Source: lumierechild.com

 

Affordability is among the biggest barriers to getting mental health treatment: the Affordable Care Act and other regulatory amendments aimed to expand the availability of mental and behavioral health services. Still, a lot of people are concerned about how much therapy costs. The price of therapy is indeed a real issue. Still, it is frequently potential for individuals to get free or very affordable therapy, particularly if they reside in large urban regions or nearby teaching universities.

General Pricing For Therapy

Therapy typically ranges between $65 and $250 hourly or more. In many regions of the country, an individual can anticipate paying around $100 to $200 per therapy session. Some elements that may impact the cost of therapy include:

• Place Of Therapy. A therapist practicing in large urbanized areas with an expensive cost of living typically charges more.
• Therapist’s Training. A competently trained and highly experienced therapist usually charge more.
• Insurance Coverage. Individuals with insurance that covers therapy are inclined to charge less.
• Therapist’s Standing. Reputable therapists who are sought-after usually charge more.
• Specialization. Therapy is more costly when the therapist is proficient in his field or manages a challenging illness.
• Duration Of The Therapy Session. The more time the therapist spends on the sessions, the more the patient pays.

Source: elevationrecovery.com

Paying For Therapy

For many people, insurance provides the best choice for paying for therapy. Try to contact your insurance company to inquire about mental health coverage and get hold of a list of therapists or mental health providers. If your insurance does not cover therapy, you might be qualified for insurance through your Medicaid state program. Some employee benefits and employee programs also propose funding for therapy. In addition, some therapy practitioners offer services via a sliding scale technique. Try asking about this preference when you get to interview some therapists. Some of them might also have payment plans that enable you to pay for services over time.

Several universities provide free therapy programs to individuals who want to rain as therapists. You can try reaching out to schools nearby to inquire about the availability of affordable therapy. Telehealth services, which provide online counseling, therapy, or phone, can also be cheaper. Numerous therapy practices also hire amateur therapists who require more clinical experience. These beginners or interns may provide affordable or free mental health care.

Cost For Therapy With Insurance

With the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans should include mental health care. Plus, plans should not enforce various guidelines on mental health patients or pay for mental health care at very affordable prices. This implies that individuals who are insured are typically covered for therapy. In many instances, they should select a therapist within their grid. They might also need to meet other standards, like getting an endorsement for treatment, meeting deductibles, or getting a mental health diagnosis. Thus, even those with insurance may prefer to pay for their therapy from their own pockets.

Getting Free Therapy

Several facilities are trying to improve access to mental health care services, including mental health services, by providing lowered or free treatment. Some other choices for obtaining free therapy in your state include:

• Getting into studies for mental health disorders. If you have a particular diagnosis, your local school could be investigating your diagnosis. By enrolling in a specific study, you can usually obtain free services, including therapy and medications.
• Reach out to your state’s community or public health department. Many provide community mental health facilities or endorsements to affordable or free services.
• Finding therapy services at school. As a student, you could be qualified for free services at your college. If you are not studying but live near a college that offers mental health care programs, students who are part of that program can provide free treatment for you to meet their course requirements.

Source: mytherapist.com

Conclusion

Therapy prices have a tremendously wide scope. Therapists claim that some facilities charge as low as $5 per hour while others pay $300 per hour. It depends on the therapist, your place, circumstance, and the usual price for therapy in your area. There are many things to consider aside from the price they want to address.

Other therapists choose not to purchase insurance to keep them from being responsible for providing a diagnosis and tackling the difficulties of working around insurance companies. Consequently, it might be worth your time to inquire about a possible therapist to help you with a rate you can pay without getting insurance.

Finally, a lot of therapists usually work on a sliding scale method. However, they do not often promote that. A sliding scale is a type of payment scheme that is dependent on your income. You can ask your prospective therapist if they utilize this. If they don’t, ask them if they would consider working on one with you.

 

 

 

Source: rawpixel.com

 

If you are among the millions of residents in the United States who are thinking about getting therapy, health insurance coverage is an issue. If you have existing insurance, your policy may offer some degree of coverage.

Numerous insurance companies provide coverage for healthcare services to address the demand for and the relevance of sustaining optimal mental health. However, there are huge differences between the out-of-pocket fees you need to pay and health insurance companies’ benefits.

Marketplace insurance plans are required to include:

• Behavioral and mental health inpatient services
• Behavioral health management like counseling and psychotherapy
• Parity protections
• Coverage for underlying conditions
• No annual or lifetime dollar restrictions on mental health insurance coverage

Medicaid

A state-operated Medicaid coverage is expected to cover essential health benefits, including substance use and mental health services. Medicaid insurance plans differ for each state, although they should also meet the standards of the MHPAE.

Medicare

Original Medicare includes inpatient substance use and behavioral health services. If admitted, you might get a deductible for every benefit period and coinsurance fees. On the other hand, outpatient mental health services, including a yearly depression screening, are included under Part B. You may acquire out-of-pocket fees for therapy services, including coinsurance, Part B deductible, and copays.

For Medicare Advantage or Part C plans, therapy services are automatically covered to the same degree or more than Original Medicare. Your fees may differ from those related to original Medicare.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

The CHIP offers states federal funding so that they will be able to offer affordable health insurance for low-earning residents with kids who are not qualified for Medicaid. CHIP inclusions also differ from state to state. However, most offer a range of mental health services, including therapy, counseling, social work services, medication management, peer support, and substance use disorder therapy.

