Tulia takes a whole-health approach instead of focusing on a single condition. We realize that managing mental health for our patients’ best outcomes is essential for change. Some people may need a combination of approaches that includes medication. Others may find relief from their mental health conditions with therapy from specialists.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural human response to stress or perceived threats. It is a normal and adaptive emotion that helps us anticipate and respond to potential dangers. However, when anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and interferes with daily life, it may be classified as an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders involve excessive and constant worry, fear, or apprehension. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and specific phobias are examples of anxiety disorders.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder is characterized by alternating periods of extreme highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). Individuals with bipolar disorder may experience mood swings, impulsivity, elevated self-esteem, and changes in energy levels without any seeming cause or trigger.
With depression, your mental health conditions may include sadness, hopelessness, or a loss of interest in life. When your mood switches to mania, you may feel unusually happy, full of energy, or even unusually irritable and angry. But regardless of the mood, they can affect your energy, activity, judgment, and behavior. Friends may pull back during these times because your emotions are overwhelming.
As a lifelong condition, bipolar disorder can be managed with treatment plans and care providers that support your progress.
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, low energy, and difficulty concentrating. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most common form of depression.
One in 15 adults currently experience depression, and 1 in 6 will experience it at some point.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Affecting less than 1% of the US population, it involves symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speech, and impaired social functioning.
Schizophrenia is a lifelong disorder. However, there are very well-known treatments that can manage symptoms, help people control their symptoms, and help reduce the number of times schizophrenia takes over.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a shooting, childhood trauma, an accident, or war. Unfortunately, trauma leaves imprints on the brain that can be triggered by additional traumatic experiences and long-term stress. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and avoidance of reminders associated with the traumatic experience. PTSD can genuinely be life-altering.
Many people with PTSD can lead normal lives for years before an unknown trigger (a smell, sound, certain words, or the look of a certain person) can trigger a PTSD episode.
Many therapies can support a person with PTSD, and discussing various options with your mental health provider is essential.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
People with OCD often have persistent and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to reduce anxiety. Everyday habits include fear of contamination or causing harm, excessive cleaning, checking, or repeating rituals.
Having a compulsion is common in life. Everyone does it. For some people, it’s enjoyable and can support their career or personal goals. But, once the goal is met, most people stop the compulsion. For people with OCD, they’ll keep that compulsion going even when it’s reasonable to let it go. It then interferes with their life and makes it difficult to function each day.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, involve disturbances in eating patterns and a preoccupation with body weight and shape. These conditions can lead to severe physical and psychological consequences.
Some believe that eating disorders are uniquely a woman’s disorder. It’s believed that nearly 4% of US women develop an eating disorder. However, over 10 million men also develop an eating disorder. It’s not a gender issue. Eating disorders are a disconnection between the reality of a person’s physical health and their mental perception of their bodies.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It often begins in childhood before age 12 but can persist into adulthood for untreated children.
Many believe a toxic environment leads to ADHD. For instance, if a child is born prematurely, if the mother drank or smoked while pregnant, or if the infant had low birth weight — all of these things can lead to attention-deficit disorder. Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can lead to support from therapists, training for parents, and medicine to mitigate some of the more troubling symptoms.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Intense and unstable emotions, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, self-image issues, impulsivity, and self-destructive behaviors characterize BPD. It’s a condition that impacts how you think and feel about yourself.
With BPD, you may have an intense fear of abandonment or an unstable household. You might also have a deep fear of being alone. However, your personality may also exhibit anger and impulsivity that drive people away. This then creates a destructive cycle that leads to anxiety and depression.