Occupational Therapy and Mental Health

Articles

Apr 1

Mental health has become a growing conversation since the late 1940s when trends began to display a decline in our cognitive functioning. However, 100 years prior, William Sweetzer first used the phrase “mental hygiene” and began to explore what encompasses mental health. Since then, psychiatrists and psychologists alike have worked to expand on the causes of poor mental health. Mental health is a state of well-being that involves the ability to cope with life’s stresses and function as a productive member of society. Programs and treatments have been developed to provide support to individuals who struggle with mental health. At Tilton’s Therapy, we work with you in the comfort of your own home to build upon skills that will enable you to live a fulfilling life. Some of the services we offer include cognition and mental health therapy, anxiety reduction and stress management, self-care tasks, medication management, vocational skills, time management, home management, sensory integration, and motor function.

What is Occupational Therapy?

According to American Occupational Therapy Association, “Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and your ability to participate in the important activities in your life. This includes any meaningful activity that a person wants to accomplish, including taking care of yourself and your family, working, volunteering, going to school, and many others.”

Mental health deterioration is a rising statistic in America. Sadly, roughly 46% of Americans will meet criteria that could be considered a diagnosable mental health condition. These conditions include anxiety, depression, addiction/substance use, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and suicidal thoughts.

Taking a Holistic Approach

Anti-depressants prescribed to address mood, sleep, or anxiety issues are some of the most commonly abused prescriptions in the United States. Certain medications, such as amitriptyline, doxepin, paroxetine, and nortriptyline have been linked to a decline in cognitive functions that include memory, processing speed, and executive function (the ability to plan, focus attention, remember, and multi-task). While there are antidepressants available that can positively impact cognitive function, a holistic approach will involve implementing thinking habits and practices that program the brain to respond to triggers differently, independent of medications. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may involve exposing yourself to situations that could induce anxiety or stress so you can practice techniques that help you respond and manage your emotions. It could also look like journaling, guided discovery, and role play.

Occupational Therapy for Daily Living

Occupational therapy can help you develop healthy habits that promote more organized living. If you are returning home from an inpatient facility, living with a chronic health condition, or have limited mobility, your therapist can help you structure your home and daily tasks to work with you, enabling you to overcome the difficulties on your own. These tasks can include activities such as cooking, cleaning, hygiene, financial management, managing medications, or keeping appointments. Gaining a sense of accomplishment will boost your mental health and encourage a more hopeful outlook toward your future.

Occupational therapists can also help improve your communication and your ability to advocate for yourself. Role-playing hypothetical scenarios can prepare you for real-life encounters. Learning how to communicate with supervisors, coworkers, and customers can stave off feelings of fear, dread, and anxiety. Proper communication techniques will increase your ability to complete tasks, face workplace problems, and implement solutions.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Human beings have five senses. They are sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Sensory processing issues can be confusing for others who do not experience these disturbances. Those with sensory processing disorder (SPD) may overreact or underreact to sensory input. Experiencing these disturbances has been described as being attacked or assaulted and can become disabling. Some common responses to sensory overload include:

Anxiety
Anger
Irritability
Discomfort
Covering eyes and ears
Avoiding places and activities
Exhaustion or ongoing tiredness
Stress

Sensory integration therapy is also referred to as sensory re-training. It can involve exercises that address a person’s response to touch, movement, sight, and sound. It can also help with a person’s balance or where their body is in an area. Therapy for SPD could include identifying triggers and finding strategies to combat them. Common triggers include bright or flashing lights, loud noises, crowds, clutter, strong smells, or unfamiliar places.

Occupational Therapy for Motor Skills

Motor skills include movements that enable us to physically interact within our environment. Motor skills are split into two categories: fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills involve movements with the hand, like pinching, squeezing, and grasping. Gross motor skills propel our body by way of walking, running, crawling, or climbing.

Poor motor development adversely affects a person’s ability to interact socially. They may experience an inability to participate in social activities, like soccer, for example. Impaired motor development negatively impacts executive control and social understanding. Weak fine motor development in children will look like struggling to hold a pencil, struggling to brush their teeth, or struggling to use utensils to eat. Issues with gross motor development will present themselves as struggles with riding a bike or catching a ball.

Occupational therapy will help strengthen motor skills by practicing everyday tasks in combination with activities that encourage coordination between the mind and body. The stronger an individual becomes in their ability to manage these tasks, the more able they are to care for themselves and meet daily demands. Developing these skills will have a positive impact on their self-esteem and will encourage them to engage in more activities.

If you, or anyone you know, is struggling to meet day-to-day tasks such as those mentioned above, they may benefit from occupational therapy. Early intervention is key to preserving mental health. At Tilton’s Therapy, we work with you, on your time, and in the comfort of your own home to achieve the best life possible.