 

Source: canopyhealth.com

How To Know If Your Insurance Includes Therapy

• Contact Your Insurance Company. If you want more information, use the insurance company’s toll-free number on the back of your card. You can inquire about the kinds of therapy services they offer or if you may incur out-of-pocket charges. Also, if you have availed of a diagnostic code, this may help you acquire precise information.
• Inquire Through The HR Department. If you are insured through your job and require additional assistance, you can try reaching out to the Human Resource office of your insurance company – that’s if you are comfortable talking to someone from HR.
• Ask Your Therapist If He Accepts Your Insurance. Therapists, counselors, and other mental health providers frequently alter the insurance plans they are willing to recognize and might have backed out of your coverage.
• Register And Log On Virtually To Your Insurance Online Account. Your health coverage plan’s webpage must include information regarding your plan and the fees you are expected to pay. Since insurers provide a range of plans, ensure that you log on and familiarize yourself with your insurance plan.

You can check out the list of available providers online if you need to select a therapist in your network. You may also call and ask for a list through mail or phone.

Types Of Treatments Usually Covered

Several mental health services that insurance can cover may include:

• Talking therapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy.
• Psychiatric emergency services
• Co-occurring behavioral and medical health illnesses, like depression and coexisting addiction. This is often known as dual diagnosis.
• Online therapy or telemedicine
• Unlimited outpatient sessions with a clinical social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist. In some situations, the insurance company may limit the number of consults you can have yearly unless the insurance company provides a written statement that these consults are medically crucial for your care.
• Addiction therapy
• Medical detox, including medications
• Inpatient behavioral health assistance acquired in rehab or hospital setting. Your plan might restrict the length of your hospital admission or the amount they will give for your care for every benefit period.

Remember that insurance companies include therapies that are only considered medically required.

The scope of coverage for certain treatments, like the length of hospital or rehab stays, also differs from plan to plan. This also goes the same for the cost of your medications and your coverage itself, both as an outpatient and inpatient.

 

Source: betterhelp.com

Conclusion

Numerous health insurance plans include some degree of therapeutic assistance. The amount of coverage, as mentioned above, differs from plan to plan, and in a lot of situations, you are given a deductible to pay before covering your services. Coinsurance and copays can also be implemented.

Health insurers usually cover services like group therapy, emergency mental healthcare, and therapy consults. Rehab services catered for addiction are also covered.

Therapy can indeed be costly, with or without insurance coverage. There are affordable choices that can help, like therapists who receive psychotherapeutic collectives and sliding scale payments that provide steeply decreased sessions.

If you think you need therapy but don’t have enough money to sustain it, reach out to your doctor or another mental health provider you can trust, like a guidance counselor or a clergy member. There are several means that the monetary obstacles between you and the healthcare you need can be removed.

 

 

Depression Symptoms And How Depression Affects You

Are you constantly depressed and feeling blue? Do you always see yourself drowning from the negative emotions you know you shouldn’t have? Are you dealing with bad habits that you somehow can’t understand? Have you noticed yourself behaving differently? That could be depression. Learn more about depression.

Dealing With Depression

Severe depression, clinical depression, major depression, or perinatal depression is a mental health disorder and a part of the anxiety disorders spectrum characterized by persistent sadness and apathy. It is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression and can cause severe psychosis symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to function at work and in social situations. Depression leads to mood disorders, risk factors, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, and further persistent depressive disorder. It is usually advised to seek the help of a mental health professional for talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy CBT or electroconvulsive therapy.

In Electroconvulsive therapy, electric currents are passed through your brain chemistry to help your neurotransmitters work better. Typically, you won’t have this therapy unless antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors aren’t working, or you can’t take them for other health reasons.

Vagus nerve stimulation is another depression treatment option, it is a pacemaker-like device that is surgically implanted under your collarbone to deliver regular impulses to your brain.

Perhaps what you are going through is already a result of something far more than just an uncomfortable feeling – depression. Maybe your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors tell you that you might have depressive symptoms.

Let’s walk through the sudden changes you might be experiencing due to your depressive state.

Depression Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Mood Swings And Outburst

Who doesn’t know that mental health conditions and emotional outbursts are part of depression? When you are in a depressed mood, it can be extremely hard to control your feelings, and the more you try to maintain positive energy, the more things make you feel upset, irritated, and angry. And sometimes, even the little things that you are used to becoming a big deal suddenly when you struggle with depression.

But you need to take note that some individuals can be emotionally empty and numb when depressed. This means, there are instances that they do not show emotions even if they are severely experiencing symptoms of depression. Don’t get fooled because even if they do not go on a rampage, they do not get angry; it does not mean they are not dealing with psychological medical conditions.

Sleeplessness

Most of the time, you know that there is something wrong when you have trouble sleeping. Though it might not be a cause of depression all the time, the prominent symptom of depression is a significant disturbance in your sleeping patterns. It grows along with overthinking. And the fact that your brain won’t stop thinking about random things, you surely are suffering from a great deal of insomnia due to stress and anxiety. Talk to your doctor if your other symptoms begin to show.

