FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Prevent, Reduce, and Cope with Stress?
Some feel there is nothing you can do about stress, that it is just a part of life they have to deal with because there are never enough hours in the day. One true thing is that events that may cause stress will happen in life, but many don’t realize that they have total control of how they allow each event to affect them. The foundation for this control is called stress management. Take control of your emotions, thoughts, schedule, and the way you approach each new problem with Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic.
How Do You Identify the Source of Your Stress?
Stress management begins with identifying where the sources of your stress are in your life. It can be difficult because the actual origins of your stress are not always as apparent as you think they may be. It is very easy to miss your true feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Yes, it is evident that you are always worried about paying your bills on time, but could it possibly be the fact that you procrastinated before sending out your checks for the month that leads to stress if they are late or almost late?
To identify the base source of stress, take a close look at your daily excuses, habits, and attitude:
Do you blame your stress on outside events or other people? Or Do you view it as totally unexceptional and standard?
Do you define stress as an integral part of your home or work life? Or do you view it as a part of your personality?
Do you explain the stress you feel as temporary? You have to accept full responsibility for your role in maintaining or creating the stress level you are experiencing. Until you do that, your stress level will continue to stay out of your control.
Does a Stress Journal Help?
Yes. A stress journal can assist you with identifying typical stressors you are experiencing and how you handle them. Each situation where you feel stressed, write it down in your journal. When you keep a daily log, you will start to see common themes and patterns. You will need to write down:
- What happened that caused you to feel stressed?
- Write down a guess if you are not sure what caused it
- How did you feel, both emotionally and physically?
- What was your response to the stressor? How did you react?
- What did you do to help yourself calm down and start to feel better?
How Do You Currently Cope with Stress?
Think for a minute about the various strategies you currently use to cope with and manage your stress. You can create a stress journal to organize your thoughts and decide what works best for you. Next, look at your list to decide if your current coping strategies are unhealthy or healthy. Unfortunately, many people handle their stress in ways that are very unhealthy and often make things worse.
Do You Need to Find New Ways to Manage Stress?
Stress management is critical, so it’s time to make some changes for yourself if what you are currently doing to cope and manage your stress is helpful or not. Some methods do not make things easier for you. You need to find options that contribute to your physical and emotional wellness.
You can choose to either change your reaction or the situation. Before you decide what difference you need to make, it is helpful to remember this:
- Alter the situation
- Avoid the situation
- Adapt the situation
- Accept the situation
Stress responses are a unique experience for everyone, and there is no true “one size fits all” answer to managing and maintaining it. No single specific method will fix every situation, but you can try different strategies and techniques to see what works best for you.
What is Anger Management and How Can It Help?
Everyone experiences anger, and that is an entirely healthy, normal emotion to feel as a person. The problem with some anger is that the person feeling it can’t control it or calm it down. This may lead to violence, which can be avoided with help. Dealing with constant anger can make personal relationships challenging to deal with, and it can cause a decline in your overall quality of life. Unmanaged anger can also affect you physically with side effects such as:
- High-Blood Pressure
- Difficulty with Sleep
- Headaches
- Ulcers
- Nightmares
Having physical side effects from stress and anger happens because of changes you are experiencing that are both biological and physiological. There are also emotional responses that cause the release of stress hormones.
Anger can be caused by internal or external events things you experience. At times worrying excessively about personal problems can be the cause as well. Another cause of anger can come from an enraging or traumatic experience as well.
What Happens When You Suppress Anger?
When you suppress your anger, it means that you are “pushing it down” and redirecting your focus to something more positive. The goal of anger suppression is to change it into more constructive, positive behavior.
There is one main danger in approaching anger this way; not letting your anger out means you’re keeping it in, and it can turn on you, making you more upset.
- High Blood
- Pressure
- Depression
- Hypertension
If you don’t express yourself when you are angry, suppression can cause other issues as well. Unexpressed anger can cause pathological expressions of anger, such as a personality that comes off as hostile/cynical or that you are asserting passive-aggressive behavior.
People who often criticize everything, make negative comments, and put others down have not yet learned how to process and express their anger constructively. It is not surprising that they are less likely to build up successful relationships.
What is mental health?
If you have sound mental health, you can balance the difficulties you face with appropriate coping skills to help you get through difficult situations. Keeping yourself in a positive mental state does not just happen and stays that way. It is essential for you to take care of yourself, not just physically but mentally.
It is always a good idea to:
- Get the correct amount of sleep
- Stay on a healthy diet
- Exercise
- Get proper medical care when you need it
- Make sure you are a part of healthy, caring friendships and relationships
What does it mean for you if you have a mental illness?
