Prolonged Exposure Therapy veteran
We understand mental illness and the difficulties it creates for those who suffer from it. At our San Diego Mental Health Treatment Center we are sensitive to your challenges. Solara will find every possible solution to enable you to live the life that you are meant to live.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR VETERANS

Schizophrenia Treatment in San Diego

Schizophrenia can be a severe, upsetting mental illness for both those who struggle with it and their friends and family.

Although schizophrenia is a chronic condition with intense symptoms, with appropriate treatment, those suffering from this illness can learn to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Solara’s Behavioral Health and Psychiatric Treatment Center in San Diego specializes in treating schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder classified as a type of psychosis. Its psychotic symptoms produce a distorted or false sense of reality. In turn, a person with schizophrenia may have difficulty processing thoughts, emotions, and sensory stimulations.

When translated from Greek, the word schizophrenia literally means “a split mind.” The definition is a fitting description as this severe mental health disorder causes a disconnect between a person’s perceptions and reality.

It is not to be confused with a split personality or mood disorder. A person diagnosed with schizophrenia does not necessarily go through regularly occurring personality changes. If that were the case, a mental health professional might identify these signs and symptoms as a schizoaffective disorder.

What Causes Schizophrenia?

There is no one cause solely responsible for developing schizophrenia, but there are recognized triggers and risk factors:

  • Genetics — Though no specific gene is accountable, a history of family members with mental illness can make one more susceptible to it. Abnormal hormones can also make a person more vulnerable.
  • Neurological problems — Chemicals in the brain such as dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate affect neurotransmission. Genetics, stress, or brain injury can cause an imbalance in these chemicals, causing psychosis.
  • Drugs — Side effects of psychoactive drugs such as cannabis or LSD can trigger psychosis in individuals more prone to.
  • Environmental factors — Along with stress, schizophrenia can be triggered by environmental incidents such as serious viral infections or immune disorders. Experiencing these complications as a baby in the womb heightens these risks more.

Early Warning Signs for Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia tends to begin to affect people during adolescence. Researchers believe that the maturity of the brain, hormonal changes, and progressive risk factors may be responsible for the delayed onset.

Early behavioral warning signs of schizophrenia may include:

  • Change in personality and appearance
  • Nonsensical speaking or writing
  • Unusual body positioning
  • Loss of interest in significant occasions
  • Deteriorating performance at school or work
  • Withdrawal from social activities
  • Irrational, fearful, or angry responses
  • An extreme obsession with supernatural ideation

Symptoms for Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a spectrum disorder, meaning there are many severities and variations of it. While this disorder manifests itself differently for each individual, common symptoms of schizophrenia include the following:

  • Delusions: Ninety percent of people with schizophrenia suffer from delusions. These are false but strongly-held beliefs. They may involve believing that someone is out to get you, that you are someone you are not (such as a celebrity or historical figure), that ordinary events or objects hold great significance, or that outside forces are controlling your mind.
  • Hallucinations: Similar to delusions, hallucinations are sensory experiences that are not truly happening but feel real to those having them. Hallucinations can manifest themselves through any of the senses, though visual and auditory hallucinations are the most common. For example, someone experiencing a hallucination may hear someone yelling at them when there is nobody there. Hallucinations can be profoundly distressing and frightening.
  • Disorganized thinking and speech: Schizophrenia often disrupts normal cognitive functioning. This cognitive struggle manifests itself in disorganized speech. This speech is incoherent and confusing, often including incomplete sentences, random jumps from topic to topic, invented language, and repeated words or phrases.
  • Disorganized behavior: The disruption of normal cognitive functioning also disrupts behavior. These cognitive symptoms manifest themselves in a variety of ways, including low impulse control, inability to set goals or complete tasks, lack of self-care, awkward movements, a decline in motor skills, and unresponsiveness.
  • Negative symptoms: This is the general lack of normal functioning. Negative symptoms can include a loss of interest in the world or others, an absence of practical communication skills, a lack of self-care, and an inability to feel or express emotion.

The mental disconnect seen in people with schizophrenia can be extremely confusing and upsetting, causing intense psychological distress. In turn, this distress can damage social relationships, cause self-destructive behavior, and prevent normal functioning in everyday life.

How to Treat Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia almost always requires lifelong treatment. However, if the illness is identified and treated early, a person may be able to manage and significantly reduce the development of symptoms.

Everyone experiences it differently. Some people may get better, and some get worse. Some have episodes, and others may endure more constant symptoms.

Medication

Medication is often the cornerstone of treatment for schizophrenia as the brain’s chemical imbalances are primarily to blame for symptoms.

Due to the complexity of the disease, a long list of different FDA approved antipsychotic medications may be used. Medications for schizophrenia may include:

  • Conventional antipsychotics — Typically cheaper than their counterparts and effective at reducing hallucinations and delusions.
  • New generation antipsychotics — Newer antipsychotic medications generally have less risk and neurological side effects than typical antipsychotics.
  • Other medicines — Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and other medications may be used to manage symptoms and side effects.

The medications a mental health care professional prescribes may depend on the patient’s symptoms, financial situation, or side effects experienced.

Therapy

The most effective treatments for schizophrenia typically include medication alongside talk therapy.