Oversleep

But to be fair, some individuals dealing with it may sometimes do the opposite, which is to oversleep. It is usually identified as atypical depression, and those people who experience depression can go off the radar. Atypical depression can be difficult to diagnose, and it points to a greater risk of getting dismissed and mislabeled as being lethargic.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild depression to severe and can include: feeling sad or having a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite, weight loss or weight gain unrelated to a healthy diet, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, loss of energy or increased fatigue, and increase in purposeless physical activity.

Depressed People Often Cry For Help Silently

It is often that when you are depressed, you avoid telling others about your struggle. Perhaps you are scared of what they are going to say. You might be afraid because you think most people will judge you and not understand your depressing situation. Thus, you make a muted cry for help. As much as you want to seek out and find someone who would listen to you, you prefer to work on your emotional and mental problems all by yourself. You find it impossible to ask someone to be there for you during your depression battle because you think you can make it alone.

Honestly, it is a sad process of coping with depression. Unfortunately, most individuals struggle mentally and emotionally in silence because of their shame about their depressing situation. But it is not entirely because they do not want to seek help, but because they find it difficult to do. There is the fear of being seen as a burden. There is the thought of getting misunderstood and invalidated.

Constant Search For Meaning Of Life

Depression can influence many emotions; sometimes, these are unfairly unhelpful to your well-being. You might deal with a constant search for the meaning of everything in your life. You might always wonder about your purpose. It can make you feel like you are unworthy and irrelevant. It can influence you to drag yourself into the pit as it makes you feel sorry for not accomplishing anything. Major depressive disorder can stop you from chasing success and lock you in a dark, empty world of isolation during depressive episodes.

Depression – They Are More Vulnerable To Inadequate Feelings

For some individuals, their constant search for the meaning of life has to do with their abilities. Depressed people are more vulnerable to inadequate feelings. That is why they often end up not doing anything to improve things. They get trapped with many what-ifs, which hinder them from moving forward. It is as if they want concrete answers to their questions, even if there is genuinely nothing beneficial to it.

According to the national institute of diagnostic and statistical manual, depression is one of the most serious mental disorders today that negatively affects how you feel, think, and act. Signs and symptoms include mood disorders and suicide symptoms and attempts. Sometimes, a person who experiences depression may have difficulty concentrating. Depression could turn into postpartum depression if a person has a family history of mental disorders. In reducing symptoms and treating depression with the use of proper diagnosis and effective treatment, attend any form of brain stimulation therapies.

Depression – The Struggles

American Psychiatric Association research suggests there are many psychological factors involving depression. People who encounter early morning awakenings commonly experience a major depressive episode, especially if they have a severe form of heart disease or medical illnesses. So, running a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on a person affected by mental, emotional, and physical symptoms is important.

Struggling with depression can vary from one person to another. But these are traits and habits you form when dealing with a mental medical condition. With that, please always pay attention to changes that are happening to your emotional and mental aspects so that you can immediately seek out help for effective treatments. Try giving yourself a little extra time to escape from the overall depression, and look forward to your overall betterment.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the 4 causes of depression?

2. What are the most significant signs and symptoms of depression?

3. What is the simple definition of depression?

4. What does depression do to the brain?

5. How is the human body affected by depression?

6. Who is most likely to suffer from depression?

7. What are examples of depression?

8. Does depression change your personality?

9. Can the brain heal itself from depression?

10. What can long-term depression lead to?

11. What helps people cope with depression?

12. How do I stop being so depressed?

13. What is the fastest way to cure depression?

14. Can depression make you lose your memory?

15. Is depression even curable?

 

Insurance For Mental Health Services and Their Benefits

Let’s discuss and understand mental health wellness in this article.

Source: pixabay.com

Health Insurance And Mental Health Services

Let us know things about health insurance coverage and psychological health care to help us decide. Are you deciding which health insurance coverage to choose? What are the important things we need to consider when we avail of such a private insurance plan for our psychological health? Do you know the inclusions and exclusions – the kind of mental health treatment, if there are medical and surgical services or other essential health benefits? Does it cover mental health habilitative services or does it include medical care for substance abuse, major depression, or other health problems? How does medicare cover mental health and help in availing of mental health assistance?

Before anything, it is important to note that we should be thankful for the existing parity laws and parity protections. These laws have called for medical insurance providers to include coverage for almost all psychological health conditions and even include substance abuse treatment services other than the usual psychological health care and psychological health treatment. Mental health parity laws require certain health care plans to provide mental and physical health benefits equally.

Below, we define medical insurance for mental health coverage. We will also discuss some types of medical insurance so that you will know what you can have for mental health assistance.

What Is Health Insurance? Does It Cover Mental Health Services Or Mental Health Care?

Health insurance is an arrangement between a policyholder and health insurance companies (for example, Kaiser Family Foundation). It aims to provide financial assistance for you to afford the cost of any medical concerns, including behavioral health services and mental health benefits.  In addition, health insurance plans help improve access to the healthcare system to allow you and others to seek and pay for mental health assistance and avail of essential health benefits. A health plan must cater to all people who can afford it, including all racial and ethnic groups, according to the affordable care act, especially during a public health crisis.

