Who Can Visit a Mental Health Clinic?
Mental health clinics cater to a wide range of people who have different mental health challenges. Almost anyone with mental health problems can seek mental health support at a mental health clinic. If you are one of the following individuals, you can visit a mental health clinic:
People With a Mental Illness
A mental illness is a group of several conditions that affect your thinking, mood, and behavior. As the person becomes distressed, their ability to function in daily life reduces. Mood disorders are one category of mental illness that impacts a person’s emotions. They may cause extreme swings from highs to lows.
Depression and bipolar disorder are two of the most common mood disorders. Depression will interfere with your daily life because it leads to a persistent feeling of sadness or unhappiness. If your mood, sleep, appetite, and energy level change suddenly, the cause can be mood swings. Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings from mania, and the condition can lead to a period of high energy and excitement.
Anxiety disorder occurs when you have excessive worry and fear. A few types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Patients have excessive worry and anxiety about most things in life, such as work, school, money, or health. When you have a panic attack, you experience shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and nausea. Social anxiety disorder is the concern with social situations due to a fear of embarrassment or judgment. Psychotic disorders are another type of mental illness where you lose contact with reality. The disorder causes you to see or hear things that are not there. Other common mental illnesses are personality disorders and eating disorders.
Individuals With Stress and Trauma
If you have been a victim of a serious accident or violence, you may develop stress and trauma. The stress may also happen after you lose a loved one. Other things that will cause stress are financial problems or a difficult work environment. As the stress builds over time, even seemingly ordinary events will trigger your trauma. Some people have emotional distress, while others have physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, or difficulty sleeping. You can also have occasional intrusive thoughts or memories of a traumatic event, or you try to avoid situations that remind you of it.
A mental health clinic has professionals who will help you cope with stress and trauma. You learn how to process your experiences and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Once you know how to manage difficult emotions, your sleep may improve. The long-term benefit is an increased sense of safety and control in your life.
Children and Adolescents
Children may experience separation anxiety, where a child becomes very distressed when apart from caregivers. They can also have generalized worries that affect daily life. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can also occur during childhood. Children with ADHD can’t focus, control impulses, or sit still for extended periods.
As children transition into adolescence, depression becomes more common. This affects their performance in school and affects their social interactions. Anxiety disorders like social anxiety can continue to be a concern, or new ones may appear. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder can also emerge during adolescence. Substance abuse is another risk factor, as adolescents might experiment with drugs and alcohol. This may lead to addiction.
Get Help From a Mental Health Clinic
Mental health challenges will affect the quality of your life. A reputable clinic has professionals who will help you with mental health support. Some clinics focus on specific populations like children and veterans, while others target people from all backgrounds. Find a clinic that caters to your specific mental challenges today.