5 Daily Habits That Are Actually Hurting Your Mental Health
March 15, 2019 Posted in: Announcement
Most of us have a routine that we go through each day. These daily habits help us stay on track and keep us from forgetting items and events, but sometimes these routines can lead to bad mental health habits. What may seem like an innocuous daily habit can actually be increasing your anxiety or depression. Consider these 5 daily habits, and try to eliminate them from your daily regimen.
1. Stop Obsessing About the Past
Whether it’s a bad business meeting that happened that morning, or a sad situation that occurred in your childhood, constantly ruminating about these stressful events will not... Continue reading →
7 Mental Health Goals to Incorporate Into the New Year
January 2, 2019 Posted in: Announcement
New Year’s resolutions often include some theme of getting fit, working out more, eating better, or generally just being more active. We all rush into these goals with gusto and excitement and that’s good, though often we tend to forget our mental health goals.
When we seek to improve ourselves, seeking to improve mental health should be a top priority. Luckily, most of the physical changes we try to make can benefit and support mental health.
As you begin a new year, here are a few ways to help you improve mental health and gain more confidence in yourself.
1. Be Active
As it is with almost any... Continue reading →
How to Recognize and Cope with Holiday Depression
December 19, 2018 Posted in: Announcement
The Holiday Season can be a wonderful time of year. We dedicate time to family, friends, charity, and celebration. For many of us, though, putting on a happy face during this time of year can be difficult. Holiday depression syndrome is a very real issue that affects many of us. It can be hard for other people to understand, especially when the season calls for a celebration. Learning how to deal with holiday and post-Christmas depression starts with recognizing its symptoms and how it can affect us.
Depression During the Holidays
The symptoms of holiday depression will vary from person to... Continue reading →
Understanding Postpartum Depression and When to Seek Help
November 30, 2018 Posted in: Announcement
Having a baby is exciting, overwhelming, nerve-wracking, and exhausting all at the same time.
For some women, all the hormone fluctuations and the task of caring for a newborn can cause slight depression – and that depression goes away after a few days.
For other women, that depression might settle in deeper and make things feel darker, hopeless, and become worse rather than better.
At this point, you are no longer dealing with the standard "baby blues."
Instead, you might be entering what is known as postpartum depression.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Is My Child a Bully? Signs to Watch for and How to Help
October 24, 2018 Posted in: Announcement
No parent expects to hear that their child is a bully.
At home, they might act like every other kid. They do their chores, obey your orders, and seem to get along with siblings.
Perhaps it is the opposite.
Maybe your child is out of control at home, doesn’t listen to you or respect your authority, and you feel overwhelmed.
Now you must deal with the stress of realizing your child might be a bully at school, too.
To help your child, you must first understand why kids bully others. From there, it is a matter of enlisting professional help along with your child’s school to stop the bullying.... Continue reading →
Teen Drug Abuse: Warning Signs You Should Look For
October 31, 2017 Posted in: Press Release
Do you worry that your teenage child has been abusing drugs? If so, are not alone. Each year thousands of children become victim to teen drug abuse and it’s a nationwide problem that everyone should be concerned with. In today’s world, there are so many different types of drugs out there and they are easy to get which makes the drug problem even worse. Not only are street drugs such as heroin and cocaine readily available, but so are many prescription pain pills.
When you look at teen drug abuse stats, the numbers are staggering. Prescription pain pills, the same ones we use after getting a tooth pulled or having surgery, are being abused by our... Continue reading →
How College May Affect the Mental Wellness of a Young Student
October 24, 2016 Posted in: Announcement
Going away to college is usually a dramatic transition from a highly controlled environment to an exponentially unrestricted way of life. While this may sound appealing to high school graduates looking to escape their parents’ rules, it could have an impact on pre-existing mental health problems for those who aren’t prepared to handle the drastic lifestyle change.
According to statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a quarter of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are... Continue reading →
Understanding Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
August 4, 2016 Posted in: Announcement
Military sexual trauma (MST) is more common than most realize and affects both male and female service members and their families. Understanding what MST is and how it can lead to mood disorders, substance abuse and physical symptoms is the first step toward finding help for yourself or a loved one.
What Is Military Sexual Trauma?
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "Military sexual trauma, or MST, is the term used by VA to refer to experiences of sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that a Veteran... Continue reading →
Vista del Mar Hospital partners with Jason Foundation Inc. (JFI)
June 12, 2015 Posted in: Press ReleaseThe Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI), a youth suicide prevention and awareness organization, and Signature Healthcare Services, a provider of mental health and substance abuse treatment, announce that Signature has become a JFI National Community Affiliate and will be establishing Affiliate Offices in its 13 facilities (including Vista del Mar Hospital). The Affiliate Offices will serve as hubs where parents, teachers, guidance counselors, students, churches and other community organizations can get educational materials and learn... Continue reading →
Biomarker Could Predict PTSD Risk
April 16, 2015 Posted in: Press Release, Military SupportBlood expression levels of genes targeted by the stress hormones called glucocorticoids could be a physical measure, or biomarker, of risk for developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to a study conducted in rats by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). That also makes the steroid hormones’ receptor, the glucocorticoid receptor, a potential target for new drugs.
PTSD is triggered by a terrifying event, either witnessed or experienced. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, which is why the study aimed to identify biomarkers that could better... Continue reading →