Entries by Alter Health

Where Can I Get Depression Treatment in Laguna Beach?

There have been 15 million doctor visits that result in the diagnosis of depression in the last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Depression is a serious psychological disorder that can sneak up on you. Sometimes it is hard to detect, as some people may think they are feeling down […]

Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy for Treating ADHD

In recent years, the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become increasingly common. According to an article in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, “ADHD has a global prevalence of 5.9% to 7.1% in children and 1.2% to 7.3% in adults.” Several theories aim to address the increasing prevalence of ADHD, including greater public and professional […]

Identifying Schizophrenia and Developing a Treatment Plan

Identifying schizophrenia can be difficult, given the diverse symptoms. Schizophrenia is an often debilitating disorder that impairs one’s ability to think and behave rationally. Individuals with schizophrenia have a difficult time differentiating fantasy from reality. These symptoms manifest in a variety of ways, and no known method can cure the disorder. This article will look […]

Was My PTSD Misdiagnosed as Depression?

Mental health treatment should be supportive and kind. It should be challenging yet educational and healing. If not, a person’s mental health may be more harmed. Proper treatment and diagnosis are necessary for healing. However, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression often get misdiagnosed, as some professionals mix up the symptoms. Alter Behavioral Health begins […]

How Can Dialectical Behavior Therapy Help Me Become Self-Empowered?

Any type of psychological disorder can feel overwhelming and uncontrollable. These feelings can be intense during the early days of a disorder’s symptoms appearing. Someone with a mood disorder may understand those feelings intimately, as intense, uncontrollable emotions are a symptom of many mood disorders. Treatment for mood disorders often includes dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). […]

What Can I Expect From Mental Health Treatment?

Living and thriving with a mental health disorder, or psychiatric disorder, is possible. However, when you first start exhibiting symptoms and behavioral changes from a developing psychiatric disorder, it can be hard to imagine living with one. For stability, understanding your disorder, and how to live with it, mental health treatment is out there. What […]

I’m in Mental Crisis: How Can I Get Help?

Prolonged stress or exposure to trauma can cause a mental crisis. Being in a mental crisis can make everyday activities, such as brushing your teeth or talking to people, that much harder. It can make emotions feel more intense and overwhelming. Whatever your reaction to a mental crisis, it may require help and stabilization. Alter […]

Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder and What to Do Next

Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, as its commonly known, is a developmental disorder that first appears in early childhood. Roughly one in 36 children are diagnosed with some form of ASD, making the condition very common.  The reason ASD is referred to as a spectrum has to do with the wide range of presentations of […]