Mental & Behavioral Health

Mental illnesses are common: one in every four people suffer from some form of a mental health concern every year.

While mental illness may be difficult to detect, there are specific signs and symptoms. If you are concerned for yourself or someone you care about, CODAC is here to help. You or your loved one can contact CODAC and be seen for an intake as soon as the same day!

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, seek help immediately by calling 911 or the community-wide crisis line at (520) 622-6000.

Trauma may occur after experiencing a shocking, upsetting or painful event, and each person responds differently. Some people are able to resume a normal life with little to no interruption, while others are impacted long after the event(s) occurred. Others may develop anxiety or turn to substance use as a coping method.

At CODAC we provide a trauma-informed approach to treatment that respects your needs and goals in healing, using a healthy support system, therapy and self-care as tools to move forward.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Emotions
Sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, mood swings, lack of emotional responsiveness, feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, irritability

Thoughts
Frequent self-criticism, self-blame, pessimism, impaired memory and concentration, indecisiveness and confusion, tendency to believe others see one in a negative light, thoughts of death and suicide

Behaviors
Crying spells, withdrawal from others, neglect of responsibilities, loss of interest in personal appearance, loss of motivation, slow movement, use of drugs and alcohol

Physical
Fatigue, lack of energy, sleeping too much or too little, overeating or loss of appetite, constipation, weight loss or gain, headaches, irregular menstrual cycle, loss of sexual desire, unexplained aches and pains

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

Physical

• Cardiovascular: pounding heart, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, blushing
• Respiratory: fast breathing, shortness of breath
• Neurological: dizziness, headache, sweating, tingling, numbness
• Gastrointestinal: choking, dry mouth, stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Musculoskeletal: muscle aches and pains (especially neck, shoulders and back), tremors and shaking, inability to relax

Psychological
Unrealistic or excessive fear and worry (about past and future events), mind racing or going blank, decreased concentration and memory, indecisiveness, irritability, impatience, anger, confusion, restlessness or feeling “on edge” or nervous, fatigue, sleep disturbance, vivid dreams

Behavioral
Avoidance of situations, obsessive or compulsive behavior, distress in social situations, phobic behavior

Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder are mental disorders in which a person has lost some contact with reality.

• The person may have severe disturbances in thinking, emotion, and behavior.
• Psychosis usually occurs in episodes and is not a constant or static condition.
• Difficulties with concentration or attention
• Sense of alteration of self, others, or the outside world (e.g., feeling that self or others have changed or are acting different in some way)
• Odd ideas
• Unusual perceptual experiences (e.g., a reduction in or greater intensity of smell, sound, or color)
• Sleep disturbances
• Social isolation or withdrawal
• Reduced ability to carry out work and social roles
• Increased energy and over activity
• Mania
  • Increased energy and over activity
  • Elated mood
  • Need less sleep than usual
  • Irritability
  • Rapid thinking and speech
  • Lack of inhibitions
  • Grandiose delusions
  • Lack of insight

Source: Gibb, B. 2011, “Learn About Mental Illness: The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan” pp 11-13.