Mental illnesses can cause mild to severe disruptions in behavior, feeling, and thinking. The disturbances can significantly diminish a person’s ability to cope with life’s routines and demands. Similar to physical illness, mental illness varies in severity as well as type.
Is it possible to treat mental illness successfully?
In many cases, yes, mental health can be successfully treated. You can learn to improve and cope with proper treatment and care. Some people even feel they make a full recovery with a proper psychiatric evaluation and individual therapy. There have also recently been tremendous advancements in treatments for clinical depression and schizophrenia.
What types of mental illness are the most common?
The most prevalent kinds of mental illness are anxiety disorder. There are three categories of mental illness. They are:
- Panic Disorders
- Phobias
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
What are the causes of mental illness?
There are a variety of mental disorders that are caused by direct links to biological origin. Other mental illnesses are caused by psychological or emotional reactions to social or environmental situations. At times the diseases are only temporary and are caused by the person going through extreme life changes or stress. Others develop and do not go away but can still be treated and managed if approached correctly. The treatments used for mental illness vary depending on the type and severity, but some of the treatments used for various illnesses include:
- Psychotherapy
- Medication
- Social Supports
What is clinical depression?
Clinical depression is defined as having intense thoughts or feelings of despair and sadness that last for an extended period of more than a few weeks and cause an interruption in daily routine and life overall. The person will need to work with a professional for psychotherapy sessions and/or start taking medication to help with the process. The faster clinical depression is identified, the quicker the treatment will be effective, as with most illnesses.
How can I help myself progress if I am being treated for mental illness?
If you are currently being treated for mental illness, first, good for you! It is a massive step to taking control of your mental health. As you go through your treatment, make sure you:
Get plenty of rest
Form a bond with your mental health care provider
Join a support group
Take care of yourself by exercising and eating healthy
Follow your treatment as prescribed
Is it possible for stress to cause mental illness?
Suppose you are constantly in stressful situations but don’t know how to cope with the stress healthily, then yes. In that case, stress can cause some types of mental illness such as behavioral and emotional disorders that will possibly affect your vitality, health, professional and personal relationships, as well as your overall peace of mind. An estimation shows that 75-90% of visits to primary care doctors are related to stress.
How can I find help for mental illness if I need it?
Finding help is an essential first step to getting the treatment you need! Start by contacting your primary physician to make sure nothing is underlying that may be causing you to feel like you have a mental illness. If the doctor does not find anything physically wrong, they will most likely recommend a mental health specialist you can speak to about how you are feeling, such as a:
- Social Worker
- Counselor
- Psychologist
- Psychiatrist
Will my health insurance cover treatment for mental health issues?
You need to check with your insurance provider because all insurance policies vary, but in most cases, HMOs and private insurance plans have mental health services and benefits of some kind. It is unfortunate in many cases that psychological and physical illnesses are not always covered equally for treatments. Ensure you contact your insurance provider directly to see what your plan covers for your mental health needs.
What do I need to look for when comparing my physical health benefits to my mental health benefits?
There are three main areas in most insurance policies where physical and mental health have significant disparities are they are:
- Discriminatory copayments lifting affordability of care
- Arbitrary limits on outpatient and inpatient visits
- Low annual and lifetime caps on people who have mental illnesses
Unfortunately, these limits set by the insurance companies often do not have enough coverage for those who need long-term care and treatment.
Do I need a Consult for Ketamine Therapy?
We believe that comprehensive mental health care is pivotal to effectively managing patients with severe depression refractory to treatment, anxiety, and PTSD amongst others. Ideally, you should obtain a request from your primary care physician, psychologist or psychiatrist for ketamine therapy. While we currently do not provide mental health evaluation we can provide referrals for patients requiring ongoing psychotherapy and/or medical management. Our philosophy is similar to the idea that you wouldn’t go to a cardiologist for your colonoscopy. We provide expertise in the use of Ketamine, a safe environment and an individualized plan to optimize the administration of Ketamine so you achieve optimal results.
Are there any states that have made changes to close the gap between physical and mental health coverage?
Yes. Five states have passed parity legislation saying that private insurance companies cannot discriminate on health care benefits. These states include:
- Minnesota
- Maryland
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Rhode Island
Out of the five states, Minnesota and Maryland have the best measures because they apply to all emotional and mental disorders, including disorders in children.
Is there any way I can improve my mental health insurance coverage?
The best way to get your state to join the five other states who have made these changes is to write to your state senator about your thoughts and concerns. Request that they support parity for mental illness by endorsing or drafting legislation to end the discrimination against mental health coverage.