It’s no secret that many insurance companies have struggled to keep up with the demand for behavioral health benefits and services. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need for mental health and substance abuse services, as well as the importance of providing these services to treat the pre-existing conditions of mental health and substance use abuse beyond what doctors, hospitals, medical resources, or even psychotherapy can do. Hence, health departments everywhere enroll in inpatient mental health care in rehabilitation centers to test their mental limits and treat their mental illnesses.

Health Insurance And Mental Health Services

Know The Types Of Health Coverage That Fit Your Needs

• Government-Sponsored Health coverage

  Medicaid and Medicare are obtained through a program that caters to a specific group of people such as active service members, children, veterans, the elderly, and low-income people. Mental health and substance abuse can be covered by these types of insurance plans. For a list of children’s health insurance program providers, perhaps you can find it in the health insurance marketplaces.

• Group Health coverage

  It is a commercial medical insurance plan supporting employer-based health plans that offer a discounted cost for mostly healthy working individuals for their mental health benefits. These are usually private health plans. With this type of medical insurance, employees are covered for the cost of treatment related to poor mental health, mental illness, or a specific mental health condition, or for accidents especially if they present with severe symptoms.

• Individual Insurance coverage for mental health care.

  It is also a commercial type of medical insurance that aims to cover mental health benefits for a single person or a family’s needs. Unlike group insurance health coverage, the employee pays the health plan for any mental health treatment or evaluation of mental health conditions from their own pocket. The premium coverage of these health plans is paid entirely by the purchaser. Most often, those within the poverty line do not avail of this type of coverage and some experience denied coverage.

Process of Acquiring Insurance for Mental Health

The process of acquiring medical insurance for physical or mental health coverage typically starts with three processes. First, you have to pay for your medical bills, and then the medical insurance providers will pay you back. The second is when both you and your medical insurance company pay some amount to cover the medical treatment bills for physical or mental health services. The third is when the medical insurance would cover mental health, substance abuse, substance use disorder treatment, and the rest of the medical and surgical services.

Premiums And Deductibles For health care and human services

Premiums and deductibles are part of any health plan for medical and surgical benefits, whether for physical or behavioral health services. Let’s talk about these health plans here.

Source: pixabay.com

What Is Premium When It Comes To Insurance?

A premium health insurance plan can be compared to a membership. You pay a specific monthly amount to be a member, which is your premium for specific physical or mental health and substance treatment. With that fixed amount, you can acquire medical insurance – preventive care benefits for free, particularly vaccines, free screenings, and other services. If you have existing health insurance marketplace plans, you may actually lower expenses through a premium tax credit.

When it comes to health insurance and mental health services, there are a number of centers that can provide you with the details you need to know. These taxes may deny you coverage if you do not have a qualifying event, but they will cover you for several days. If you have any questions about these topics, feel free to contact your state mental health professionals. The topics they will share with you depend on your awareness of medical insurance plans.

Deductible Amount

If you haven’t noticed it yet, you usually pay most of your healthcare at the beginning of the year until each of your deductibles. In terms of health insurance plans, a deductible is the amount of money you need to pay to the insurance company before they could share the costs of your financial contributions with you. It is like filling up a bucket. You usually pay a co-payment only for covered medical and psychological treatments, and the provider company pays the rest.

Source: pixabay.com

Out-Of-Pocket Maximum Amount To Pay For Insurance

Paying for this expense has its benefits. If you reach a certain amount, you will no longer have to pay for any physical or psychological treatment. Note that the insurance company keeps records of your contributions, but the out-of-pocket limit doesn’t include your premiums in the bucket.

Health Insurance Limit

Once you finally reach your limit, the insurance company will pay everything from there for the rest of the year. If you are left with no choice but to seek this service, there are other means you may apply to your case.

FAQs

1. Can you prevent mental health problems? How?

2. What are some difficulties in trying to acquire health insurance?

3. Do all types of health insurance help you save money?

4. What are some affordable insurance coverages?

5. How do you decide which health insurance to buy?

6. Is mental health more relevant than physical health?

7. In what ways are health insurance policies necessary?

8. Is mental health care free in America?

9. How much does mental health care cost in the US?

10. How much is therapy in the US without insurance?
11. Does private healthcare cover mental health?
12. Which insurance covers mental health?
13. Does life insurance cover mental health?
14. What are the four types of mental health services?
15. What three types of services are available for individuals with mental health conditions?

 

 

Perhaps you already know that dealing with mental health issues also has a lot of challenges. That is because you know that some things are not that easy to accomplish. Like for example, though you already put too much effort into self-care, there are instances that your mental health condition is more than a single battle. That even if you focused on staying positive, working on your physical health, and trying to pay attention to your emotions, your psychological problems require more than self-reliance. Therefore, that is where therapy and medication come in.

Source: pixabay.com

Mental Health And Antidepressants

Antidepressant medications are among the most predominant treatment of choice for those with depression. Despite the fact that it might not effectively manage depression, antidepressants may significantly decrease depressive symptoms. Initially, the medication you try may be working fine. However, if you don’t experience a relief of symptoms or if the medication causes some negative side effects, you’ll have to find another one that would work better for you.

So keep trying. A lot of antidepressants are readily accessible and you’ll probably find the antidepressant that would be effective in reducing your symptoms. Occasionally, you may need to combine one or two medications to get the positive effect that you are looking for.

