Dealing with unnecessary and seemingly unwanted stress can be detrimental to your overall mental health and well-being. That, coupled with mental health disorders, is no joke and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If these feelings negatively impact you or the behaviors of those around you on a day-to-day basis, the time to get help is now. 

However, you may be lost on where and how to receive help for your mental health. How can you tell what mental health disorders you are struggling with? What resources can be explored in the San Diego area? Alter Wellness Crisis Intervention in San Diego is here to help you receive the mental health treatment you deserve.

How Stress Can Lead to a Mental Health Crisis

If your mental health is not treated medically or professionally, stress can become incredibly debilitating to your physical and emotional well-being. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), stress is the brain’s mental and physical response to an external cause or situational event by which you are personally affected. If your stress levels get out of control and go untreated, it can lead to a mental health crisis. 

Listed below are risk factors that one may encounter when undergoing a mental health crisis:

  • Exposure to traumas, including childhood and environmental traumas, severe accidents, abuse, assault, combat, or rescue work
  • Thinking about killing/endangering yourself or someone else 
  • Poverty, homelessness, discrimination, or substance abuse
  • Recent or subsequent major life stressors, changes, or emotional strains, such as a divorce, custody battle, or single parenting

How Do I Know I Need Mental Health Care?

Access to mental health care is crucial for experiencing mental health recovery. However, knowing when to get help can be challenging. Some signs you may need to access mental health care for yourself or a loved one include the following:

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, anger, or anxiety
  • Feelings of overwhelm
  • Loss of motivation
  • Loss of interest in typical activities
  • Uncontrollable or intrusive thoughts
  • Panic attacks
  • Persistent memories of past trauma

Seeking Help During a Mental Health Crisis

Medical professionals are meant to teach individuals how to manage stressors by addressing the situation in a much less invasive or self-deprecating way. Seeking the help of a medical professional can immensely improve one’s quality of life, both mentally and physically. 

Seeking help during a mental health crisis helps people open up, feel less alone, and renew their sense of purpose in society. No one should have to face a crisis alone, only together with the support of a doctor, clinician, friend, or family member.  

Mental Health Care at Alter Wellness Crisis Intervention

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms and need the help of a medical professional, never fear. Alter Wellness Crisis Intervention has you covered. We treat various mental health disorders, including:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
  • Schizophrenia 
  • Schizoaffective disorder
  • Major depression 
  • Bipolar disorder 
  • Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Personality disorders
  • Panic disorders

At Alter Wellness Crisis Intervention, there’s an array of helpful resources and wonderful people who will stop at nothing to assist you in getting back on your feet. A few of our many resources include the following.

Crisis Stabilization

Crisis stabilization in San Diego provides immediate, short-term assistance to those experiencing any mental, physical, emotional, or behavioral distress. This may be due to the aftermath of a traumatic event or unmanaged symptoms of a mental health disorder. Our goal is to encourage you to practice these strategies whenever you feel yourself falling below the cracks.

The steps of crisis stabilization include the following:

  • Define the problem
  • Ensure safety
  • Provide support
  • Examine alternatives
  • Make a plan
  • Obtain commitment

Measuring Mental Stability

You may be wondering how one’s mental stability is measured. Let alone how your feelings qualify as a crisis. All of your questions and concerns can be addressed by taking the gold-standard diagnostic or Crisis Intervention Assessment. This diagnostic is designed to determine an individual’s mental health by making them undergo a series of careful psychiatric interviews with a trained professional, whether they be a clinician or clinical psychologist. 

In the interview process, the individual will be asked to:

  • Tell their family history 
  • Take a thorough diagnostic/PHQ-9, GAD-7 tests
  • Complete a bio-psychosocial assessment (BPSA)

The BPSA helps a medical professional get a clearer picture of a person’s trauma, symptomatic background, relationship histories, family dynamics, and suicidal tendencies. They can also get a picture of any other self-injurious behaviors or hospitalizations that may put them in harm’s way. 

Wellness Approach

Another reliable resource is the Wellness Approach – a holistic take on health vital for improving the outcome among individuals with behavioral issues. This framework help individuals take control of their lives. By doing this, they can recognize their strengths, abilities, and personal aspirations. 

If you or a loved one have found yourselves in a continual mental health battle and can’t seem to find a light among the darkness, look no further. Alter Mental Health in San Diego, California, has the resources you need to take your first steps toward living a healthier, happier, and more holistic lifestyle. Our facility’s medical professionals are committed to making our clientele feel safe and at home by implementing a trauma-focused treatment plan that is unique to each individual. With an impeccable mission, we combine the latest scientific and evidence-based treatment with the utmost compassion and understanding for all. Call Alter Mental Health Crisis Intervention today at (866) 986-1481 for help.