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Serious Mental Illness

What is a Serious Mental Illness?

    Serious Mental Illness is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.1 Serious Mental Illness, or “SMI,” is a label used in Arizona to identify people who need extra support because of their mental illness. A designation is not a diagnosis for treatment. The SMI Designation is specifically designed for people who have additional difficulty in daily activities because of their mental disability.
 

What is the treatment?

    People who have been designated SMI are in need of long-term services to be able to live in their community. That is where we come in. We provide care and services for those who have been designated with a SMI.2
References

1NIMH: Mental Illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
2ACDL: SMI FAQs. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health

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Domestic Violence

    Domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), dating abuse, or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. People of any race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, education level, or economic status can be a victim -or perpetrator— of domestic violence. That includes behaviors that physically harm, intimidate, manipulate or control a partner, or otherwise force them to behave in ways they don’t want to, including through physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, or financial control. Multiple forms of abuse are usually present at the same time in abusive situations.1 All which can leader to devaluing one’s identity, dignity, and self-worth. Sometimes even leading to anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

1National Domestic Violence Hotline: Abuse Defined. https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/understand-relationship-abuse

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Sexual, Physical, Emotional Abuse

    Sexual abuse is any form of sexual violence, including rape, child molestation, incest, and similar forms of non-consensual sexual contact. Therapy can also be helpful for those who experienced sexual abuse in the past. Some therapists specialize in addressing the trauma of sexual assault. Long-term assistance may be beneficial to some survivors of sexual abuse.1 Physical abuse is any physical force that injures or puts one’s health in danger. Physical abuse can include shaking, burning, choking, hair-pulling, hitting, slapping, kicking, or any type of harm with a weapon like a knife or a gun.2 Emotional Abuse, sometimes known as psychological abuse, is consistent actions and behaviors intended to psychologically manipulate someone else. Emotional abuse is hurtful and can be detrimental to one’s identity, dignity, and self-worth.3 All forms of abuse could sometimes lead to anxiety, depression, and PTSD. All which would need to be treated from its source onward.

1GoodTherapy.org: Sexual Assault/Abuse. https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/sexual-abuse
2Office of Women’s Health: Physical Abuse. https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/other-types/physical-abuse
3CrisisTextLine.org: What Is Emotional Abuse? https://www.crisistextline.org/topics/emotional-abuse/#what-is-emotional-abuse-1

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Chronic Anxiety & Panic Attacks

    Anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) display excessive anxiety or worry, most days for at least 6 months, about a number of things such as personal health, work, social interactions, and everyday routine life circumstances. The fear and anxiety can cause significant problems in areas of their life, such as social interactions, school, and work. Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include: feeling restless, having difficulty concentrating or controlling feelings of worry, being irritable or having sleep problems. People with panic disorder have recurrent unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear that come on quickly and reach their peak within minutes. Attacks can occur unexpectedly or can be brought on by a trigger, such as a feared object or situation.1

1NIMH: Anxiety Disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

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Borderline Personality Disorder

    Borderline personality disorder is an illness marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships. People with borderline personality disorder may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days. People with borderline personality disorder may experience mood swings and display uncertainty about how they see themselves and their role in the world. As a result, their interests and values can change quickly. People with borderline personality disorder also tend to view things in extremes, such as all good or all bad. Their opinions of other people can also change quickly. Other signs or symptoms may include: impulsive and often dangerous behaviors, distorted and unstable self-image, self harming behaviors, recurring thoughts of suicide, difficulty trusting and feelings of dissociation.1

1NIMH: Borderline Personality Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder

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Mood Disorder/Bipolar

    “Mood Disorder” represents a category of mental illnesses in which the underlying problem primarily affects a person’s persistent emotional state (their mood).1 The most common we see is depression & bipolar disorder. Depression causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.2 Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. People with bipolar disorder experience periods of unusually intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and uncharacteristic behaviors—often without recognizing their likely harmful or undesirable effects.3

 

1NIMH: Any Mood Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-mood-disorder
2NIMH: Depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
3NIMH: Bipolar Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder

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Substance Abuse (Drugs/Alcohol)

    A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to a person’s inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs. Researchers have found that about half of individuals who experience a SUD during their lives will also experience a co-occurring mental disorder and vice versa. Co-occurring disorders can include anxiety disorders, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and schizophrenia, among others.Substance use may trigger changes in brain structure and function that make a person more likely to develop a mental disorder. Research has found several behavioral therapies that have promise for treating individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.1
 

1NIMH: Substance Abuse and Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health

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Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

    Serious Mental Illness is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.1 Serious Mental Illness, or “SMI,” is a label used in Arizona to identify people who need extra support because of their mental illness. A designation is not a diagnosis for treatment. The SMI Designation is specifically designed for people who have additional difficulty in daily activities because of their mental disability. People who have been designated SMI are in need of long-term services to be able to live in their community. That is where we come in. We provide care and services for those who have been designated with a SMI.2

1NIMH: Mental Illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
2ACDL: SMI FAQs. https://www.azdisabilitylaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/SMIFAQs.pdf

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