Understanding Behavioral Health
At the core, our behaviors, actions, and overall patterns fundamentally shape our lives. Understanding how our thoughts and thinking patterns impact our mental health and well-being can help us regain control over our psychological state and emotional stability.
Monitoring our behavioral health helps us explore how different factors affect our emotional and mental well-being, revealing important connections. Let’s dive deeper into this process.
Behavioral health is the study and treatment of mental health conditions and behavioral issues that affect emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It involves managing habits, coping with stress, and addressing mental health disorders through various therapeutic approaches.
Behavioral healthcare professionals primarily aim to help patients understand how thought patterns influence mood, and how mood influences our decision-making ability, which in turn dictates our behavioral responses.
If we can begin to slow down and pinpoint when we are thinking negatively, and feeling poorly, we can stop self-destructive behavior before it occurs. This is one way of engaging in behavioral health therapy that can teach us to recognize negative patterns we have learned as an emotional response to external stimuli and situations.
From Depression to Substance Abuse: What Can Behavioral Healthcare Treat?
Destructive behaviors can creep into our lives unnoticed, from substance abuse, eating disorders, addictions to gambling, sex, or social media, or becoming a workaholic. Over time, these behaviors start to dominate and overshadow other areas of our lives.
These addictions and toxic behaviors can present in many different ways, the important thing to remember is that they are avoidant behaviors with negative consequences.
Excessive engagement in any of these addictive activities can strain our most important relationships and damage our relationship with ourselves. To better understand the signs of avoidance and if they may apply to you, read this Article from PsyCentral.
A significant part of behavioral healthcare focuses on addressing these avoidant behaviors and equipping us with essential tools to manage the most stressful and attention-demanding aspects of our lives.
Behavioral healthcare focuses on diagnosing, treating, and supporting individuals with mental health issues and substance use disorders. It encompasses a range of services and practices designed to improve psychological well-being and support behavioral change.
Treatment is often strongly suggested for the following:
– Mood disorders
– Substance use disorders
– Behavioral issues
– Trauma and abuse-related disorders
– Relationship and Family issues
– Developmental and learning disorders
– Workplace issues
– Chronic illness and pain management
– Life changes & transitions
Behavioral health services encompass a variety of treatments, support mechanisms, and resources designed to address mental health and substance use disorders. Here’s a detailed overview of the different types of treatment & services available within the field of behavioral health:
Behavioral health services provided often include…
– Assessment & diagnosis
– Medication management
– Crisis intervention
– Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
– Substance use disorder treatment
– Preventative care and wellness
– Advocacy and support
– Connection to other mental health professionals
Common Treatment Approaches
By now you have probably heard of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) but there are many other approaches your healthcare professional may integrate into your treatment plan. If you haven’t, here is a refresher and some lesser-known therapy approaches.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – A structured approach designed to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. CBT operates on the principle that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and by changing negative thoughts and behaviors, individuals can improve their emotional well-being and address various mental health issues.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – A mindfulness-based approach that helps individuals accept their thoughts and feelings, reduce their reactivity, and reshape their mindset to foster positive behavioral changes over time.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – A versatile therapy approach often associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD), offering valuable techniques for a variety of mental health conditions. DBT helps individuals learn skills for emotional regulation, effective communication, and enhanced stress management.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) – A short-term, solution-centered approach to therapy. The goal is to help individuals resolve problems through practical, actionable solutions rather than focusing on past difficulties.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) – A trauma therapy that utilizes body awareness to help individuals understand and release the physical and emotional impacts of traumatic experiences. The goal is to restore natural balance and alleviate trauma symptoms.
How Do I Find the Right Behavioral Health Counselor?
This breakdown only begins to explore the wide range of tools, programs, and practices available in behavioral health.
Don’t worry too much about the specific methods used when getting started. When you find a local professional, they usually take an integrative approach, blending various therapies and often including medication management to craft a personalized treatment plan. This plan is developed collaboratively between the patient and the mental health professional and adjusted as needed.
Behavioral health therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), are supported by extensive research and clinical trials demonstrating their efficacy.
Studies reveal that these therapeutic approaches effectively reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and OCD. This relief enables individuals to pursue a happier, healthier life, fostering a stronger connection to their communities and a deeper sense of belonging.
Who Is At Risk for Developing Behavioral Issues?
Behavioral healthcare services are beneficial for a wide range of individuals who may be experiencing mental health challenges, substance use disorders, or behavioral issues that affect their daily functioning and overall well-being.
Some of those most at risk are usually adolescents who are navigating new experiences and transitions more quickly than average, as well as family and caregivers who have an added responsibility for providing a support system. Often there is a gap in a personal support system for themselves, resulting in burnout if the gap becomes larger.
Additional groups that are at high risk for needing mental health support are
– Veterans
– Older adults
– Marginalized communities
– Those going through big life changes
– Thoughts with addictions
– Those suffering from work burnout
If you’re questioning if you need help, it’s time to reach out for it. Speak to a mental health professional so they can help direct you towards a healthy next step.
Behavioral and emotional changes can manifest in various ways, including frequent crying, angry outbursts, yelling, or making aggressive comments. Individuals might experience rapid mood shifts, such as sudden bouts of depression or increased irritability.
They may also withdraw from friends and family, showing a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. Physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, or changes in appetite and sleep patterns are common.
Additionally, there may be functional changes, such as difficulty completing tasks, failing in school, or quitting sports. Other signs include confused thinking, trouble concentrating, and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.
More People are Seeking Therapy Than Ever
In today’s world, more people are reaching out for mental health care than ever before. This surge is fueled by a collective willingness to unlearn deep-seated generational trauma and break free from toxic patterns of the past.
The pervasive influence of social media has heightened levels of anxiety and depression, while the weight of external pressures—ranging from constant exposure to negativity and major political upheavals to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic—has left many grappling with rising mental health issues.
As the stigma surrounding mental health continues to diminish, individuals are more open to addressing their struggles. In this climate of increased vulnerability, seeking support is not just a trend, but a necessary step toward healing and resilience.
If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety, depression, negative thoughts, difficult life situations, substance abuse, or any other stress-inducing situation, do not put off getting the support you deserve. Contact Recover All Behavioral Health today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a supportive and successful recovery.
