Mental Health Information - Coastal Harbor Health System | Compassion Quality Excellence

Mental Health Information

Mental health and substance abuse issues are often mysterious and difficult for loved ones to understand and accept. Emotions can run high and sometimes nothing seems to get through to the person who is afflicted. For all these reasons and more, we have assembled this important list of definitions, facts and resources to help you gain a deeper understanding of these issues.

If you wish to learn more about mental health and substance abuse issues, we’ve provided detailed information on many of the problems our patients face.

On each of the following pages we have included an overview of the condition, a link to more information, and an opportunity for you to contact us for help.

We hope that you find what you need to get yourself or a loved one on the path to recovery.

For most adults, moderate alcohol use is not harmful. However, nearly 17.6 million adults in the United States are alcoholics or have alcohol problems. Alcoholism is a disease with four main features:

• Craving: a strong need to drink
• Loss of control: not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
• Physical dependence: withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
• Tolerance: the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get "high"

Alcoholism carries many serious dangers. Heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers. It can cause damage to the liver, brain and other organs. It can cause birth defects. It increases the risk of death from car crashes and other injuries as well as the risk of homicide and suicide.

There are two patterns of drinking: early and late onset. Some people have been heavy drinkers for many years, but over time the same amount of liquor packs a more powerful punch.

Other people develop a drinking problem later in life. Sometimes this is due to major life changes like shifts in employment, failing health, or the death of friends or loved ones. Often these life changes can bring loneliness, boredom, anxiety and depression. In fact, depression in older adults often goes along with alcohol misuse. At first, a drink seems to bring relief from stressful situations. Later on, drinking can start to cause trouble.

Not everyone who drinks regularly has a drinking problem, and not all problem drinkers drink every day. You might want to get help if you or a loved one:

• Drink to calm your nerves, forget your worries, or reduce depression.
• Gulp down drinks.
• Frequently have more than one drink a day. (A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer or a wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.)
• Lie about or try to hide drinking habits.
• Hurt yourself, or someone else, while drinking.
• Need more alcohol to get high.
• Feel irritable, resentful or unreasonable when not drinking.
• Have medical, social or financial worries caused by drinking.

Read more about alcoholism:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcoholism.html
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health
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Anger itself isn't bad. Expressed appropriately, anger can be healthy. It can help protect you from dangerous situations, energize you to resolve problems or lead to sociocultural reforms, for instance.

Sure, everyday frustrations, impatience and resentment can all cause your temper to flare. For many people, these are fleeting moments. They're able to take these situations in stride and quickly return to a sense of calm without exploding.

But if your blood boils after minor irritations – such as losing that coveted parking space – or if you're constantly seething, you may need to improve how you're managing anger. Anger that's out of control can be destructive, leading to problems in your relationships, at work, in your enjoyment of life and with your health. You could even be arrested or face other legal problems.

Read more about anger management:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/anger-management/MH00073/METHOD=print
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health
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Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it experience dramatic mood swings. They may go from overly energetic, "high" and/or irritable, to sad and hopeless, and then back again. They often have normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression.

Bipolar disorder can run in families. It usually starts in late adolescence or early adulthood. If you think you may have it, tell your health care provider. A medical checkup can rule out other illnesses that might cause your mood changes. Untreated, bipolar disorder can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. However, there are effective treatments: medicines and "talk therapy." A combination usually works best.

Read more about bipolar disorder: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipolardisorder.html
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health
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Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain.

There are basically two chemical forms of cocaine: hydrochloride salt and freebase. The hydrochloride salt, or powdered form of cocaine, dissolves in water and, when abused, can be taken intravenously (by vein) or intranasally (in the nose). Freebase refers to a compound that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. The freebase form of cocaine is smokable.

Read more about cocaine addiction: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cocaine.html
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health
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Drug abuse is a serious public health problem that affects almost every community and family in some way. Each year drug abuse results in around 40 million serious illnesses or injuries among people in the United States. Abused drugs include:

• Amphetamines
• Anabolic steroids
• Club drugs
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Inhalants
• Marijuana
• Prescription drugs

Drug abuse also plays a role in many major social problems, such as drugged driving, violence, stress and child abuse. Drug abuse can lead to homelessness, crime and missed work, or problems with keeping a job. It harms unborn babies and destroys families. There are different types of treatment for drug abuse. But the best is to prevent drug abuse in the first place.

Read more about drug addiction: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001522.htm
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Drug addiction is a complex but treatable brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of severe adverse consequences. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. In fact, relapse to drug abuse occurs at rates similar to those for other well-characterized, chronic medical illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. As a chronic, recurring illness, addiction may require repeated treatments to increase the intervals between relapses and diminish their intensity, until abstinence is achieved. Through treatment tailored to individual needs, people with drug addiction can recover and lead productive lives.

