Author: In Balance Counseling

social anxiety disorder diagnosis

Social Anxiety Disorder — Diagnosis and Treatment        

Have you felt your heart race in a crowded room? Does the thought of social gatherings make you uneasy?

As a trusted intensive outpatient program in Tucson, we at In Balance Counseling offer a supportive environment where you can explore these feelings. A social anxiety disorder diagnosis means understanding the triggers causing distress and addressing them.

Keep reading as we break down the nitty-gritty details.

Identifying Social Anxiety

The first step is to differentiate usual shyness from the characteristics of social anxiety disorder. The official criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) from the American Psychiatric Association include:

  • Persistent phobia of people judging you negatively and feeling embarrassed or humiliated
  • Enduring social situations with intense anxiety or full avoidance
  • Distress that causes impairment in your day-to-day activities
  • Fear or anxiety that doesn’t stem from another medical condition, medication, or substance abuse

If any of these resonate with your experiences, it’s time to consult your healthcare provider. They may obtain an official diagnosis through:

  • Physical examinations
  • In-depth consultations that discuss the symptoms, how often they occur, and when
  • Providing self-report questionnaires about social anxiety symptoms

The Path Forward

You should never feel embarrassed about a social anxiety disorder diagnosis. About 5% to 10% of people across the world have it, so it’s more common than you think. Modern treatments have made it possible to manage and overcome the condition effectively.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, often referred to as talk therapy, involves working with a trained therapist to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a subset of this approach, and many consider it one of the most effective treatments for social anxiety disorder.

It aims to spot negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety and change them. Individuals learn coping strategies, gradually face fearful social situations, and ultimately develop healthier ways to manage their condition.

Medication

Have you ever heard of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)? Many with social anxiety disorders have naturally low levels of serotonin — the chemical that significantly influences emotions. SSRIs, such as sertraline or fluoxetine, work to increase it to help improve mood.

Most specialists recommend therapy to tackle social anxiety, while medication serves as an additional support. Have a frank conversation with your doctor; they will work with you and recommend a suitable prescription and dosage. It’s crucial to monitor for any side effects and actively communicate concerns with them.

Some cases call for alternatives like antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and beta blockers.

Work With Specialists Who Care

Are you ready to take the next step? Addressing your social anxiety disorder diagnosis can improve personal relationships, boost job performance, and enhance your overall quality of life. It’s all about finding a support network.

In Balance Counseling provides individual therapy sessions and group programs tailor-fit to your needs. You’re not just another client; you’re part of a community committed to your growth.

Dial 520-722-9631 or fill out our form if you need therapy — everyone deserves a space where they feel heard and understood. Reach out today.

are you born with adhd or does it develop

Are You Born With ADHD or Does It Develop?

ADHD carries a lot of stigma around it, making many adults ignore the symptoms. ADHD is a neurological condition causing a combination of impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity, and often associated with misbehaving children. But this condition can affect anyone from birth to adulthood, so are you born with ADHD or does it develop?

Studies suggest it’s largely genetics that determine your likelihood to have ADHD, but environmental factors play a big part in it, too. If you suspect you have ADHD, talk to our licensed professionals at In Balance Counseling. We offer individual therapy and intensive outpatient programs to provide well-rounded mental health support. Reach out today to learn more about how we can assist you.

Possible Genetic Factors

Are you born with ADHD or does it develop? Many congenital factors may cause a person to have ADHD. Symptoms often appear in childhood, though some people aren’t diagnosed until adulthood.

The Brain

Many complexities in the brain may contribute to the development of ADHD:

  • Chemistry: Dopamine is a brain chemical related to your nervous system that’s responsible for motivation and pleasure. Those with ADHD tend to have lower amounts of dopamine in their brain.
  • Function: Those with ADHD may have a physically different brain that handles attention, memory, and cognitive control differently than those who don’t have it.
  • Injury: A traumatic brain injury may cause developmental issues that result in ADHD.
  • Structure: Studies find that people with ADHD have smaller brain volumes and various regions of the brain controlling motivation and emotional regulation.

Prenatal Factors

People who had complications during birth or exposure to harmful substances before they were born may be more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis.

Complications include:

  • Exposure to alcohol, smoking, pesticides, lead, or other harmful toxins during development
  • Weighing under five pounds at birth
  • Premature birth or cesarean delivery
  • Oxygen deprivation before, during, or after birth

Possible Environmental Factors

Signs of ADHD may show up if a child endures traumatic events, including:

  • Abuse and neglect
  • Harsh parenting, including intrusiveness, poor treatment, and high emotions
  • Unsafe or unstable environment
  • Witnessing or enduring violence

Scientists have yet to determine if these directly cause ADHD or if they only make preexisting symptoms worse. Parents who are highly reactive with their emotions could struggle with emotional control due to ADHD symptoms, thus creating a generational cycle.

