Veteran Mental Health Treatment in Port St. Lucie

Veterans’ mental health sometimes experiences a sharp decline when their service ends. Thoughts of suicide may increase when they can’t find support in their area. Families may not know how to help or leave them alone when they suffer a mental health crisis.

Behavioral Health Centers provides veteran mental health treatment in Port St. Lucie with resources tailored to meet the needs of service members. Our inpatient and outpatient therapy treats addiction, psychological issues and trauma-related disorders.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of veterans’ most common mental health conditions. Exposure to death, violence, dangerous situations and severe injuries rewires their brain, causing unhealthy behaviors and thinking patterns.

Likewise, combat can produce near-constant stress that keeps veterans on high alert after they return to their families. Women are particularly vulnerable to military sexual trauma, such as assault and harassment. Despite this, veterans’ mental health is often ignored as they focus solely on their combat duties.

Veterans with mental health conditions often lack services when they return home. They may suffer from PTSD symptoms, have suicidal thoughts and develop substance abuse disorders to cope. Abusing drugs and alcohol provides temporary relief. However, their post-traumatic stress disorder only worsens as they fall into addiction.

Common PTSD signs include:

The social stigma makes it harder for a veteran to seek help. Service members are supposed to be at peak physical fitness. Friends and family members might dismiss them as weak when they’re struggling. This makes them feel obligated to “tough it out” instead of exploring their options.

Behavioral Health Centers’ mental health programs start with psychological and physical assessments to help experts develop a care plan. If the resident has drugs or alcohol in their system, they’ll undergo a supervised detox with assistance to relieve withdrawal symptoms.

Next, they can move into the community to receive full-time treatment in a safe, supportive facility. After inpatient therapy, veterans transition to outpatient programs that help them ease back into their ordinary lives while continuing intensive treatment.

Afterward, clients enter the aftercare program that includes group counseling, medication, individual therapy, job skills training and other resources. This helps veterans maintain their progress with support from their families.

Substance abuse disorders often come with dual diagnosis in mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD and major depressive disorder. Trauma often leads to substance abuse, which creates a vicious cycle as individuals lose control of their lives while craving the drug.

Additionally, a military veteran could experience mental health conditions unrelated to their service, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and personality disorders.

Our mental health services include group, individual and family therapy that explores each resident’s trauma and teaches them how to face their struggles without drugs and alcohol. Specific programs include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Blows to the head can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that creates a temporary or permanent disability. Some people recover after resting and seeking medical care. However, others have trouble functioning daily, leading to toxic coping mechanisms and depressive episodes.

TBI treatment can involve doctor’s visits, surgeries and medication. Physical therapists and neuropsychologists help them restore as much mental and physical functioning as possible. Medical professionals might also assist with speech and communication, self-care, building relationships and finding jobs.

Veterans who check into a rehab community leave with a healthier outlook on life. Mental health services aim to:

In addition to traditional services like talk therapy, mental health programs have expanded to include cutting-edge technologies. These services can treat substance abuse and mental disorders simultaneously.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) uses eye movements to help veterans process trauma. During EMDR programs, therapists help military veterans choose a traumatic memory to focus on. They revisit the memory while engaging in bilateral eye movement that gradually desensitizes them to the event.

EMDR mental health treatment reprograms the brain, so veterans have neutral or positive associations with their memories. The benefits include reducing PTSD symptoms, such as nightmares, risk avoidance and flashbacks.

Similarly, neurobehavioral therapy (NBT) targets the brain to tackle each mental health condition. Experts start with a brain activity assessment to identify irregularities. Afterward, they use various services, such as sound monitoring, computerized cognitive brain training and transcranial direct-current stimulation, to train the resident to control their thoughts.

NBT helps those with substance abuse stay sober by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. The treatment also helps military veterans identify toxic thinking patterns and switch to healthier coping mechanisms in times of crisis. Other conditions that respond to NBT include ADHD, mood disorders and physical pain.

Active duty care focuses more on treatment and prevention, while veterans need help to deal with past traumas. Some believe the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides inadequate treatment; Others don’t know how to seek help or underestimate their issues.

Fortunately, anyone can call Behavioral Health Centers for free information on support, programs and resources. Reach out to talk about veterans’ mental health services.

TRICARE covers medical and mental health services for veterans and active military personnel. You may qualify for inpatient treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse issues if your condition makes it nearly impossible to function. TRICARE might also cover medication-assisted treatment (MAT) that reduces cravings.

If you don’t need 24-hour treatment, TRICARE may cover outpatient services that require you to visit the community for intensive treatment. To qualify, you’ll need a substance abuse disorder diagnosis and must be leaving an inpatient program. You’ll also have to prove you need support and professional help.

Contact Behavioral Health Centers to verify that TRICARE covers your mental health treatment. We’ll review your plan and discuss ways to cover out-of-pocket costs.

Learn about mental health services for military veterans by contacting Behavioral Health Centers, the best mental health treatment center in Florida. Call 772-774-3872 to talk to an expert about veterans with mental health issues. We’ll recommend treatment options that help service members with post-traumatic stress disorder build resilience and return to their families.