Grand Oaks Behavioral Health

Embrace change, even if it is difficult! Grand Oaks Behavioral Health supports you!✨☀️

“The only constant is change” is a statement that portrays how life and everything in it is subject to transformation. Learning how to adapt to change is key to your overall well-being, especially your mental health. Change is all around us and it’s natural to dislike it because you are often required to come out of your comfort zone. But adaptability, the process of reinventing your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, can be a key protective feature in mental health. You don’t have to love change to be able to embrace it, and small adjustments can make change less painful in the long term. It may be beneficial to identify supportive people in your life, become self-aware, acknowledge stressors, and identify positive things in your life to help make adapting to change easier.

If you experience difficulty adapting to change, remember that you’re not alone. If you find change overwhelming, you may want to talk with a mental health professional. Visit our website at www.grandoaksbh.com to review our list of mental health professionals who can help you find ways to adapt to change. You can call our office at 847-549-1189 for more information or to schedule a therapy appointment.

Visit https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-only-constant-is-change to read more about how to embrace inevitable change.

If you’re thinking about pursuing therapy, now might be a great time to do so!✨⭐️

People go to therapy for various reasons, such as major life transitions or unhelpful thoughts. But it varies from person to person. Through therapy, a mental health professional can help you work through difficult feelings or stressors that may affect your day-to-day life. The approach is very collaborative and depends on your relationship with your therapist. When choosing a therapist who is right for you, consider thinking about what your deal breakers are, qualities that are important, and any other characteristics you value. Remember that you can look for alternative providers if you feel that your therapist is not a good fit for you.

As mentioned above, people seek therapy for multiple reasons including but not limited to being diagnosed with a mental health condition, experiencing a significant life event, or simply feeling like you need some help. Any and all reasons are acceptable and appropriate to seek therapy. Beginning therapy may help you cope with life’s challenges in healthier and more productive ways. A therapist can help you in times of crisis while offering other services related to your issues.

Visit our website https://grandoaksbh.com to learn more about what Grand Oaks Behavioral Health has to offer. If you are looking for a therapist, review our Professional Profiles to see if one of our providers may be a good fit for you. Call our office today at 847-549-1189 to learn more about Grand Oaks Behavioral Health or to schedule an appointment today.

Visit https://psychcentral.com/health/reasons-to-see-a-therapist to learn more about if therapy would be a good choice for you!

Each brain hemisphere has four sections that are called Lobes. The Lobes are identified as the Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, and Occipital Lobe. The picture above reflects what functions are controlled by each lobe!

The brain is one of the most complex and mysterious organs known, giving life to art, sport, personality, and morals. It has over 86 billion neurons, 2.5 million gigabytes of storage, and over 50,000 thoughts per day. The human brain is truly fascinating and https://legacybox.com/blogs/analog/25-brain-facts-blow-mind shares some human brain facts that will make you think twice!

Bonus fact: Our brain is hypothesized to be constantly developing from 2 weeks after conception until about age 25. We also have the ability to reconstruct our brain’s development with psychotherapy. For example, research suggests that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) cannot only change our thought patterns, it can literally rewire our brains!

You’ve got this!!✨✨

Stressful life events are inevitable and everyone responds to stressors differently. Most of the time, people can learn how to cope with these types of changes, but if you have an adjustment disorder, your reactions or responses might be stronger than others and last longer than a few months. These disorders are commonly treated with therapy, medication, or a combo of both.

An adjustment disorder could affect anyone of any age and involves an emotional response to significant, yet often stressful, life events or changes. Some examples of a stressful life event could be identified as struggling with school, job concerns, the death of a loved one, relationship conflicts, etc. The inability to cope with these changes may lead to physical and mental health symptoms that could affect your daily life functioning. There are several different types of adjustment disorders and each of them may affect an individual differently.

If you or someone you know is having trouble coping with a significant life stressors, help is available. You can begin by talking with someone you trust and finding emotional support through friends, family, or mental health professionals. There’s no way to prevent an adjustment disorder. However, learning how to process and cope during times of stress can help you learn helpful stress management techniques and become more resilient. If you would like more information on our trustworthy mental health professionals at Grand Oaks Behavioral Health, visit our website at www.grandoaksbh.com to read their biographies. If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of them, please call the office at 847-549-1189.

To read more about the types of adjustment disorders, potential symptoms, and helpful treatments, visit https://psychcentral.com/disorders/adjustment-disorder-symptoms.

