What's serotonin syndrome?

Serotonin syndrome, or serotonin toxicity, is an excess of serotonin in the body.

How do you get serotonin syndrome?

Generally, mild and more severe cases of serotonin syndrome is caused by taking too much medication (or a combination of medications) that alter serotonin levels. For example, taking a combination of antidepressants, or taking antidpressants with pain pills may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.

How common is serotonin syndrome?

Serotonin syndrome is not often reported. However, this condition is thought to be commonly overlooked and may therefore be underdiagnosed.

How do you know if you have serotonin syndrome?

Symptoms of mild serotonin symptoms are easy to miss, so it is important to be aware of the medications that can cause this condition. In general, symptoms may include tremors or involuntary muscle movements, excessive sweating, changes in blood pressure and heart rate, pupil dilation, fever, anxiety, confusion, and ultimately, seizures.

How long does serotonin syndrome last?

The length of serotonin syndrome depends on the severity of the case. Mild serotonin syndrome will resolve on its own within a few days as long as the medication causing the problems is stopped. More severe cases will require medical attention and may take a week or longer to resolve.

What is a co-occurring disorder?

A co-occurring disorder is a condition that exists secondarily to another major health issue. If we use this co-occurring disorders definition to look at mental illness and substance abuse, we can see that turning to drugs or alcohol, which then results in addiction, often happens simultaneously when a patient also has mental health concerns. Since one issue influences and worsens the other, we would call these co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders must be treated together through a specialized program to ensure full recovery.

Why is drug addiction considered a disease?

As with any disease, drug addiction is classified as such because it is a condition that can cause serious and numerous health complications. Additionally, drug addiction is considered a disease because it cannot simply go away on its own—instead, it needs to be treated by experts in the field.

Is alcoholism a mental illness?

Yes. According to the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a diagnosable mental illness that occurs in people who experience at least two of the 11 total criteria for this disorder. In fact, alcohol and mental illness have always been connected. Alcohol use can lead to mental health symptoms, and experiencing mental health distress without treatment can lead people to use alcohol as a way to “cope.”

What is a co-occurring disorder?

A co-occurring disorder is when you experience a mental health condition alongside another. If you have depression and anxiety, these would be co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders can be challenging to diagnose and end up putting people at a greater risk for developing addiction struggles as well.

Is addiction a mental illness?

Having an addiction to drugs or alcohol is actually a mental illness. This means that addiction is something that greatly impacts your day-to-day life. Additionally, the fact that addiction is a mental health concern proves that it cannot go away on its own—instead, your ability to heal from addiction and any other mental health concerns relies on professional treatment.

What does dual diagnosis mean in mental health?

When it comes to mental health, dual diagnosis indicates that there is a mental health concern on top of a substance use disorder. Dual diagnosis is meant to help people who need treatment for mental health conditions as well as addiction.

What is dual diagnosis?

Simply put, the dual diagnosis definition is that a patient has two or more diagnoses that require treatment. For example, struggling with addiction as well as anxiety would be a dual disorder. With dual diagnosis treatment, you will have the opportunity to heal from both conditions in addition to learning valuable skills to use if you experience symptoms in the future.

What are barriers to mental health care?

Apart from challenges in getting access to care as well as navigating insurance for mental health treatment, the biggest barrier to mental health care is a lack of mental health awareness. Mental health awareness is essential in understanding symptoms of different mental illnesses and actually finding treatment to make your life happier and healthier.

What are evidence-based practices in mental health care?

Evidence-based practices are approaches to mental health care that are scientifically supported and proven to help treat specific disorders and illnesses, such as addiction. Port St. Lucie uses evidence-based practices to provide the best care possible for all of our patients.

How do I take care of my mental health?

The best way to take care of your mental health is to receive professional help through treatments for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Professional programs, like those at Port St. Lucie Hospital, give you access to evidence-based treatments that are proven to help you learn the skills you need to manage various mental health conditions.

Why care about mental health?

As with your overall health, mental health influences the way that you function from day to day. This is why it is so important to care about mental health. If you do not take care of your mental health, you could find it challenging to work, build healthy relationships, and even leave your home.

Can you visit someone who is Baker Acted?

Yes, unless having visitors will be harmful to the person being treated. If a facility wants to restrict visitors from a patient, they must file a written notice documenting the refusal of visitation.

How do you Baker Act a minor in Florida?

Baker Acts must be imposed by the courts or law enforcement, or medical/mental health professionals. If a parent wants to have their child Baker Acted, they should petition the Clerk of Court or contact the police.

Do you call 911 to Baker Act someone?