What’s The Right One For Me?

You have a lot of choices in the market today, each of these presenting with distinct or the same side effects. When finding the most effective antidepressant for you, your doctor or mental health professional should think about:

• The potential side effects. Again, these vary from one antidepressant to another and, of course, from individual to individual. Troubling side effects like nausea, weight gain, dry mouth, or decrease sexual drive make it harder to continue with the treatment. Talk about this with your primary care physician.
• Specific symptoms. Depression symptoms differ. For instance, the first antidepressant you’ve taken gave you relief in a particular symptom, such as insomnia. If you have major sleep problems, then you’ll do better with this medication, and will be recommended to continue taking it.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women. Generally, the statistics for those who are breastfeeding or pregnant women taking antidepressants and having deleterious side effects are low, although some strong antidepressants like Paxil or Pexeva are contraindicated. A discussion with your health professional on this matter is crucial.
• Effects with other medications. Some antidepressant medicines can produce severe responses when they are consumed together with other medications.
• Certain health illnesses. There are other antidepressants that lead to issues, most especially for those with existing physical or mental health conditions. Conversely, there are particular antidepressants that can possibly help manage other conditions in conjunction with their depression. For instance, certain antidepressants can effectively reduce anxiety symptoms. Duloxetine (Sprinkle, Cymbalta) may help in reducing symptoms of pain in fibromyalgia. Amitriptyline has been shown to lessen or prevent migraines.
• Health insurance coverage. Most antidepressant medications are costly, so the best choice is to ask for the generic form of the medication and check its effectiveness. Additionally, check whether or not your health insurance covers these medications. Some may cover but with certain limitations.

When managing or dealing with depression medically, what is effective for one individual might not be effective for the other individual. It is best to be able to find the best antidepressant that would work for you. It may take you longer than usual, but sooner or later, you’ll have to, or you won’t get the relief you want.

Finally, discuss with your doctor or mental health provider the length of treatment that you need for the antidepressant to work for you. If, after a few months of consumption, you have not seen any visible positive effects, then you might need to change medications. Your doctor would probably recommend another antidepressant that’s more effective for you.

In line with mental health intervention and aside from therapy sessions, experts often suggest patients take antidepressants. But what are those exactly? Let us try and discuss important information about antidepressants from these frequently asked questions. From there, let us understand their benefits in keeping your mental health stable.

Is an SSRI an antidepressant? 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are drugs commonly prescribed types of antidepressants. Medical experts mainly prescribe these drugs to treat anxiety and depression because they improve how brain paths use Serotonin. And sometimes, with severe or persistent mental health concerns, these medications are often partnered with a talking therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

But note that some of these antidepressants may or may not take effect. It is vital not to rely on them, especially for longer use. Still, it would be a great solution to focus on self-care and self-awareness regarding overall health recovery.

 What is the best SSRI antidepressant? 

A lot of people agree that the most recognizable and prominent SSRI antidepressant is Prozac. It was approved in 1987 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been joined by various other antidepressant medications afterward, including Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, and Zoloft.

Be mindful that even though these are the common ones that most therapists prescribe, you still need to find the best antidepressants that suit your mental health condition needs. Always ask your doctor for more information about the types of drugs they recommend to avoid further complications.

 How effective are SSRI antidepressants?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors o commonly known as SSRIs, are the most prescribed antidepressants that experts trust. It proves to show a significant amount of benefits in addressing mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. However, though these medications can lower the risk of possible relapses and are relatively safe, and typically cause fewer side effects, it is essential to understand that these can’t completely prevent mental health from occurring.

Source: pixabay.com

 What drugs are antidepressants? 

Antidepressant drugs include Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs, Tricyclic antidepressants, and Atypical antidepressants. But among the list, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most recognizable antidepressants that people usually take when they want to prevent severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. Some of these marketed drugs are most commonly known as Zoloft, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Celexa, and Prozac.

 Which antidepressant is best for anxiety? 

The antidepressant that is best for anxiety is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. These are drugs known as Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, and Celexa. Most therapist and medical experts recommend SSRIs because it shows potential in treating panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder. These specific medications normally cause fewer unwanted side effects and are less likely to cause problems with emotional, physical, and mental aspects. These drugs stay at higher therapeutic doses compared to other types of antidepressants in the market.

 What is the most successful antidepressant? 

The most effective antidepressants that many people use and trust include Celexa, Luvox, Savella, Wellbutrin, Vestra, Cymbalta, Paxil, and Prozac. These medications are what experts usually suggest because they generally are less likely to cause additional problems even at higher therapeutic doses. It also causes fewer bothersome side effects against other variety of antidepressants.

In case you feel a little off when taking some of these, contact your health care provider immediately. Be honest about the side effects you might be having so they can find a way to change your medication, reduce your dosage, or make you stop taking them.

 What is the most effective antidepressant with the least side effects? 

For most patients, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the ones they prefer. These medications have several minor side effects and are less likely to cause additional health problems at some higher therapeutic dose levels. These drugs are most tolerable and the most effective and usually focused on minimizing medication side effects. Thus, that makes SSRIs a potentially good option for treating mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

 What is a good natural antidepressant? 

