Mental Health
All people regardless of age can face mental illness. As we grow and develop, life undergoes many changes. It is completely normal to be sad about losing friends or family, parts of your life ending, or strange changes. However, it is important to watch for excessive sadness, dissatisfaction with your life, and abnormal mood behaviors and changes. Everyone can face mental health challenges, and Primary Care Partners of South Bend is always here to help.
During every appointment beginning at age 13, we will do a mental health screening. Additional appointments may also be made to solely discuss mental health and treatment options. We understand the stigma surrounding mental health, but we assure you that we treat every patient with respect, dignity, and understanding. For more information regarding mental health disorders, data, and resources, visit the CDC’s mental health page.
Mental Health Treatment
At Primary Care Partners of South Bend, we understand mental illness and how it affects daily life. For this reason, we offer several resources for those involved in mental health crises. Emergency counseling is available to all patients. You will meet with a clinical social worker in our office and your primary provider can assist as well. During counseling, we will work with you to learn what triggers you and what coping mechanisms will help you deal with triggers safely. Aside from emergency counseling, we are always here to answer your questions and support you and will refer you to a counselor outside our office for more regular counseling.
Every mental illness is different, so we approach counseling in many different ways. Sometimes, mental illness can also be treated with medication. There are many types of medication to treat symptoms of mental illness such as sadness or sleeplessness. We will refer you to an outside counselor for more specialized or ongoing medications, diagnoses, and treatments. At Primary Care Partners of South Bend, we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. To learn what treatment is best for your mental health, request an appointment online, or call us at (574) 251-1200. Below are some common mental illnesses and symptoms to monitor in yourself or your loved ones.
Depression
Depression is more than just feeling sad. It is ongoing feelings of despair, emptiness, hopelessness, or loss of interest in activities. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that could be due to genetics or the environment you are in. Usually, depression is seen in teenagers and adults but can affect all ages. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, Primary Care Partners of South Bend is here to help treat depression. Through medication or counseling, we are here to be understanding and supportive. Reach out to us online or give us a call at (574) 251-1200.
Anxiety Disorders
An anxiety disorder is more than just feeling nervous. Many people feel anxiety as a reaction to stress, but anxiety disorders occur when these nervous feelings do not go away. Symptoms of anxiety include ongoing uncontrollable feelings of fear and uneasiness. These feelings may cause physical symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, body and headaches, and uncontrollable movements. There are many types of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and phobias. If you are someone you know experiences ongoing feelings of anxiety, give us a call at (574) 251-1200 or contact us online to learn what treatments could help.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
After a person experiences a traumatic event, they may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While it is normal to feel a fight-or-flight response or fear during a traumatic event, people with PTSD never recover from these feelings. If you have PTSD, you may experience flashbacks, nightmares, ongoing feelings of fear or tension, or guilt. PTSD can stem from abuse, war, personal violation like rape or robbery, or any horrific event. We understand that PTSD can cause life to feel scary and make you feel helpless. Primary Care Partners of South Bend understands how to treat several mental illnesses, so contact us online or give us a call at (574) 251-1200 to learn what treatment is best for you.