Life can be so hard. Be proud of yourself today for all you’ve powered through. You’ve got this✨✨

Positive affirmations are statements you can find or create to use to decrease distress and focus on positive thinking. Evidence-based research says they can help you feel more at ease, especially when managing anxiety. When working with affirmations, you can write them down, repeat them aloud, or record them and listen to them throughout the day.

Using positive affirmations is like practicing positive self-talk. It can help you reframe your negative thoughts while focusing on ideas and behaviors that lead to positive change. Positive affirmations are found to be associated with increased happiness, hopefulness, and overall well-being by decreasing stress, improving confidence, boosting overall mood, focusing on solutions, encouraging optimism, boosting motivation, helping you manage physical pain, and reducing fear.

Here are some examples of positive affirmations for when you experience anxiety:

Positive affirmations to calm down quickly
“I am safe and in control.”
“I have done this before, and I can do it again.”
“This too shall pass.”

Positive affirmations for long-term anxiety relief
“I am enough.”
“Look at me go! I can do it all.”
“I love myself.”

Positive affirmations to cope with intense fear or panic attacks
“I am safe.”
“I am brave.”
“I can move past this moment.”

Positive affirmations for social anxiety
“I act with confidence because I know what I am doing.”
“I am different and unique, and that is OK.”
“I am safe in the company of others.”

Positive affirmations for performance anxiety
“I enjoy doing this.”
“I am good at everything I do.”
“Day by day, minute to minute.”

For more information and examples of positive affirmations, visit https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/affirmations-for-anxiety.

If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of stress or anxiety, it may be helpful to see a therapist to learn about how to implement self-love, self-care, and self-talk into your daily routine. Visit www.grandoaksbh.com to view our list of providers at Grand Oaks Behavioral Health and call 847-549-1189 to make an appointment with one of them today.

Being kind to your mind and considering your mental health is extremely important. It could help improve your relationship with yourself and others, increase the “feel good” hormones in your brain known as oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, and can reduce stress. Your mind is a valuable asset that deserves kindness and love. Try to work on developing a compassionate relationship with your mind and take time to prioritize your mental health.

Mental health disorders are patterns of symptoms that can be psychological, behavioral, or both that cause distress and can have negative effects on your personal, social, or work life. Mental health disorders are characterized by issues regarding mood, thoughts, and behavior and may also be referred to as psychological disorders, mental illnesses, and mental health conditions. They are very common! In fact, 1 in every 5 adults in the United States are affected by mental health disorders.

Depressive disorders and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, affecting mostly females, young adults, and adults identifying as more than two races. Some other mental health conditions can be identified as mood disorders, substance-related disorders, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, feeding and eating disorders, stress-related disorders, and much more.

Mental health disorders affect every individual differently and are commonly managed with medications and/or talk therapy. Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, is shown to be useful for individuals coping with mental health conditions. Providers at Grand Oaks Behavioral Health specialize in talk therapy and may be able to help you or someone you know cope with a mental health disorder. For more information, call our office at 847-549-1189. You could also visit our website at www.grandoaksbh.com.


If you would like more information on mental health disorders and what they entail, visit https://psychcentral.com/conditions/conditions-index.

Physical touch is shown to have a direct impact on our nervous system, helping us reduce stress and promote feelings of relaxation. Try sharing a healing hug with someone who is stressed today or if you’re stressed to help promote more positivity!✨

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? It is also a time of high stress due to a lot of events going on. For example, students are finishing up the school semester, some students are graduating, there is high school prom, there are celebrations for Cinco de Mayo, some people are going on vacation as the weather is getting nicer, etc. Although exciting, these events can be stressful too! Here are some helpful tips to improve your mental health in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and decrease your stress.

1. Check in with yourself

2. Accept the stress

3. Meditate

4. Distance yourself

5. Engage in healthy habits

6. Try deep breathing

7. Talk about it

8. Seek meaningful activities

9. Progressive muscle relaxation

Stressful moments and events happen to us all. Experiencing high levels of daily stress can be overwhelming and finding ways to cope with stress can help you improve your stress management skills.

If stress is a daily occurrence and is causing symptoms of anxiety or depression, it may be time to consider talking with a mental health professional. Please call Grand Oaks Behavioral Health at 847-549-1189 to schedule an appointment with one of our mental health professionals if you would like help coping with your stress. You can also visit our website for more information at: https://grandoaksbh.com.