Several herbs can help regulate and lift mood, especially when it is a mild to moderate depression. These include St. John’s Wort, SAM-e, Omega-3, Lavender 5-HTP, DHEA, Folate, Saffron, and Zinc. But it is vital to consider seeking professional help before taking any of these.

 How can I increase Serotonin and dopamine naturally? 

There are ways to increase dopamine and Serotonin naturally. It includes eating a lot of proteins to help the body build smaller blocks of amino acids. It also helps to get enough sleep every night to help the mind and body rejuvenate. Also, exercise should be considered since it reduces stress, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Don’t forget to practice mindfulness meditation as well, for it can help boost self-confidence and self-awareness.

 What drugs increase serotonin levels? 

The most common drugs that increase serotonin levels are meperidine, dextromethorphan, methadone, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and mirtazapine.

Source: pixabay.com

 What causes a lack of Serotonin? 

A lack of Serotonin is usually age-related health and brain changes. Sometimes, it is from a poor diet, chronic stress, and a lack of natural light exposure. But those are not limited reasons for serotonin deficiency is thought to be associated with several psychological symptoms. Some of these include aggression, impulsive behavior, irritability, poor appetite, low self-esteem, depressed mood, insomnia, and anxiety.

 What raises serotonin levels in the brain? 

There are specific ways to raise serotonin levels in the brain. First is regular exercise. If you give yourself at least 30 minutes each day, there is a guarantee of an improved overall mood. Nutrition also plays a part. Eating a healthy diet can boost serotonin levels in a significant way. Fruits and vegetables are the best options for that. Also, practice meditation and mindfulness so you can focus your thoughts on happy things.

 What is the happy hormone?

Dopamine is recognized as the “feel-good” hormone, and these primary chemicals in the brain affect happiness and pleasurable sensations. It also helps improve memory, learning, motor system function, and more.

 

What is the best antidepressant SSRI?

What are the 4 most common SSRI?

What are the 10 top antidepressants?

What is the safest antidepressant for anxiety?

What are long term effects of SSRI?

 

Source: rawpixel.com

 

Mental health is vital to have a balanced and healthy life. As reported by the National Alliance of Mental Illness, one out of five Americans suffers from a mental health condition, which translates to over 40 million adult individuals every year.

Your mental health embodies our social, emotional, and psychological well-being. This implies that it affects how you think, behave, and feel every single day. Your mental health also influences how you make decisions, deal with stress, and interact with others in your life.

Is Emotional Wellness Relevant?

Definitely, emotional and mental health is relevant because it’s a crucial aspect of your life and impacts your behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Being emotionally stable and healthy fosters productivity and competence in daily activities such as school, caregiving, or work. It plays a vital part in the well-being of your social and personal relationships. It allows you to get acclimated to life’s changes and ultimately deal with the various adversities you face.

Are There Ways To Enhance Your Emotional Well-Being?

There are things you can do to enhance your mental health daily. Simple things like eating healthy food, exercising, taking much-needed breaks, talking with someone you trust, and getting sufficient sleep can help improve yourself emotionally.

Source: rawpixel.com

When Is The Best Time To Seek Help?

Problems that are connected with mental health can impact people in various methods. If you start seeing transformations in your overall happiness and connections, you can use methods to access support and help.

• Gain more knowledge on mental health. You can find plenty of resources if you want to learn more about it. These include the National Institute of Mental Health, BetterHelp, and Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
• Reach out to family, friends, and significant others. Interacting with others and opening up to them can help you get mental and emotional support.
• Get your mental state assessed. A complete evaluation of your mental health can identify if anxiety, stress, or depression might be affecting your life. Ask for a mental health assessment from a trusted mental health provider.
• Reach out to a professional. If you feel that your emotions affect you, it may be the best time to ask for extra support.

Finally, you can learn more about caring for your mental health on articles and blogs dedicated to helping people increase their awareness of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety and how you can deal with them efficiently.

The Significance Of Acquiring Mental Health Services

When you hear people talk about something ‘healthy,’ they typically emphasize the physical aspect, like the absence of an ailment, low cholesterol levels, or great cardiovascular strength. Sadly, many people have mental health conditions that are equally as damaging as some of the nastiest physical conditions. By availing of professional and mental health services, most people experience a better quality of life. Still, for many, the help they need never arrives, as they either lack sufficient access or they fail to ask for it.

Source: rawpixel.com

Is Mental Illness Common?

It is fairly common. An estimated one in five people living in America suffers from some mental disorder per year. Additionally, approximately 10% are diagnosed with a severe mental health condition that substantially restricts one or more basic life activities.

From manic disorder down to schizophrenia and depression, various mental health illnesses can cause daily living activities difficult to perform normally. Also worth noting is the fact that many Americans suffer from addiction and anxiety. According to NAMI, approximately 18% of the population in the United States is diagnosed yearly with PTSD, OCD, and other certain phobias. Its statistics also show that more than 20 million people in America have substance abuse conditions.

 

When Mental Health Illness Is Not Treated

Mental health disorders can make it difficult and unbearable for those who suffer from them. Additionally, these issues can have a greater impact on the community in general, particularly when these cases are left untreated or if treatment is postponed. The numbers from NAMI prove this fact.

