Psychiatric Nursing Services

 Individuals that are diagnosed with a psychiatric condition may be frowned upon by some members of society.  Generally, they will be judged and others will act different if in their presence.  Some psychiatric conditions can be dangerous.  With the medical advances of the current time, psychiatric conditions tend to be less difficult to live with and can be better managed to maintain functioning as best as possible.  Some examples of psychiatric conditions include:  obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, etc.  Safety is usually the number one priority in the care of a client with a psychiatric condition and licensed professionals should ensure a safe environment for their care at all times. 

Following is a compiled list of several things for you to look for either in yourself or in your loved ones.  If you see any of these changes, you should reach out to a medical professional for evaluation, so they can help you to maintain or resolve your condition.  Pay attention to your loved ones as the following signs could lead to development or exacerbation of a psychiatric condition; the signs include but are not limited to:

·         A noticeable and serious change in personality

·         Noticeable change in eating and sleeping patterns

·         Inability to cope with problems or carry out daily activities

·         Expression of strange ideas that are obviously out of reach

·         A depressed state that lasts greater than two weeks

·         Excessive anxiety or panic when dealing with daily life

·         Thinking or talking about suicide

·         Engaging in substance abuse with drugs or alcohol

·         Display of violent behavior, hostility, or extreme mood swings

If you see any of those signs in your loved one, please seek medical attention.  If you wait, it may be too late.  Many people with any of the signs mentioned above usually will think they are a normal part of their life.  Going to your family physician, or making an appointment with a counselor or psychologist will offer an assessment to see if the behaviors or feelings are indeed a mental health condition, or something else.  Most always there are different treatments available depending upon your condition that can help to resolve your issues and allow you to function at your normal level on a daily basis again and be socially accepted.

The care plan will always be patient-centered and involve the patient, along with the family to a reasonable extent.  Needs may arise in the care of the client that result in deviation from the routes that were initially planned out to meet their goals.  As long as the client is making progress and moving forward to reach their goals, let them be the leader in helping themselves recover and cope with their condition.  If the client is motivated it will increase the chance of success in reaching their goals.

Total Home Health will support the treatment of each of our clients and help them, along with their families live with, and in many cases recover from a mental illness.  When the family is around the individual with the psychiatric condition, usually they will get burned out from being in their presence on a daily basis without being able to do anything to help them get better.  Total Home Health has licensed professionals as a part of our team to create a home care plan that will support the client’s treatment and management of daily life.  The family will also be educated on ways to cope with the condition their loved one has been diagnosed with, so they will be able to observe the progress their loved one is making toward their treatment goals.

If ever you feel you need to contact us regarding psychiatric nursing services, please do not hesitate.  At Total Home Health we are here to provide the best care possible to you 100% of the time.  We have professionals that will be at your beck and call to care for any problem that may arise.  Let us be by your side and assist you during your time of trouble.