Visit https://psychcentral.com/stress/coping-with-stress -muscle-relaxation to read more about some helpful stress management tips.

Join us for Stress-Management Group Therapy for Latinxs every Monday from 7:15PM-8:15pm in our Northbrook office! Please call Grand Oaks Behavioral Health to register (847) 549-1189.

It is $30 per session with sliding scale options available.

Positive affirmations could help disrupt negative thinking habits and encourage positive thoughts in your daily life. With the implementation of positive affirmations, positive thoughts begin to replace negative ones, affecting your self-esteem, behaviors, relationships, daily routines, and much more⭐️

How are you feeling today? Your mental health is important and being aware of your emotions can help improve your mental health in many ways, such as making it easier to communicate feelings with others, prevent or resolve conflicts, and move past difficult feelings. Take a minute to be aware of your feelings today!✨

It is said that junk food may satisfy you for a minute, but healthy food satisfies you for life. Try to implement some healthy food options into your meals today!💫



Visit our website https://grandoaksbh.com to learn about services provided by our practice. Have a wonderful weekend!

Serotonin is a chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, produced in your digestive tract and central nervous system. This is considered a “happy hormone” as it can directly impact your mood and mental health. Neurotransmitters carry out important signaling between the cells of the brain, or neurons, that execute essential brain functions like mood, cognition, focus, and rest.

Low Serotonin levels are typically associated with mental health conditions such as, mood disorders (like depression), anxiety, insomnia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. Fortunately, you can naturally boost your Serotonin levels with food and a healthy diet.

There are a variety of nutrients and compounds that can promote our body’s ability to produce Serotonin and other mood-boosting neurotransmitters in the brain. A research review from 2016 mentions that Serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan. Therefore, eating tryptophan-rich foods may be key to improving your mood and feeling better. Foods that may increase Serotonin include but are not limited to eggs, dairy, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables, and turkey.

Overall, eating nutritious foods may have a positive impact on your mental health and it has supportive research. Changing your diet can feel hard, but healthier eating is possible — even when you’re on a budget. It is also important to note that eating better does not treat mental health conditions. If you are struggling with mental health concerns related to eating, such as not wanting to eat, eating too much, feeling unable to implement healthier foods into your diet, not being motivated to eat healthier, etc., we can help you. Contact us at 847-549-1189 for more information or to make an appointment with a provider at Grand Oaks Behavioral Health.
You can also read more information on our website:
https://grandoaksbh.com

To read more about how foods can boost Serotonin, visit https://psychcentral.com/health/serotonin-foods

Here is some more insight on what CBT is and how it works. CBT is found to be effective for disorders like depression, anxiety, addiction, bipolar disorder, phobias, trauma, and much more.✨

Learning is the process of obtaining knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught🌼

The transition to college is likely to be an emotional rollercoaster! It’s so exciting to finish up high school and get into the college you were hoping for, but it’s also scary! This important time requires you to stay on top of your emotional well-being.

Remember that it’s okay to not feel okay. College holds amazing opportunities to try new activities, meet new friends, take unique classes, move away from home, etc. However, it can be overwhelming as you’re meeting many new people and adjusting to your new routine. The good news is that you’re not alone in your feelings and there are so many people going through the same transition. It’s completely normal to be excited and to look forward to college while also feeling scared and anxious. However, it becomes concerning when those feelings interfere with other areas of your life, like sleeping, eating, relationships, and your general ability to function. If they are interfering with those areas, it may benefit to seek counseling to help guide you through your adjustment. Grand Oaks Behavioral Health Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Therapists can help you through this transition. You can schedule an appointment by calling 847-549-1189.

Visit https://www.caron.org/blog/preparing-emotionally-for-college-is-essential-heres-our-go-to-checklist to learn more about starting college, developing an emotional well-being checklist, prioritizing academics, and adjusting to campus life.

Here is a gentle reminder to take a step back and breathe!✨✨🌼

What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is something we all experience and refers to feelings of nervousness, fear, or worry. Most people will feel anxious before a job interview, when taking a test, or on their first day at a new job or school.

What is an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear, anxiety, or worries that interfere with your well-being and ability to function. For example, recurring anxious or intrusive thoughts/behaviors can have a big impact on your work life, school life, hobbies, or relationships. Anxiety disorders are unique to each person, situation, and experienced symptoms. There are several kinds of anxiety disorders, but a few can be identified as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder.