• Mood disorders like bipolar disorder and depression are among the most common causes of hospital admissions in patients 19 to 45.
• Severe mental conditions cost America approximately $190 billion in losses each year.
• American adults who have a mental condition die about 25 years earlier than others, mostly because of treatable illnesses.
• Over 90% of kids who die due to suicide have a mental illness.
• About 40% of students with mental illness quit high school.

Source: rawpixel.com

Offering Help

When the opportunity arises, mental health services should reduce the cost and provide more of the currently limited resources. Studies show that individuals seldom access medical services after they get proper mental health care. Help for mental health also decreases the risk of longstanding conditions associated with anxiety, substance abuse, and stress.

More significantly, mental health services improve lives while giving hope to those who are lost and depressed. If you or someone you know is battling a mental health condition, act quickly by taking progressive steps geared towards healing and recovery. Talk to a mental health professional today.

 

 

 

With a mother that raised three kids single-handedly, it’s expected for us not to get everything you wanted or needed in life. For instance, since I was the middle child and closer to my sister’s age, I got her hand-me-downs most of the time. Even though it was famous for kids to buy food from the cafeteria, we always brought whatever we could find at home for lunch. If we’re lucky, we could get sandwiches. If not, we had to stick to an apple or banana.

One other thing we did not have access to while growing up was medical care. Since we did not have money to pay for doctors, Mom turned into one at home. I could still remember one time I had a loose toothy, and she pulled it out for me. If someone had the flu, she gave us cold showers and warm drinks with honey and lemon. No one had complaints because her methods worked.

When I had my first child, my spouse opened up about getting a family insurance plan. My initial reaction was like, “No way! Let’s use the money for our baby’s college fund.” Then, my spouse, who happened to get Get regular Medical and dental checkups from birth, tried to explain what getting this family insurance meant.

Below are the pros and cons of getting a medical insurance plan for the family.

Pros

Avoid Paying Hospital Bills Out Of Your Pocket

The primary advantage of having health insurance is that you can go to any accredited hospital without the fear of getting turned away before you don’t have a cash or credit card on hand. You merely need to give your HMO details to the administration staff, and they will treat you immediately. You may even opt for a private room instead of getting placed in a public ward without a problem.

All this is possible because insurance companies allocate a few thousand dollars to every policyholder. The exact amount depends on your preferred plan, but it is for different conditions, so it should still be okay. As long as you need not pay the bills out of your pocket, you’re good.

Have Immediate Access To Amazing Doctors

Every healthcare company is connected to a long list of doctors who specialize in various diseases. You can see their names on the welcome package that usually comes after signing your agreement. 

Mind you; they are not always novice doctors who want to do everything to get by. Many are well-known in their field, so you don’t have to feel limited by your options. What’s more is that you can get their services and then allow the insurance provider to shoulder their professional fees for you.

Avoid Worrying About Finances When A Loved One Is Ill

When my husband got diagnosed with prostate cancer, we were utterly devastated. Although it was still curable, he would even need to get radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells and keep them from spreading. He had to take a couple of months off work so that his body could recuperate continuously. 

As a saving grace, we did not worry about finances anymore, thanks to our family insurance. It would have been a pain to handle the bills since cancer treatment fees were significantly higher than that of other diseases. Without insurance, we would have had to pay at least $50,000—the kind of money that we did not have lying around.

Cons

Pay For High Policy Costs

The reality with insurance plans is that the more people you get it for, the higher the costs. For instance, for our family, I paid approximately $400 every month. If I did not have a stable job, we would have become homeless because of that.

Pay The Plan Without Using It

Another issue with insurance plans is that a lot of families end up being unable to use it. After all, some people have strong immunity and don’t ever get hospitalized. Other than dental and regular checkups, the high amount may not justify the need to get a healthcare policy for the entire family.

The Bottom Line

Did we get medical insurance for our growing family? Yes. That’s because we wanted to have another child in a year or two, and we could save a lot if we did not pay for my checkups and childbirth and our kids’ trips to the pediatrician.

Although I vetoed it at first, I realized that the advantages of getting a healthcare plan outweighed all the cons. After all, even if we could not use it for a year, it merely meant that we were healthy. It also gave us a backup strategy in case we ended up needing it during an emergency.

Think of the best premium plan for your family now!

 

 

Source: netdoctor.co.uk

 

The strategy that various countries have embraced has been interesting to watch, with South Korea and Singapore implementing advanced digital solutions in terms of contact tracing and extensive testing. In Europe, different approaches have also been utilized, with Germany incurring the highest rates of testing, the biggest number of ventilated beds, and the highest number of trained front liners to support patients. As a result, they have the lowest number of deaths.

Furthermore, it has become clearer that the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare encompasses the illness that it produces as these healthcare systems need to cope with the existence of other diseases that may or may not be communicable somehow. This poses a tremendous challenge since, in most cases, the systems are not able to manage the number of patients that need care due to COVID-19, despite the fact that sometimes there are no other existing conditions like pulmonary, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases and cancer.

The effects of the pandemic vary from country to country, although some other patterns are developing. For instance, primary care has long assured people that issues like access and care could be brought digitally, but up until today, digital implementation has not been that excellent. The goals that we have around the digital revolution have been slowly accomplished because of the slowness of the implementation itself. Additionally, history shows that there are many challenges in an aging workforce, with consumer pressure making it almost impossible for the post-COVID-19 to be the same as the pre-COVID-19 times.

