When to Seek Treatment for Depression

According to data provided by the National Institutes of Mental Health, approximately seven percent of adults in the United States will experience symptoms of a major depressive disorder in any given year. Many of these individuals will only experience these symptoms once in their lives, typically directly related to a specific event. However, others with…

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Five Questions to Ask When Looking for a Teen Treatment Center

As a parent, there are few decisions that may be harder than those that directly impact your children. The decision to place your child in a residential treatment facility, away from your home, can be overwhelmingly challenging. At the end of 2017, there were nearly fourteen thousand teen treatment centers in the United States. The…

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What Bipolar Disorder is NOT

When people hear the words bipolar disorder, they often think it means someone who struggles with frequent mood swings. It is not uncommon to hear people say, “she is so bipolar” or “every day he acts differently…he must be bipolar or something.” People who struggle with bipolar disorder do go through phases of high energy…

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How Do Medications Help Mental Illness?

Medications are a common component in mental health treatment plans. Well-rounded plans may also include psychotherapy sessions used in conjunction with medications. Selecting the right combination of treatment modalities requires considering the person’s individual needs as each person will respond differently to a treatment.  When medications are used, it is crucial to understand how each…

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Is My Teen Depressed?

If your teenager seems moody and has been withdrawing from their daily life – including no longer doing things they enjoy – you might find yourself wondering “Is my teen depressed?”. Here at Hillcrest, we’d like to provide you with an easy guide to recognizing the symptoms that might plague your teen. Teen depression is…

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What Recovery Looks Like with Aftercare

Deciding to seek therapy for a mental health disorder can be a life-saving decision. Unfortunately, the successes of treatment can lose their impact without proper aftercare. Aftercare is an essential part of the recovery process, and, for long term success to be realized, the value of aftercare cannot be overlooked.

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How Can I Practice Self-Care

There has been a lot of discussion recently about the importance of self-care, but what does that actually mean? For adults, its about finding time in a very busy schedule to take care of oneself emotionally, physically, and spiritually. A mature adult with good time management skills will always find the time to give to…

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What are the Stages of Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal emotion. Anxiety is the brain’s way of reacting to stress and letting you know there may be a potential danger you should be aware of. Everyone experiences anxiety symptoms occasionally, especially when faced with a problem or an important decision. Occasional anxiety is OK; however, consistent or chronic anxiety is not.

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How Neglect Can Affect A Child

What does neglect look like? What signs or signals will a child who is the victim of neglect display if they are silently calling out for help? Neglect can be difficult to spot. Therefore, a child suffers through or is victimized by neglect for many years (possibly their entire childhood) without being able to receive…

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How To Talk To Your Child About Trauma

Being a witness to or involved in a severe accident, violent crime, terrorist attack, or natural disaster (such as an earthquake or hurricane) can be overwhelmingly stressful for children at any age. Even kids and teens who were not directly impacted or involved in the incident can still experience trauma due to repeated exposure to…

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