Symptoms:
Anxiety symptoms arise when the body feels under threat. Hormones like adrenaline and cortisol increase to prepare the body for action, which makes the heart pump faster, speeds up our breathing, and prepares our muscles for movement. Anxiety has both physical and mental effects and they include but are not limited to racing thoughts, shortness of breath, upset stomach, feeling dizzy, sweating, poor memory, confusion, constant worry, and dissociation.
Most of these symptoms are natural to experience in certain situations. However, when they are severe, recurring, and upsetting enough to make you feel extremely uncomfortable, out of control, or helpless, this might signal an anxiety disorder.

Treatment:
Most types of anxiety disorders respond well to psychotherapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other behavioral therapies. Medications may be helpful if indicated by a professional.

Visit https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxiety-disorders for more information on anxiety and call our office at 847-549-1189 if you would like to find a therapist to help manage your anxiety symptoms! Have a wonderful day✨🌸

It is possible that setting boundaries with others could potentially make you feel guilty, overly controlling, or selfish. However, there are things we can control and things we cannot control in life. Setting boundaries is something we can control and something we should as it validates our feelings, expectations, desires, self-respect, and much more!

Are you a people pleaser? Do you have a hard time asking for what you want or confronting someone who let you down? It’s challenging for several of us to remove ourselves from an unhealthy situation – even when it’s best for us. For example, maybe we stay in toxic relationships because of the fear of starting over or maybe we let those rude comments from our coworker slide because we don’t like confrontation. While we can cut ties with toxic friends or romantic partners, there are some people, such as coworkers or family members that you just have to deal with. Learning how to set healthy boundaries will help you prioritize yourself, your needs, and your relationships with others.

Here are 3 tips you could use to help set healthy boundaries with people in your life:
1. Truly believe what you’re saying. The first step to setting boundaries is to personally validate your own feelings and forget about everyone else’s opinions. Identify your wants, needs, expectations, etc. and express them.

2. Push through the fear. Thinking about the act of expressing your feelings and setting a boundary is usually the step that gets people stuck because the fear and insecurity start to take over. That’s why it’s important to believe what you are saying is true and to ensure you get treated the way you would like to be treated. Overcoming fear will help you set boundaries and stick to them.

3. Do it again and again. Our habits become ingrained in our brains through repetition. If setting boundaries is a habit you want to create, you must keep practicing until the behavior becomes second nature.Learning and new experiences help neurons join together to build new synaptic connections, which literally rewires your brain.

To learn more about setting healthy boundaries, visit https://www.rewireme.com/friendship-relationships/3-steps-set-healthy-boundaries/
If you need help learning how to set boundaries, one of our providers at Grand Oaks Behavioral Health may be able to help you. Call our office at 847-549-1189 for more information.

Mothers have a large impact on their children! Therefore, it’s important to set positive examples of self-love and self-acceptance🩷

Building and sustaining human connections can be complex and challenging. The obstacles of life can strain even the most significant bonds and the mother-daughter relationship is no exception. A mother and daughter could very well experience contrasting differences which may negatively impact their relationship resulting in challenges, such as jealousy or heated arguments. However, these differences may also result in a stronger relationship with adequate effort and support toward improvement.

This article shares very useful tips for mothers and daughters to grow closer with one another and heal together. Some important tips mentioned in the article include: Be open-minded, practice reflective listening, share gratitude, let go of shame, and express empathy. There are many more valuable tips expressed in this article and it is surely a good read to help enhance a mother-daughter relationship.

It’s also important to note that sometimes it may feel almost impossible to enhance a mother-daughter relationship. When it feels challenging to have a conversation without escalating or shutting down, it may benefit to seek professional help. Therapy can help heal a mother-daughter relationship if obstacles, such as trauma or abuse occurred in the family. It could also help if mothers or daughters live with mental health conditions. Therefore, if you are seeking therapy to work on your mother-daughter relationship, call Grand Oaks Behavioral Health today at 847-549-1189 to make an appointment with one of our professional providers.

Also visit https://psychcentral.com/lib/improve-mother-daughter-relationship #5-tips-for-mothers-to-bring-a-daughter-closer to learn more about ways to enhance the mother-daughter relationship.

The attached images share wonderful examples of a mother expressing support for her daughter.