When life presents challenges, people respond in different ways. Some people can effectively manage problems and issues on their own. Unfortunately, others may turn to drugs and alcohol as unhealthy coping responses that often lead to addiction. Then, some people suffer from mental health disorders that can feel so overwhelmed they withdraw and isolate away from others, preventing them from living happy and fulfilling lives. At Serenity Grove, our Georgia psychiatry services provide the care and support people need to overcome addiction and mental health disorders.
What Is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the area of psychiatry. They are qualified to assess both the psychological and physical aspects of behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders.
How Does Psychiatry in Georgia Work?
Psychiatry in Georgia works by making an initial diagnosis of the individual’s condition through evaluations and physical examinations. Sometimes, lab work and brain imaging are used to help determine the most appropriate medications that could benefit the individual. Psychiatry is part of a treatment program that also includes various individual therapies, group therapies, and medication management.
What Does Psychiatry Treat
Our Georgia psychiatry can be used to treat a range of mental health and substance use disorders, including:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Drug use disorder
- Prescription drug use disorder
- PTDS (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
- Schizophrenia
- Co-occurring disorders
- Borderline personality disorder
- ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)
Benefits of Psychiatric Care for Addiction
The benefits of our psychiatry in Georgia for addiction include the following:
- Helps people uncover the causes of their addiction
- Helps people develop effective coping strategies and skills
- Provides a safe environment to openly discuss one’s feelings, emotions, and behaviors without judgment
- Helps people learn and develop relapse prevention techniques and strategies
- Helps people acquire lifelong skills they can use to maintain a substance-free life
- Helps people address co-occurring mental health issues
Benefits of Psychiatric Care for Mental Health
Mental health disorders are common in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness.” Psychiatry in Georgia can help clients manage their mental health symptoms.
One of the benefits of psychiatric care for mental health is it helps people learn more about what aspects of their lives are contributing to their mental health disorders. They can learn to identify people, places, locations, and situations aggravating their condition.
Another benefit of mental health psychiatric care is developing and learning healthy coping techniques and skills to use when faced with distressing situations. Medications can also be used when they could benefit the person and help address their related symptoms.
Overall, a comprehensive and personalized psychiatric care plan helps people address their mental health issues and challenges while learning how to effectively manage their condition to lead a productive and healthy life.
Treatment Programs That Offer Psychiatry
At Serenity Grove, we incorporate psychiatry as part of our comprehensive care and treatment programs, including:
- Drug and alcohol detox: Detox is the first step to long-term recovery. Our drug and alcohol detox programs provide a safe, caring, and supportive environment to break free from the grips of addiction. Psychiatry is an essential part of detox to help people start uncovering the underlying causes of their addictions.
- Residential rehab: Our residential rehab program is for individuals who require incentive and highly structured care with 24/7 monitoring. Residential programming is also well-suited for people who do not have a stable home environment or want to eliminate outside distractions in the early days of recovery.
- PHP: Our PHP (partial hospitalization program) provides the same level of care as our residential program. However, in the evenings, individuals are allowed to return home or to a sober living facility.
- IOP: Our IOP (intensive outpatient program) is for individuals who can manage their addiction or mental health condition effectively outside treatment, as well as those who have completed a higher level of care. Our IOPs usually meet several times weekly for half-day sessions.
- OP: Our OP (outpatient program) is for individuals who still require ongoing support and psychiatry services after completing a higher level of care.
- Aftercare: Our aftercare program provides individuals access to individual psychiatry sessions, support groups, and resources to help them maintain their newly found sobriety.
- Dual diagnosis treatment: We provide dual diagnosis treatment to address co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders at all of our various care levels.
- Women’s addiction treatment: We offer gender-specific addiction treatment that addresses the unique needs of women at each of our care levels.
- Men’s addiction treatment: Our men’s addiction treatment program is available at all of our care levels and is designed to address the specific needs of men in recovery.
What Happens in a Psychiatry Session?
Our Georgia psychiatry sessions begin with a thorough evaluation to determine each individual’s specific needs. Our psychiatrist will ask the person about their symptoms, medical and family history, current concerns and issues, daily challenges, and answer any questions the person may have. At the conclusion of the assessment, a detailed and personalized treatment plan is created, reflecting the individual’s unique needs and treatment goal and objective.
During future sessions, the individual and psychiatrist will work on uncovering the underlying causes of their substance use and mental health disorders. They will also teach individuals how to develop effective coping techniques and skills for addressing triggering situations. Additionally, individuals will learn positive behaviors and responses without having to turn to drugs or alcohol.
Begin Georgia Psychiatry Today
When you are ready to take control of your substance use addiction or mental health issues, help is available at Serenity Grove in Atlanta. Our caring and compassionate team provides personalized Georgia psychiatry services with all our treatment programs. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment programs and to request an initial consultation.
