Patients and Clients
North Star Psychiatry
Treatment for Depression
Major Depressive Disorder impairs an individual’s ability to function in daily life. Sleep, energy, appetite, concentration, and interest in activities are often affected. Fortunately, there are effective treatment options for Major Depressive Disorder in the form of medication and psychotherapy.
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder does not look the same in all individuals. Some patients have manic episodes, during which they may experience increased energy and goal-directed activity, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, pressured speech, grandiosity, distractibility, and impulsivity. In addition to manic symptoms, people with Bipolar Disorder also suffer with episodes of depression. Patients with Bipolar Disorder tend to experience their symptoms in cycles that come and go. The good news is that both the manic and depressive symptoms of Bipolar Disorder can be targeted effectively with medications.
Treatment for Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD can wreak havoc on a young person’s academic and social functioning. The impairment that it causes often leads to significant distress. Many children and adolescents with ADHD have emotional struggles and suffer from low self-esteem. Research shows that ADHD puts young people at risk for a number of negative outcomes, including poor academic performance, antisocial behavior, substance use, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. But when ADHD is treated effectively, the risk for associated negative outcomes can be reduced substantially.
Treatment for Anxiety
Patients with anxiety disorders frequently present with excessive worry, irrational fears, and overthinking. There are often physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension, fatigue, headache, or upset stomach. Children and adolescents are particularly prone to the physical symptoms of anxiety, as their bodies often “speak” for them. In very young children, anxiety often manifests in the form of hallucinations (hearing and seeing things that are not there). There are a number of different medications and therapy modalities that can be extremely helpful for people suffering with anxiety.
Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
One can imagine that living with OCD is like walking around with a ball and chain. A person is tormented with intrusive and unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that cause significant anxiety and distress. The obsessions drive the individual to engage in ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) in a futile effort to get relief. This repetitive cycle of behavior goes on and on, often consuming hours of the day. Patients suffer academically, vocationally, and socially. The good news is that OCD is a treatable condition. With medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both, patients can get relief from their symptoms and live productive, happy lives.
Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
When an individual endures or witnesses a traumatic event, PTSD may result. Individuals with PTSD often reexperience the traumatic event through nightmares or flashbacks. They might have dissociative episodes, during which they feel detached from reality. PTSD is a very painful and distressing illness, but with proper treatment, patients can recover over time. A combination of psychotherapy and medication can be very helpful for people suffering with PTSD.
Ugonjwa wa unyogovu mkubwa (Major Depressive Disorder) huathiri uwezo wa mtu wa kufanya kazi katika maisha ya kila siku. Mara nyingi usingizi, nishati, hamu ya kula, kukaza fikira, na kupendezwa na shughuli huathiriwa. Kwa bahati nzuri, kuna njia za kutibu ugonjwa huo kwa kutumia dawa na matibabu ya kisaikolojia. Matibabu ya ugonjwa wa bipolar - Ugonjwa wa bipolar haionekani sawa kwa watu wote. Baadhi ya wagonjwa wana vipindi vya mania, wakati ambao wanaweza kupata kuongezeka kwa nishati na shughuli iliyoelekezwa kwa lengo, kupungua kwa haja ya usingizi, mawazo ya mbio, hotuba ya shinikizo, ukuu, kugeuka, na msukumo. Mbali na dalili za mania, watu wenye ugonjwa wa Bipolar Disorder pia hupatwa na matatizo ya kushuka moyo. Wagonjwa wenye ugonjwa wa Bipolar Disorder huwa na dalili zao katika mizunguko inayoja na kwenda. Habari njema ni kwamba dalili za mania na za kushuka moyo za ugonjwa wa hisia-moyo zinaweza kushughulikiwa kwa ufanisi kwa kutumia dawa. Matibabu ya ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) inaweza kuharibu utendaji wa kijamii na wa kitaaluma wa kijana. Uharibifu unaosababishwa na ugonjwa huo mara nyingi husababisha huzuni kubwa. Watoto wengi na vijana wenye ADHD wana matatizo ya kihisia-moyo na wanateseka kwa sababu ya kujidharau. Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba ADHD huwaweka vijana katika hatari ya matokeo kadhaa mabaya, pamoja na utendaji duni wa kitaaluma, tabia ya kupinga jamii, matumizi ya dawa za kulevya, matatizo ya mhemko, na matatizo ya wasiwasi. Lakini ADHD inaposhughulikiwa kwa ufanisi, hatari ya matokeo mabaya yanayohusiana inaweza kupunguzwa sana. Matibabu ya Wasiwasi Wagonjwa wenye matatizo ya wasiwasi mara nyingi huonyesha wasiwasi mwingi, hofu zisizo za akili, na kufikiri kupita kiasi. Mara nyingi kuna dalili za kimwili za wasiwasi, kama vile msongo wa misuli, uchovu, maumivu ya kichwa, au maumivu ya tumbo. Watoto na matineja ni hasa hatari ya dalili za kimwili za wasiwasi, kama miili yao mara nyingi <unk>husu<unk> kwa ajili yao. Katika watoto wadogo sana, mara nyingi wasiwasi huonekana katika namna ya ndoto (kusikia na kuona mambo ambayo hayapo). Kuna aina mbalimbali za dawa na matibabu ambayo yanaweza kuwa na manufaa kwa watu wanaoshuka moyo. Ugonjwa wa Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) ni ugonjwa wa kawaida ambao unaweza kuonekana kama unaoendelea na maisha yako. Mtu huteswa na mawazo yenye kuingilia na yasiyotakiwa (maono) ambayo husababisha wasiwasi na taabu kubwa. Mawazo hayo humfanya mtu huyo ajihusishe na mazoea ya kidesturi (mazoea ya kulazimisha) katika jitihada zisizo na maana ya kupata kitulizo. Mzunguko huo wa tabia unarudiwa-rudiwa na kuendelea, mara nyingi ukitumia saa nyingi za siku. Wagonjwa hupatwa na matatizo ya kielimu, ya kazi, na ya kijamii. Habari njema ni kwamba OCD inaweza kutibiwa. Kwa kutumia dawa, matibabu ya kisaikolojia, au mchanganyiko wa matibabu hayo mawili, wagonjwa wanaweza kupumzika na kuishi maisha yenye matokeo na yenye furaha. Matibabu ya Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Wakati mtu anapokabiliwa na tukio la kiwewe au anaona tukio hilo, PTSD inaweza kutokea. Watu walio na PTSD mara nyingi huona tena tukio hilo lenye kuhuzunisha kupitia ndoto mbaya au kumbukumbu za wakati uliopita. Huenda wakawa na matukio ya kutoelewana, ambayo huwafanya wahisi wametengwa na hali halisi. PTSD ni ugonjwa wa maumivu na uchungu, lakini kwa matibabu sahihi, wagonjwa wanaweza kupona kwa muda. Mchanganyiko wa matibabu ya kisaikolojia na dawa za kulevya unaweza kuwa na manufaa sana kwa watu wanaopatwa na PTSD.