Mental Health

What is mental health?

The term mental health covers all the emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and moods. Common mental health conditions include:

• Anxiety 
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance use disorder
• Eating disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Social anxiety disorder and other phobias
• Personality disorders

Some conditions, like schizophrenia, only develop after puberty, but most can affect children and adults. Fortunately, the Gulf Coast Medical Clinic team offers mental health treatment to address your symptoms.

What symptoms might mental health problems cause?

Mental health symptoms differ depending on the condition, but examples include the following:

• Ongoing fear or worry
• Difficulty concentrating
• Problems sleeping
• Extreme or continual sadness
• Compulsions (having to perform a specific act)
• Obsessions (persistent unwanted thoughts)
• Social isolation
• Irrational and extreme fears
• Suicidal thoughts
• Nightmares and flashbacks (reliving trauma)
• Chronic stress
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Weight changes
• Mood swings

Gulf Coast Medical Clinic’s friendly and compassionate providers help you understand why you experience these symptoms. With their expertise in mental and physical health, they can see if a problem like hormone imbalance is to blame rather than a psychological disorder.

The team completes a comprehensive evaluation to determine if your symptoms indicate a physical condition or a specific mental health concern. They inquire about your lifestyle, work, and home life and review your medical history before creating a customized mental health treatment plan.

What treatment might I need for a mental health disorder?

If your symptoms relate to a physical issue like a hormone imbalance, you might need medications that address the problem. Examples include hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause and levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. 

The primary treatments for mental health conditions are lifestyle changes, psychotherapy (counseling), and medication management.

Healthy lifestyle habits like exercising regularly, minimizing stress, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough restorative sleep are fundamental to mental and physical health. 

Counseling involves talking to a trained therapist about your problems and finding ways to regain healthier thought processes.

Medications like antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and stimulants can reduce symptoms significantly. A combination of counseling and medication is often the most effective treatment.   

Call Gulf Coast Medical Clinic to arrange a confidential mental health assessment or schedule a consultation online today.