It is heartbreaking to witness if our parents who have loved and cared, educated and provided for us suffer a slow and relentless decline of their mental and physical capability.

While not everyone will suffer from age-related disorders to the same degree, the reality is that once memory failure starts to set in, many people struggle to manage their lives, even on a simple scale. This is often exacerbated by impaired sight and/or hearing, compromised physical health, and an increased reliance on medication. The resultant inability to cope and the loss of independence can also lead to acute anxiety and depression.

Sadly, this is compounded by the loss of an active social circle – either due to illness and death of friends, or simply the inability to get around.

M-Care mental health facilities’ psycho-geriatric units understand not only the anxiety of adult children who often have to bear the emotional and financial burden of caring for their ageing parents but also the frustration, helplessness, and sense of loneliness felt by our ageing parents themselves.

The psycho-geriatric units offer a specialist treatment plan catering for disorders of old age, not only assisting our aged parents to cope with their decreased capacity and putting them in touch with a group of peers in similar circumstances to alleviate their loneliness but also helping us – their children – to understand the ageing cycle and come to terms with it.

All of us experience anxiety to some degree, whether it is short-lived and intense over a specific incident, or more long-term and complex in nature. The reality is that modern life can be extremely stressful, and in South Africa this is exacerbated by a society that lives increasingly on the edge, with an alarming increase in the incidence of anxiety-related disorders, ranging from panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, to social phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Although it is not always easy to tell the difference between ‘normal’ feelings of anxiousness and an anxiety disorder, if is worth seeking professional help if anxiety is disrupting you or your loved one’s ability to function on a daily basis.

Symptoms of anxiety that are not within the ‘normal’ range include a rapid heartbeat, chest pain or heart palpitations; shortness of breath, hyperventilation or difficulty breathing; a feeling of suffocation or choking; blurred vision, light-headedness or spinning sensations; constant headaches or pressure around the eyes; numbness, tingling or even a feeling of temporary paralysis; trembling, spasms, cramps, muscle tension, stiffness or unexplained aches and pains; excessive sweating; stomach-related problems such as constipation, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); sensations of being disconnected from reality or trapped in a situation beyond control; constant fatigue and decreased ability to concentrate; and uncontrollable negative thought patterns.

We place a great deal of emphasis on helping patients cope with the stresses of modern life, and are specifically focused on helping you and your loved ones manage anxiety, not only providing a place of tranquillity and safety to promote the healing process, but also providing you with practical tools to help you cope going forward.

Living with bipolar mood disorder can be likened to life on an endless and unpredictable roller coaster. Whether you are suffering from this disorder, or living with someone trapped in the cycle, your life becomes ruled by extreme and unpredictable fluctuating emotions – sometimes up, sometimes down, sometimes levelling off in between – but always with the knowledge that the ups and downs will return.

Unfortunately, because so many people suffering from bipolar mood disorder experience ‘normal’ moods in between mania and depression, they are all too often labelled ‘moody’ by family and friends and could therefore suffer most of their lives undiagnosed.

However, if such ‘moodiness’ is affecting you or your loved one’s ability to function on a daily basis, it is worth seeking professional help.

The good news is that bipolar mood disorder can be treated with a combination of mood-stabilising medication and psychotherapy. We are specifically equipped to help individuals with bipolar mood disorder and their loved ones cope with the ups and downs that characterise this disorder, by providing patients with an integrated treatment programme designed to help stabilise mood swings, and equipping them and their loved ones with the necessary tools to help them manage their lives going forward.

If you think that you or a loved one is suffering from depression, you are not alone. Each year millions of adults, adolescents and children worldwide experience a period of clinical depression, causing pain and suffering not only to those experiencing this debilitating disorder, but also to those who care about them. Serious depression destroys both individuals and families, and needs to be treated seriously.

Common symptoms of depression include changes in appetite, energy levels, libido or sex drive, concentration and the capacity to enjoy life and normal activities.

Nothing can prepare a family for the devastating effects of living with a loved one who is trapped in a vicious cycle of self-destruction.

Whatever the specific format of the disease, the outcome is often the same: the slow and painful erosion of trust and mutual respect, the inevitable build-up of anger and frustration on both sides, and the ultimate breakdown of the family unit.

If you and your family are trapped in this desperate cycle, rest assured that there is a way out. No matter how isolated and alone you feel, there are many other people walking this same path, and professionals who are dedicated to helping you change the direction of your life.

We focus specifically on helping families find their way out of this destructive situation, by providing the best possible medical and psychiatric care and assistance, with the aim of not only arresting the cycle, but also preventing it from recurring in the future.

Treatment comprises an integrated inpatient and outpatient programme  where our healthcare professionals work together with the patient and their family to provide a safe haven for healing and the reversal of weight loss; helping to normalise eating patterns, encouraging a healthy attitude towards food, and challenging distorted beliefs about body image.

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The acts of giving birth and taking home a new baby are generally viewed as celebrations that elicit joy, excitement, fulfilment and hope. But the truth is that many women experience significant feelings of anxiety and depression after the birth of their baby, resulting from issues such as a lack of sleep and disruption of order and routine; loss of self-esteem resulting from their role changing from that of career woman to mother; relationship stresses or breakdown as both parents struggle to cope with the demands of parenting; loneliness and stress in cases of single parenting; and the financial pressures of providing for a new child.

Our programmes cater specifically for new mothers and their babies, providing a sharing and caring environment in which mothers can benefit from treatment with the assurance that their babies are being cared for by qualified and nurturing staff. With professional help and support, postnatal depression is temporary and treatable.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) disables more people worldwide than all physical disabilities combined. It is defined as debilitating physical and psychological symptoms that disrupt daily life following a traumatic event such as sexual assault, child abuse, domestic abuse, war, natural disasters, serious accidents, muggings or terrorist attacks. PTSD can also develop after witnessing someone close to you experiencing a traumatic or life-threatening.

Common symptoms include being easily startled, particularly when ordinary events trigger memories of the original event; experiencing flashbacks of the event or having recurring nightmares about it; losing interest in everyday activities and having difficulty sleeping; experiencing feelings of detachment from reality and difficulty relating to people; as well as episodes of extreme irritability and violent rage. Many people also experience panic attacks or other symptoms of severe anxiety.

Although PTSD is complex to treat, the good news is that it can be managed through an integrated treatment plan that combines medication and cognitive behavioural therapy. We have amassed a great deal of experience in treating patients suffering from PTSD, particularly as this is a growing problem in South Africa. The units not only provide a safe haven where patients can recover, but also help by equipping them and their loved ones to manage their symptoms once they have been discharged.

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