Find Mental Balance With In Balance Counseling

Are you born with ADHD or does it develop? As mental health awareness spreads and more adults dive into their well-being, we’ll ask this question more often. ADHD is not yet fully understood, but as it stands, it’s likely genetic but highly influenced by environmental factors.

If you feel the effects of ADHD in your daily life and need help overcoming them, call In Balance Counseling in Tucson, AZ. We will help you find balance in your life by exploring physical, social, emotional, and spiritual healing so you can learn how to navigate and regulate ADHD symptoms. Call (520) 722-9631.

how can stress affect your mental health

How Can Stress Affect Your Mental Health?

If you’re wondering, “How can stress affect your mental health?” you’re not alone. Millions of people struggle with stress and the mental issues that come with it. In Balance Counseling offers an intensive outpatient program in Tucson for patients struggling with addiction and mental health issues. We can help you find healthy coping mechanisms to deal with stress. 

How Stress Can Affect Your Mental Health

Stress leads to the following mental health conditions.

Stress Causes Insomnia

Sleep rejuvenates the body because the brain replenishes the body in slumber. It does this via biological processes that restore important chemicals and remove toxins. Sleep also allows the brain to generate and sustain memory pathways.

Stress interrupts or prevents sleep and, thus, prevents these processes.

Even one night of poor sleep affects physical and mental function. But when this happens constantly, it diminishes:

  • Long-term job performance
  • The ability to perform daily tasks over time
  • The evolution of personal relationships

These outcomes compound the stress, so it becomes a vicious cycle.

Stress Causes Mood Swings

It’s not unusual for stress to cause irritability. Sleep regulates the brain region that controls mood. Therefore, a lack of sleep generates wild mood swings. 

Stress Increases Substance Abuse

Many people under stress abuse substances like alcohol or drugs because they feel like it relaxes them. However, the more they do this, the more they need to feel relaxed, which can lead to addiction. The brain releases stress hormones in response to this cycle. 

Stress Provokes Anxiety and Depression

Stress causes physical issues that create pain. For instance, the medical community recognizes clenched jaws and scrunched shoulders as physical manifestations of stress. Some people develop depression over what they view as an unmanageable state of decline.

Stress creates hypervigilance, too. That level of intensity makes relaxation impossible. Anxiety and depression often result because the mind and body receive no relief from arousal, which creates certain chemicals that lead to negative emotions.

Stress Leads to Isolation

Because stress causes poor health, it impairs social connections. When people struggle with anxiety or depression, they’re more likely to remove themselves from situations where they feel they have to fake feeling happy. This can lead to devastating loneliness that becomes a permanent state of being.

Answers to, “How can stress affect your mental health?” show that mental health symptoms compile on each other. They connect to physical issues. Therefore, it is hard to experience a condition like stress and only have one area of your life affected.

Contact In Balance Counseling 

In Balance Counseling provides emotional, physical, social, and spiritual work for clients who want to develop healthy, all-natural coping mechanisms for stress. We highlight the importance of establishing an awareness and practice of your beliefs and values.

Our clients review their behaviors, feelings, life choices, and communication skills. This helps them recognize harmful patterns and create strategies to deal with them. 

Instead of worrying about the answers to, “How can stress affect your mental health?” take positive action to control your stress. Effective behavioral changes and management skills provide the structure to do that. To make an appointment for your first therapy session, call 520-722-9631.

We’re here for you
Contact us today to enhance your self-esteem, clarify your values, and improve life in every way possible.
Testimonials
Personal Success Stories

In Balance group therapy
  • "I came to In Balance a year ago after failing four major inpatient treatment centers for alcohol and drug abuse going back to 1989. I was so sick that I barely remember coming. In Balance has given me my life back. I truly feel like I have been given a second chance at life."

    5 star icon

  • "In Balance has given me a new respect for life. It’s a fun and safe place to be. I experienced many different forms of therapy to keep it interesting. Thank you everyone."

    5 star icon

  • "For me, the diversity of the program was a big plus. The groups were very helpful and supportive. The experiential components were important to learn how to be active in recovery and sobriety."

    5 star icon

    Arizona Department of Health badge
    Arizona Department of Health Services
    Licensed Facility
    Family Owned & Operated badge

    Proud Member of Family Owned & Operated
    In Balance Continuum of Care

    Legitscript Certified

    Arizona Department of Health badge

    Joint Commission Accredited

    © In Balance Counseling. All Rights Reserved.
    Website by CS Design Studios.