The ultimate goal of drug addiction treatment is to enable an individual to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to reduce drug abuse, improve the patient's ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of drug abuse and addiction. Like people with diabetes or heart disease, people in treatment for drug addiction will need to change behavior to adopt a more healthful lifestyle. Basis for Effective Treatment

Scientific research since the mid-1970s shows that treatment can help many people change destructive behaviors, avoid relapse, and successfully remove themselves from a life of substance abuse and addiction. Recovery from drug addiction is a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment. Based on this research, key principles have been identified that should form the basis of any effective treatment program:

• No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals.
• Treatment needs to be readily available.
• Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug addiction.
• An individual's treatment and services plan must be assessed often and modified to meet the person's changing needs.
• Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness.
• Counseling and other behavioral therapies are critical components of virtually all effective treatments for addiction.
• For certain types of disorders, medications are an important element of treatment, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.
• Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders should have both disorders treated in an integrated way.
• Medical management of withdrawal syndrome is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug use.
• Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
• Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously.
• Treatment programs should provide assessment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases, and should provide counseling to help patients modify or change behaviors that place themselves or others at risk of infection.
• As is the case with other chronic, relapsing diseases, recovery from drug addiction can be a long-term process and typically requires multiple episodes of treatment, including "booster" sessions and other forms of continuing care.

Read more about drug abuse treatment: http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/TreatMeth.html
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health
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Heroin is an addictive drug, and its use is a serious problem in America.

Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seedpod of the Asian poppy plant. Heroin usually appears as a white or brown powder. Street names for heroin include "smack," "H," "skag" and "junk." Other names may refer to types of heroin produced in a specific geographical area, such as "Mexican black tar."

Read more about heroin addiction: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heroin.html
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Methamphetamine is a very addictive stimulant drug. It can be smoked, injected, inhaled or taken by mouth. It has many street names, such as speed, meth, and chalk. Methamphetamine hydrochloride, the crystal form inhaled by smoking, is referred to as ice, crystal, glass and tina.

Methamphetamine affects the brain and can create feelings of pleasure, increase energy and elevate mood. Abusers may become addicted quickly, needing higher doses more often. Adverse health effects include irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure and a variety of psychological problems. Long-term effects may include severe mental disorders, memory loss and severe dental problems.

Read more about methamphetamine: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/methamphetamine.html
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Domestic violence is a type of abuse. It involves injuring someone, usually a spouse or partner, but it can also be a parent, child or other family member.

Domestic violence is a serious problem. It is the most common cause of injury to women ages 15 to 44. Victims may suffer physical injuries such as bruises or broken bones. They may suffer emotionally from depression, anxiety or social isolation.

It is hard to know exactly how common domestic violence is, because people often don't report it. There is no typical victim. It happens among people of all ages. It affects those of all levels of income and education.

Read more about domestic violence: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/domesticviolence.html
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Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality, usually including false ideas about what is taking place or who one is (delusions) and seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations).

Psychosis is a severe mental condition in which there is a loss of contact with reality. There are many possible causes:

Read more about psychosis: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001553.htm
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Sexual abuse is one form of child abuse. It includes a wide range of actions between a child and an adult or older child. Often these involve body contact, but not always. Exposing one's genitals to children or pressuring them for sex is sexual abuse. Using a child for pornography is also sexual abuse.

Most sexual abusers know the child they abuse. They may be family friends, neighbors or babysitters. About one-third of abusers are related to the child. Most abusers are men. If you think a child may have been abused, it's important to report it.

Read more about sexual abuse: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childsexualabuse.html
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Suicide is the eleventh most common cause of death in the United States. People may consider suicide when they are hopeless and can't see any other solution to their problems. Often it's related to serious depression, alcohol or substance abuse, or a major stressful event.

People who have the highest risk of suicide are white men, though women and teens report more suicide attempts. If someone talks about suicide, you should take it seriously. Urge them to get help from their doctor or the emergency room, or call 911.

Therapy and medicines can help most people who have suicidal thoughts. Treating mental illnesses and substance abuse can reduce the risk of suicide.

Read more about suicide: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/suicide.html
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health
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Adolescent depression is a disorder occurring during the teenage years marked by persistent sadness, discouragement, loss of self-worth, and loss of interest in usual activities.

Most sexual abusers know the child they abuse. They may be family friends, neighbors or babysitters. About one-third of abusers are related to the child. Most abusers are men. If you think a child may have been abused, it's important to report it.

It may also be a reaction to a disturbing event, such as the death of a friend or relative, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or failure at school. Adolescents who have low self-esteem, are highly self-critical, and who feel little sense of control over negative events are particularly at risk to become depressed when they experience stressful events.

True depression in teens is often difficult to diagnose because normal adolescent behavior is marked by both up and down moods. These moods may alternate over a period of hours or days.

Persistent depressed mood, faltering school performance, failing relations with family and friends, substance abuse, and other negative behaviors may indicate a serious depressive episode. These symptoms may be easy to recognize, but depression in adolescents often starts very differently than these classic symptoms.

Excessive sleeping, change in eating habits, even criminal behavior (like shoplifting) may be signs of depression. Another common symptom of adolescent depression is an obsession with death, which may take the form either of suicidal thoughts or of fears about death and dying.

Read more about teen depression: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001518.htm
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health
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