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

Facing Barriers to Overcoming Addiction and Mental Illness - Port St. Lucie Hospital, Inc.

Addiction and mental health conditions are common. Unfortunately, overcoming addiction and mental illness is complicated by obstacles to receiving treatment. At Port St. Lucie Hospital, our mission is to minimize these obstacles to provide quality mental health and substance abuse services to anyone overcoming addiction and mental illness in Florida.

Nearly one in five people experience some sort of mental illness each year. Of these, less than half receive treatment. Regarding addiction, around one in 10 people have experienced a drug or alcohol problem with only about 11 percent receiving treatment. However, these conditions are not mutually exclusive, meaning that mental illness and substance use disorders often occur together. When these conditions co-occur, they must be treated together in a dual diagnosis program. However, oftentimes barriers to mental health and addiction treatment prevent many from obtaining the support needed.

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Barriers to Overcoming Addiction

Carving the time out of your life to attend an inpatient mental health facility can be challenging. While barriers to addiction and mental health treatment are highly personal, some of the most common roadblocks are addressed below.

1. Lack of Awareness

There are a few ways that a lack of awareness can come into play when overcoming addiction or mental illness. One obstacle is not understanding or admitting that there is a problem. In these cases, an individual must recognize and acknowledge that something is not right. Perhaps a recreational drug or alcohol habit has become difficult to quit, or signs of a mental health condition have surfaced. In either case, reflecting on personal habits and emotions, and being honest with yourself, will help alert you to potential red flags.

Another way lack of awareness is a concern revolves around treatment. Many people don’t know where to find help, or understand that help is available. At Port St. Lucie Hospital, we provide inpatient mental health treatment to adults who are struggling with mental illness or a mental illness and addiction. Our mental health facility accepts people from any geographic location and for any mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorder.

2. Stigma

Another obstacle to treatment is perceived or actual stigmas. To be stigmatized for mental illness or addiction implies that you would be treated negatively because of your condition. Stigmas can be internalized, meaning that you find shame or other negative feelings towards your addiction or mental illness, or they can be external. External stigma extends to public opinion and how others treat you for having a substance use disorder or mental health condition.

Stigmas are not helpful to anyone. While public perception may be out of your control, our South Florida behavioral hospital team will empower you with education about your conditions as we work towards solutions and recovery. We can also work together to educate family members in an effort to normalize addiction and mental health conditions.

3. Concerns About Losing Employment

Overcoming addiction and mental health conditions in an inpatient rehab mean that you will have to leave home for a few days, weeks, or months. The exact length of treatment will depend on each case, but any time away from work can cause stress about treatment. Rest assured that the law supports your decision to take a medical leave from work without losing your job. The following legislation is in place to support a leave of absence:

Despite these laws, some situations may result in the legal loss of your job due to drug use or an extended leave of absence. While this may seem detrimental in the short term, in the long run, living with an addiction and mental illness will cause far more strain in your life than finding a new job.

4. Affordability

Without insurance, paying for rehab is challenging. At Port St. Lucie Hospital, we provide up-front cost estimates to keep you informed about how paying for mental health care would look. However, it is important to remember that each case is different, and prices could change with treatment modifications.

To assist with cost, our mental health facility also accepts numerous insurances, including Medicare. Our team will help you find strategies to work with your health insurance company or help you find payment options if you do not have insurance. We understand how difficult living with mental illness and addiction can be, and we’re here to help.

5. Availability of Dual Diagnosis Program

Overcoming addiction while attending to mental health conditions requires a special program that is qualified to treat both illnesses. The lack of these programs presents another barrier to finding appropriate treatment for co-occurring disorders. At Port St. Lucie Hospital, we offer an accredited dual diagnosis program to address addiction and mental illness together.

How To Get Over An Addiction While Working On Mental Health

The first steps to dealing with behavioral disorders are recognizing that there is a problem and contacting help. Scheduling a consultation is a great first step to learning about the mental health and addiction services Port St. Lucie Hospital offers. Programs that the facility provides in addition to dual diagnosis include:

Adult Mental Health Program
Crisis Care Services (Emergency Services)
Medical Detox
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Adult Mental Health Program for Seniors

You do not have to be sober at our South Florida rehab to begin fighting addiction. In addition to mental health care, we offer an inpatient drug detox that will allow you to start treatment now before moving into a dual diagnosis program. To make sure you completely overcome addiction and/or mental health concerns, our treatment team will assist you in planning for life after treatment and teach you how to fight addiction and manage mental health conditions post-treatment. To learn more, contact the admissions team at (772) 335-0400 or use our confidential online form.

Facing Barriers to Overcoming Addiction and Mental Illness