If a person is actively endangering themself or others while showing symptoms of mental illness then the police can be called to manage the situation. Alternatively, a request can be turned into the court to ask that an individual is mentally evaluated due to safety concerns.

Can you Baker Act yourself?

Yes, a Baker Act can be voluntary. However, to willingly Baker Act yourself you must be considered capable of consenting to treatment. To Baker Act yourself, visit an Emergency Room and describe your symptoms to medical professionals. If necessary, the medical staff will request the Baker Act.

What happens after a Baker Act?

When a person is Baker Acted in Florida they are taken to a mental health hospital that is also a Baker Act receiving facility. A mental evaluation must be performed within 72 hours. After 72 hours if deemed mentally stable the person will be released. If further treatment is mandated, the individual can be admitted to a mental health facility for up to six months.

What does it take to Baker Act someone in Florida?

To be Backer Acted in Florida a person must meet certain criteria. The individual must be showing signs of mental illness, a failure to understand why an evaluation may be needed, and/or posing a threat to themselves or others. Usually, a Baker Act is used in response to a mental health emergency. A Baker Act can be started by medical professionals, the court system, and law enforcement.

What does Baker Acted mean?

Usually, being Baker Acted means that a person was admitted to a mental health hospital to be mentally assessed. The time a person can be held during the Baker Act is 72 hours.

DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?

Yes, we do take insurance, give us a call for a free insurance verification.

HOW LONG DOES TREATMENT LAST?

Treatment can vary from a few days to months. Research shows that the longer a person remains in treatment, the greater the likelihood that long-term recovery will result. As with most aspects of treatment (such as therapy types and program structures), determining ideal length of stay involves an analysis of a number of personal factors.

WHAT TYPES OF THERAPIES ARE USED IN TREATMENT?

Please see our treatments under Programs and Services here

WILL MY FAMILY BE INVOLVED IN MY TREATMENT?

Family involvement is an integral component of an effective treatment program. Though every recovery experience is unique and personal, most effective treatment programs will encourage strong family involvement.

WHAT ARE THE VISITING HOURS AT PORT ST LUCIE HOSPITAL?

Behavioral Services visiting hours, Wed 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Sat 1:45 pm - 3:15 pm, Sunday 1:45 pm - 3:15 pm

My Depression Treatment Is Not Working: What Do I Do? - Port St. Lucie Hospital, Inc.

When someone works up the courage to reach out for mental health help, they should be able to get the support they need. Unfortunately, in some cases, recovering from depression is not as simple as that. Upon starting recovery, some people discover that their depression treatment is not working. If their recovery plateaus or stalls before it even begins, they may be left wondering what to do next.

Living with depression can already feel like an uphill battle. For someone to find out that their depression is treatment-resistant on top of that can result in feelings of frustration and hopelessness. Luckily, there is always another option. By reassessing treatment plans and researching alternative paths to recovery, anyone can overcome depression.

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Types of Depression Treatment

Even if your current depression treatment is not working, you may still have other treatment options left to explore. There are numerous well-researched methods used to treat depression, and they do not all affect everyone the same way. For this reason, it is important to remain patient and open to new treatment options.

Antidepressant Medications

When some people think of depression treatment, the first option to come to mind may involve depression medications. Antidepressants can accomplish a variety of goals, such as stabilizing moods and increasing the availability of neurotransmitters associated with happiness.

FDA-approved antidepressant medications include:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Dopamine reuptake inhibitors (DRIs)
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Remember that different classes of antidepressants work differently. In addition, each can pose its own unique drawbacks and side effects. Because of this, it can take time and a period of trial-and-error to discover the type of medication that suits you the best.

If your medicated depression treatment is not working, your current medication may not be the best option for you. You may be eligible to try a different type of antidepressant, or you can investigate another type of treatment entirely.

Talk Therapy

Another one of the most common tools used to treat mental health conditions like major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is talk therapy. Also known as psychotherapy, talk therapy helps patients work through their emotions in a safe and controlled environment.

During a session, trained therapists use a plethora of techniques to organize someone’s symptoms and help them identify potential causes for their struggles. If someone’s current depression treatment is not working, they could consider taking a different therapeutic angle. For instance, some types of talk therapy focus on self-awareness and coming to terms with certain realities, while others take an active role in reshaping someone’s behaviors.

As an example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a specific type of psychotherapy frequently used to treat depression. The popularity of CBT is likely due to its versatility and accessibility. It subscribes to the notion that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected, and that by adjusting one, someone can change the others in turn.