Types of services that can be beneficial are:

  • Case management — Case managers can help a person with schizophrenia with access to treatment, financial support, and other resources.
  • Psychotherapy — “Talk therapy,” such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people recognize feelings and thoughts. Once patterns are identified, the patient can manage symptoms better.
  • Inpatient treatment — Patients can receive 24-hour assistance through residential programs.
  • Self-care — Therapists can show you how to manage daily needs better and develop healthy habits.
  • Support Groups — Having others to relate to can help people with schizophrenia feel more secure with their mental illness.

Solara’s Schizophrenia Treatment

To aid the healing process, Solara Mental Health provides a thorough, specialized schizophrenia treatment in San Diego designed to address symptoms and lay the groundwork for lasting psychological health.

The program begins with an in-depth assessment, including consultations with friends, family, and outpatient care providers. The evaluation gives our clinicians a complete understanding of each veteran’s history, symptoms, and needs.

Our skilled staff then utilizes a combination of individual psychotherapy, group therapy, holistic therapies, and carefully created medication. Patients here learn important skills for coping with their illness.

Our intensive inpatient treatment will help veterans start to integrate into the world around them and come to lead fulfilling peaceful lives.

While our veterans make considerable and rapid improvements, schizophrenia is often a long-term condition. Through years of experience, our mental health treatment center has learned how to provide the entire spectrum of care for our veterans.

Our intensive program begins with a comforting, calm, and secure environment. The nurturing staff fosters veterans so they can feel safe as they start to reconnect with reality. Then, they can heal both psychologically and physically.

We will also include loved ones in the treatment process and aftercare planning when appropriate. Together, we can build a strong support network. As veterans utilize our effective schizophrenia treatment modalities, they can build the foundation for a happy life. One that is stable, healthy, and rich.

Our program has been designed to free our veterans from the clutches of schizophrenia. We’ll help you move from inpatient to outpatient care. And, we help you with long-term aftercare plan to transition into the world.

Contact us now to start the healing process.

Solara’s Schizophrenia Treatment for Veterans

A veteran with schizophrenia may have difficulty processing thoughts, emotions, and sensory input. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder classified as a type of psychosis. Its psychotic symptoms produce a distorted or false sense of reality. 

At Solara Mental Health San Diego we provide a safe space for treatment for veterans, understanding each person has different needs for an efficient recovery. 

Solara Mental Health is VA contracted as a community care provider, which gives us the unique opportunity to help veterans with their mental health needs. Once authorized, housing, transportation, and accommodations will be provided.

Proudly Serving Veterans
with TriWest Insurance

TriWest Healthcare

What Our Clients Say

Michelle Family

I want to thank you and the entire staff and support system at Solara for taking such good care of my sister. On behalf of my entire family, we want you all to understand that your patience and kindness stretches further than you can see… Thank you, again and again, from the bottom of my heart.

R.M. – Father

If not for Solara Mental Health, I am almost positive that our daughter would not be as advanced in her treatment, and would not have the almost miraculous confident and positive outlook that she has.

Bill

The program has given me the tools I needed to really gain stability. For the first time in years - maybe for as long as I can remember, actually, I’m learning how to cope and manage my stressors and triggers. I now believe that I can find some relief and happiness.

Dad

We are so grateful to you for the treatment and care you provided our daughter. She is doing unbelievably well now thanks to your program. We will gladly tell anyone we encounter that needs treatment about the wonderful work you do at Solara.

Terri

The Solara Treatment Program was a life-changing experience for me. To be able to heal in such a beautiful, peaceful environment, with such a terrific treatment team, was so amazingly positive. I have found my true self, again. I thank you and my family thanks you for helping me become the person I was meant to be.

Husband

Solara was truly a life-changing experience for me and for our children, because of what you did for my wife! The treatment team was phenomenally supportive and perfect for helping her with her anxiety and depression. We are all now moving forward to put our lives back together and it started with you all in Pacific Beach. Thank you for what you do.

Lauren

The Solara program is truly amazing. I’ve never had more clarity or more good energy in my entire life. The attention the physicians and the therapists gave me was outstanding. I feel like they truly understood and addressed my issues, which had consumed my life for years. Thank you all.

Lynn

Even though I’m not religious, I realized when I got sober that for the first time in my life I wanted to explore my spiritual side. I benefited hugely from the individual spiritual sessions that I had with Chris. I’m really grateful for that aspect of the whole treatment experience.

Bradley

The therapists and counselors and really whole team were extremely beneficial to me and my understanding of my issues. The treatment plan they developed was exactly what I needed

Watson Family

Solara’s program was such a positive experience for our mom (and for us)! She had become almost impossible to deal with. Your entire staff was phenomenally supportive and kind and patient with her. We feel like we’ve got our mom back, now.

Alex

I have never felt better than I do now, since completing your program. The truly caring and supportive staff and the intensive program changed my life. What a neat place to stay for treatment - I love Pacific Beach! I have learned skills and behavior to move forward with my life thanks to you.

M.P. – Father

Your program provided our daughter with the most masterful therapist we have ever encountered (and we have used many).  She has had an unbelievable ability to see the long-term trajectory of our daughter’s treatment and to approach her treatment in stages that fit where my daughter’s development was.  We can’t say enough positive about her.