Research shows that trauma – particularly adverse childhood events (trauma that occurs before ages 5 or 6) – is very predictive of developing all mental illnesses.
Even for those who did not experience trauma as a child, a traumatic event in adulthood – for example an assault, car crash, or combat situation – can exacerbate mood and anxiety disorders or lead to the development of PTSD.
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Skyland Trail helps clients better understand the difference between healthy social media use and unhealthy social media use and recognize how social media may impact some symptoms of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.
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Three Questions with Dr. Ray Kotwicki, Skyland Trail Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer 1. Why do we see mental illness emerge in young adults? We’re identifying mental illnesses a lot earlier than we used to. Traditionally, young adults in their late teens and early 20s were considered most at risk. Current research indicates that…
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By: Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH, Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer What is psychosis? Psychosis is not a diagnosis, but rather a symptom of several psychiatric illnesses. Individuals experiencing psychosis may have trouble distinguishing which of their perceptions and thoughts are real and which are not. They often see, hear, smell or believe things…
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Original post date November 2016. Giving the gift of recovery to ourselves and the people we love By Emily Giattina, LCSW, Dual Diagnosis Counselor, Skyland Trail The holidays can be a challenging time to manage sobriety. You may receive more invitations to parties or social gatherings than usual – some that you may feel obligated to…
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How do you know if a high-achieving person has a “type A” personality or an anxiety disorder?
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Dr. Raymond J. Kotwicki, Skyland Trail Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer, recently offered these thoughts on discussing suicide and suicide prevention. With the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, suicide and mental health are becoming more commonly discussed. Kitchen-table discussions about suicide and psychiatric illnesses can be scary and complex, but having difficult…
Read More >>“It was feeling loved and supported by others, after having felt really isolated for a really long time, that got my brain in that space where I thought, ‘Maybe I am worthy of love and happiness.’”
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Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are two mental illnesses that can cause significant disability and disruption in someone’s life. Despite being commonly grouped together or even used interchangeably in movies, TV, and other pop culture references, they are two separate and distinct illnesses that have different diagnostic criteria and require different treatments. Find out more about how…
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You may think that once you’re out of high school, you’re finished growing up. Physically, you’re probably as tall as you will ever get, and from this point forward, you may remain the same overall size throughout much of your adult life. Whether you head off to college or out to make your own way…
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