CBT typically starts with thoughts. A therapist may help their patient identify an unhealthy, harmful belief they have about themself. Afterward, the therapist may assign “homework,” or certain tasks that, when completed, will directly challenge the unhelpful belief. By repeatedly disproving harmful thoughts, patients often see changes and improvements to how they think and behave.

Other Depression Treatments

While psychotherapy and antidepressant medications are the two most frequently used treatments for depression, they are not the only options. If depression treatment is not working and you have only tried the above, there are still other options worth discussing.

Procedural depression treatments can offer unique benefits, especially to those living with treatment-resistant depression. Examples of other specialized procedures and treatment options used against depression include:

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT utilizes mild electric currents to stimulate certain parts of the brain. The resulting discharge of nerve impulses has shown to benefit individuals with mood disorders like depression, even if prior treatments were ineffective.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a noninvasive brain stimulation therapy that employs the use of a pulsing magnetic field. The magnetism of the field interacts with the electrically active brain. Its influence can ease the symptoms of those with depression.
Esketamine nasal spray. A recent clinical trial has shown that, when taken in conjunction with oral antidepressants, esketamine can significantly reduce symptoms of depression. This is especially true in the case of a severe, acute episode of depression, in which a patient experiences active suicidal ideations.

Though not everyone wishes to participate in brain stimulation therapies or try an esketamine nasal spray, they demonstrate the diversity of available depression treatments. For those whose depression treatment is not working, it should be reassuring to know that there are so many potential routes to recovery.

If Depression Treatment Is Not Working

If you’ve already tried to talk to your doctor about other treatment options and been left feeling like you’re at a dead end, know that you still have other choices. Your depression is not “unfixable,” and you are not a failure for needing to take a different recovery angle.

If your depression treatment is not working, it only indicates it may be time to look for something more involved. For example, one of the most prominent approaches for an intensive recovery experience involves inpatient care. A residential mental health program can bridge the gap between traditional depression treatments and treatment-resistant patients.

At Port St. Lucie Hospital, our mental health program utilizes an assortment of evidence-based treatment options, such as:

Crisis evaluation
Individual therapy
Supplemental therapies
Group therapy
Medication education and management
Coordination with community-based resources
Family counseling and education

Inpatient treatment elevates these treatment options to new heights by combining them together in a single, cohesive program. It offers the most comprehensive level of care possible through its multifaceted approach. Even if isolated depression treatment is not working, residential care can improve someone’s symptoms with careful coordination.

How Is Residential Treatment Different?

At first glance, inpatient treatment may sound like more of the same. After all, it often utilizes different types of therapies and depression medications, some of which you may have tried before. However, residential treatment offers a few key advantages that you cannot get from any other type of treatment.

First, the sheer involvement of inpatient treatment already gives it a sharp edge over other treatment methods. If someone’s depression treatment is not working, it could be that they simply aren’t getting enough of it. Residential care resolves that issue by fully immersing patients in recovery.

For example, if someone is only taking medications or participating in occasional therapy sessions, they likely have a lot of free time left over. They may lack a sense of guidance or structure, especially in regards to their depression.

Without some form of anchored support, someone may have a difficult time making meaningful strides forward alone. Life goes on around them, which can make them feel torn between trying to keep up with it and getting better. As a result, recovery can end up on the back burner.

Inpatient treatment for depression eliminates the external stressors preventing someone from focusing on recovery. Instead, it allows them to turn all of their attention inward and toward genuine self-improvement.

In addition, residential treatment ensures individuals are not alone. If someone’s depression treatment is not working, the last thing they need is to feel isolated as well. During inpatient treatment, all patients are surrounded by compassionate staff members and other peers who can relate to their struggles.

Strong, supportive bonds develop between patients throughout residential programs. Meeting those who will celebrate your victories with you and help you stay motivated through the lows can serve as an irreplaceable boon to recovery.

Depression Treatment in Port St. Lucie, Florida

If your depression treatment is not working and you’re ready to try something new, consider reaching out to Port St. Lucie Hospital. We are a behavioral health treatment center in Port St. Lucie, Florida that provides mental health care to adults in need.

From individuals in acute crisis to those who have struggled with major depression for years, we’ve had the privilege of serving a wide variety of people. Our experience helping with such a broad range of challenges has equipped us with the knowledge and skills necessary to help anyone through their depression.

Even if you have yet to experience successful depression treatment, we can build you a new treatment plan. With the right resources and support, anyone can overcome the symptoms of depression and regain control of their life. Someone whose current depression treatment is not working is no different; they simply need a different approach.

To get started on recovery, call (772) 238-7734 or fill out a confidential contact form. Our team of friendly admissions specialists will answer any questions you have and guide you through the enrollment process. We look forward to helping you in any way we can.