines suicide as: death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide attempt is a non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with intent to die. Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide. (Source: NIMH)

A person may consider suicide in reaction to stressful life situations, trauma, or other mental health disorders. 

Signs and Symptoms

The behaviors listed below may be signs that someone is thinking about suicide.

• Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
• Talking about feeling empty, hopeless, or having no reason to live
• Making a plan or looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching for lethal methods online, stockpiling pills, or buying a gun
• Talking about great guilt or shame
• Talking about feeling trapped or feeling that there are no solutions
• Feeling unbearable pain (emotional pain or physical pain)
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Using alcohol or drugs more often
• Acting anxious or agitated
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Changing eating and/or sleeping habits
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Taking great risks that could lead to death, such as driving extremely fast
• Talking or thinking about death often
• Displaying extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad to very calm or happy
• Giving away important possessions
• Saying goodbye to friends and family
• Putting affairs in order, making a will

If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently. (Source: NIMH)

Common Treatments

Brief Interventions:

• Safety Planning – this is where individuals work with a caregiver to develop a plan to limit access to lethal means while also creating a list of coping strategies that can be used when in a crisis.

Psychotherapy:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help an individual learn new ways of coping with stressful experiences. It helps individuals recognize destructive thought patterns and learn to consider alternative actions when thoughts of suicide arise.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can help reduce suicidal behavior in adolescents through helping the individual recognize when thoughts or feelings are disruptive or unhealthy. This technique focuses on teaching skills needed to cope with upsetting situations.

Medications:

• In some cases medications can be used to treat suicidal thoughts and behaviors however there is a need for more research to show benefit of using medications for the treatment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It is always recommended to speak with your doctor before beginning or discontinuing any medication to treat suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

If you or someone you know is showing warning signs of suicide, get help as soon as possible. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential. If you are concerned about an immediate emergency dial 911. 

What is Self-Harm?

Self-harm or self-injury refers to deliberately harming your own body. This type of self-injury is not used or meant as a suicide attempt, rather it is a way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger, or frustration. Commonly self-harm is in the form of cutting with a sharp object, however any time someone deliberately hurts themself, such as causing burns, pulling out hair, or picking at wounds, is classified as self-harm. (Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of self-injury may include:

• Scars that are often in patterns
• Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks or other wounds
• Excessive rubbing of an area to create a burn
• Keeping sharp objects on hand
• Wearing long sleeves or long pants even in hot weather
• Frequent reports of accidental injury
• Difficulty in interpersonal relationships
• Behavioral and emotional instability, impulsivity and unpredictability
• Statements of helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy is important to help individuals manage and cope with emotions in ways that are not as destructive as self-harm.

• Psychodynamic therapy helps an individual focus on exploring past experiences and emotions.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy helps an individual recognize negative and destructive thought patterns while increasing coping skills.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy helps individuals build up positive coping methods as an alternative to self-harm.

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is a condition where an individual has an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. Alcohol use disorders can be referred to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and alcoholism. Drinking or using alcohol can be normal, however when patterns of drinking result in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have an alcohol use disorder. It can range from mild to severe and can cause significant damage to the brain and other vital organs. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

Signs and Symptoms

Alcohol use disorder is determined to be mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of symptoms you experience. Symptoms may include:

• Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so
• Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol, or recovering from alcohol use
• Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol
• Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home 
• Continuing to drink even though you know it is causing physical, social, or interpersonal problems
• Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies
• Using alcohol in situations where it is not safe, such as when driving or swimming
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or having a reduced effect from the same amount of alcohol
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms

(Source: Mayo Clinic)

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy – alcohol counseling or “talk therapy” is aimed at changing drinking behaviors. This can look like building and maintaining motivation to make a change, learning coping skills, preventing relapse, and learning a mindfulness based approach towards change.

Medications – There are three medications approved by the FDA to help reduce or stop drinking and to prevent relapse: naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. It is always best to speak with your doctor before starting or discontinuing any medication to help with alcohol use disorders

Support Groups – These provide peer support for stopping or reducing drinking. These are often provided throughout the community and low or no cost. These groups focus on providing support and preventing relapse.