What does a mental health clinic do?

The brain is the organ that allows us to adapt to the environment and relate to others. Like other organs of the body, it can, at times, make you sick. Brain diseases cause alterations in thinking, mood, perception or behaviour. When these alterations interfere with the way of life of a person, it is necessary to treat them. We call mental illnesses to this type of problems. With proper treatment, it is usually possible to recover and return to the previous activity. Mental illnesses have very different causes. Some have biological causes, like diseases that affect other parts of the body, while others can be caused by certain life experiences. Similar to what happens with fractures: a bone can be broken by a very strong impact (an external factor), but it can also be broken by an alteration of the metabolism (an internal factor), such as osteoporosis. In mental illness, there are external and internal factors that often combine to give rise to the disease.

What are the signs of mental illness?

A mental or behavioural disorder is characterised by a disturbance of intellectual activity, mood, or behaviour that does not conform to cultural beliefs and norms. Mostly, symptoms of mental disorder reflect on the personal functions of the patient. Mental disorders produce symptoms that are observable for the affected person or people in their environment. The symptoms of mental illness can affect emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.  Among them may include:

1. Feelings of sadness or discouragement
2. Confused thoughts or reduced ability to concentrate
3. Excessive worries or fears or intense feelings of guilt
4. Ups and downs and radical mood changes
5. Removal of friendships and activities
6. Severe fatigue, low energy, and sleep problems
7. Disconnection from reality (delirium), paranoia, or hallucinations
8. Inability to face the problems or stress of daily life
9. Problems to understand and relate situations and people
10. Drug or alcohol abuse
11. Important changes in eating habits
12. Changes in sexual desire
13. Excessive anger, hostility or violence
14. Suicidal thoughts

The specific early signs vary from one mental disorder to another. Mental retardation, substance abuse, depression, dementia, schizophrenia, autism in childhood and are examples of mental disorders. They can appear in men and women of any age and in any race or ethnic group. Although the causes of many mental disorders are not well known, it is believed that they depend on a combination of biological, psychological and social factors, such as stressful events, family problems, brain diseases, hereditary or genetic disorders, and medical problems. In most cases, mental disorders are diagnosed and treated effectively.

How are mental illnesses treated?

There are two main groups of treatments:

1. Drugs: With the advancement of modern pharmacology and knowledge of the brain, drugs have appeared that regulate the functioning of the nervous system. Many mental illnesses have an effective treatment, allowing affected people that the fact of having these diseases does not influence their way of life.
2. Psychotherapy: The non-pharmacological intervention, usually in the form of a conversation between the patient and his doctor, can solve many problems. Just as a given life experience can produce disease, a life experience guided by a therapist can restore a patient.

Each disease has its treatment. Sometimes it is necessary to combine both therapies, especially in moderate or severe cases. Turn to Gold Coast’s leading mental health clinic – Robina Private for the proper assessment and care from expert mental health professionals.

Trauma counselling involves counselling of traumatic situations such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, and abusive relationships, horrific accidents, death, and other daily traumatic experiences. You get to identify and cope up with feelings and emotions that you experience in traumatic situations. Trauma results from excessive stress that overwhelms your emotion or physical ability.

This counselling requires a healthy person who will have the courage to stand and make a request. You need to understand that everybody has a different reaction to trauma so that you avoid comparing yourself to others. Therefore, it is crucial that you address the disorder as soon as possible so that you healthily deal with emotions.

When to get help

Trauma affects anyone at any age.  Any symptoms of trauma should be taken seriously as they can lead to extreme psychological issues. In some cases, people may feel weak to ask for help especially when they make comparisons with others.

The sooner you deal with the symptoms, the sooner you have a full recovery. Emotional trauma can affect your daily choices and functions if you don’t solve it. Counselling offers a safe and supportive environment for addressing all of its physical effects.

Finding a trauma specialist

Sometimes seeing the right trauma therapist may take some time. Choosing a therapist with experience in treating trauma is vital. You need one who you are comfortable with and who you can trust. There should be a sense of warmth amongst you. Look for trauma counselling services that provide you with a secure and calm environment that will help you open up.

Benefits of trauma counselling

1.Enables you to see the light in hard situations

Getting through the process may be difficult. Knowing that time and emotions results in a large number of benefits help to encourage you to keep on fighting. When you follow the advice given, and you participate fully, you will find that you will have many positive aspects of the process.

2.Enhances a more fulfilled life

You get to live a more fulfilled life. It is possible that you may have trust issues with your friends and relatives during traumatic situations. These issues make it challenging to secure healthy and personal relationships. Counselling will develop a completely different and positive feeling towards others. You will have no worries about being hurt or people walking away from your link.

3. Strong support from those who understand you

It will give you a strong support system of people who understand your feelings and help you work through the situation. Counsellors provide you with strategies for managing your distress, extreme anxiety, fear or any other emotion. You can implement these tools so that you can get on with life while managing those feelings.

4.You learn to cope up with present feelings

This is a significant benefit that helps you to stop living in that situation at that time. Severe trauma can cause difficulties in separating yourself from that point in life. However, counselling gives you the advice you need to stop being a victim and to control your thoughts when it comes to what you are experiencing.

5. Group debriefing ensures well being of the staff

Counselling groups assist in managing sensitive situations in companies. Members communicate their raw thoughts and feelings where they are encouraged and relieved. Thus loyalty is created among the members.

Trauma counselling helps you deal with pain in traumatic events and living your life without fear and distrust.