Attention Deficit Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Sleep disorders, Psychotic Disorders and more. We offer medication, therapy, psychological testing and TMS.
Attention Deficit Disorders
What is ADD/ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects patients’ behavior. Patients with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse . Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school. Most cases are diagnosed when children are 6 to 12 years old but it can also be diagnosed in adulthood with advanced testing.. The symptoms of ADHD usually improve with age, but many adults who were diagnosed with the condition at a young age continue to experience problems. Patients with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders:
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Most patients feel anxious and worried from time to time, especially when faced with stressful situations like taking an exam, speaking in public, playing competitive sport or going for a job interview. This sort of anxiety can make you feel alert and focused, helping you get things done faster or perform at your best.
Patients with GAD, however, feel anxious and worried most of the time, not just in specific stressful situations, and these worries are intense, persistent and interfere with their normal lives. Their worries relate to several aspects of everyday life, including work, health, family and/or financial issues, rather than just one issue. Even minor things such as household chores or being late for an appointment can become the focus of anxiety, leading to uncontrollable worries and a feeling that something terrible will happen.
What is Panic Disorder?
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Worrying for at least a month after having a panic attack that you will have another one.
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Worrying about the implications or consequences of a panic attack (such as thinking that the panic attack is a sign of an undiagnosed medical problem). For example, some patients have repeated medical tests due to these worries and, despite reassurance, still, have fears of being unwell.
- Significant changes in behavior that relate to the panic attacks (such as avoiding activities like exercise because it increases the heart rate).
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
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The presence of recurring and unexpected (‘out of the blue’) panic attacks.
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Situations involving social interaction (such as having a meal with friends, or making small talk).
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What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
What is PTSD?
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Re-living the traumatic event – The patient relives the event through unwanted and recurring memories, often in the form of vivid images and nightmares. There may be intense emotional or physical reactions, such as sweating, heart palpitations or panic when reminded of the event.
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Being overly alert or wound up – The patient experiences sleeping difficulties, irritability and lack of concentration, becoming easily startled and constantly on the lookout for signs of danger.
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Avoiding reminders of the event – The patient deliberately avoids activities, places, patients, thoughts or feelings associated with the event because they bring back painful memories.
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Feeling emotionally numb – The patient loses interest in day-to-day activities, feels cut off and detached from friends and family, or feels emotionally flat and numb.
It’s not unusual for patients with PTSD to experience other mental health problems at the same time. These may have developed directly in response to the traumatic event or have followed the PTSD. These additional problems, most commonly depression, anxiety, and alcohol or drug use, are more likely to occur if PTSD has persisted for a long time.
Mood disorders
What is Major Depressive Disorder?
Major depression is sometimes called major depressive disorder, clinical depression, unipolar depression or simply ‘depression’. It involves low mood and/or loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities. The symptoms are experienced most days and last for at least two weeks. Symptoms of depression interfere with all areas of a patient’s life, including work and social relationships. Depression can be described as mild, moderate or severe; melancholic or psychotic (see below).
What is Melancholia?
What is Psychotic Depression?
What is Postpartum Depression?
What is Bipolar disorder?
Diagnosis depends on the patient having had an episode of mania and unless observed, this can be hard to pick. It is not uncommon for patients to go for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder. If you’re experiencing highs and lows, it’s helpful to make this clear to your doctor or treating health professional. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2 percent of the population.
What is Dysthymic disorder?
What is Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
Psychotic Disorders
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a patient thinks, feels, and behaves. Patients with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling. Symptoms of schizophrenia usually start between ages 16 and 30. In rare cases, children have schizophrenia too.
What is Schizoaffective Disorder?
Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized primarily by symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and symptoms of a mood disorder, such as mania and depression. Many patients with schizoaffective disorder are often incorrectly diagnosed at first with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia because it shares symptoms of multiple mental health conditions.
Schizoaffective disorder is seen in about 0.3% of the population. Men and women experience schizoaffective disorder at the same rate, but men often develop the illness at an earlier age. Schizoaffective disorder can be managed effectively with medication and therapy. Co-occurring substance use disorders are a serious risk and require integrated treatment. The symptoms of schizoaffective disorder can be severe and need to be monitored closely.