 

Source: health.mil

 

Consequently, the impact of the pandemic upon digital technology in terms of the provision of healthcare remains to be significant. It is improving as quickly as the coronavirus is spreading worldwide. Hence, reflecting on this new post-COVID-19 era, these can be considered as:

It is directly related to the pandemic.

There are a lot of things to be learned from using digital technology in public health systems, from the connecting of data in laboratories to the emergence of technological solutions to do link testing in different locations, and ultimately allowing information and insights to be gathered around spread and contamination.

Telemedicine for public health emergencies has been well-organized in many countries. A central approach for healthcare surge control for those suspected with the coronavirus recommended screening patients before they go to the emergency departments. The use of digital technology around access and delivery of primary care could not be delivered appropriately. There are a lot of examples of this in the United States that are utilizing personalized online screening, some of which are working effectively, and some are not.

In truth, the success of telemedicine depends really on our imagination, from bringing better answers in terms of disaster planning to the primary care of suspected patients by communicating with them online and face-to-face, regardless of their location.

Caused By The Pandemic

The world after COVID-19 is most likely a time when the care of various medical interactions, such as the delivery of primary care or the treatment or non-infectious diseases, shifted to digital approaches as the main variable instead of being the exemption. This new era would also probably allow other types of technology, like artificial intelligence and the power of 5G, to unite on a whole different level. We see this reality at speed we could not have imagined. In the United Kingdom, primary care has now begun to utilize telehealth and has adopted a digital priority approach as a way of dealing with care appropriately. This was only something of a theory a few weeks ago before the virus hit.

 

Source: fiercehealthcare.com

 

There is still so much that needs to be done. The government has to incorporate the implementation of these modalities and include a strong clinical support team. The scope and scale of the challenges brought about by the coronavirus are changing. Digital transformation is seen to be beneficial and must be continued and improved further. Another relevant change that is now growing is the implementation of precision health in both predictive and personalized public health and in utilizing digital technology in encouraging people to self-manage non-infectious diseases.

Finally, we all must understand that this post-COVID-19 world will look different from the previous world that we have gotten used to. Our hope is that by embracing these digital modalities in primary care, we will be close to achieving our goal of delivering better healthcare to everyone across the globe.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: wallpaperflare.com

Every passing minute, there is another complication that arises from the coronavirus, most of which fall mostly on seniors and adults with existing conditions. Evidently, the risk of getting infected is highest among the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Additionally, the death toll for nursing facility residents is shocking, which is why visiting patients has been banned. Senior facilities that so many of the elderly are dependent upon are now closed. Only meal pickups are available, and this poses a challenge for most seniors because public transportation is scarce. This group of individuals is facing the frustrating challenge of inattention and isolation, which can be as dangerous as the coronavirus itself.

Seniors And Home Health Employees Affected

The federal government has abdicated the usual three-day hospital admission prerequisite for Medicare insurance coverage to accommodate more patients. But there have been reports that the many long-term care centers have not been accepting new patients. Further, most home health companies don’t accommodate new cases because they are having difficulty providing services to their existing clients. And this will apparently worsen as more and more home health employees become ill or are forced to stay home. This would mean that there is a higher number of seniors left in hospital facilities while it is unsafe for them to be there.

Source: wallpaperflare.com

Home health employees may also be carriers of infection and may ultimately endanger the patients and residents that they are providing care for. Although facilities are obliged to screen employees meticulously, the risk will always be there.

Medicaid And Other Companies Affected

Some companies that cater to vulnerable adults have stopped operating at the moment. For instance, in New Jersey, programs for the disabled are currently closed, placing more stress and pressure on families to take care of their loved ones without assistance from certified caregivers. The government has loosened some guidelines on home health providers, allowing more hours of weekly work and also providing salaries to family members who are direct carers of the elderly and vulnerable adults after they have gone through and passed the application process.

As for direct contact, face-to-face care of clients from support and coordination companies are temporarily suspended except for cases associated with health and safety. The issue is that it’s difficult to identify when health and safety are threatened even with no regular contact. The Division of Developmental Disabilities is operating from its own office and is communicating via the Internet.

Other companies are caring for the disabled and the elderly that are affected as well, and Medicaid is one of these companies. The New Jersey Boards of Social Services have transitioned to remote access and having a skeletal type of system in their offices. Undoubtedly, the process is slower than normal. It is not clear whether or not new applicants of Medicaid can be prepared remotely, as this new system is still at its infancy stages and still mostly paper-driven. Additionally, community nurses who are assigned to evaluate Medicaid applicants are not doing their jobs. So the application procedure is waived, these new applicants are unable to secure their Medicaid coverage and will, therefore, be possibly denied of necessary care. They will also be unable to receive benefits provided by the company.

Source: pxfuel.com

These times are not ordinary. We do hope we will soon return to our normal topsy-turvy but happy and COVID-free lives. In the meantime, carers of vulnerable adults and seniors, and individuals with disabilities, you must all be keen on protecting your loved ones. Medicaid suggests that you maintain constant communication with them and to be assertive in asking for help when necessary. Community agencies, private healthcare companies, and local governments are available to work with you to make sure that our vulnerable loved ones will not break down amidst these devastating times.