Mental Health

Whether you are navigating recent life stressors, long-term emotional challenges, or simply do not feel like yourself, a conversation with a trusted provider can make all the difference. At IMPCS, we provide compassionate, personalized care to help you manage and overcome depression. 

Here’s how we can help:

• Detailed evaluation – Through thoughtful conversation and clinical insight, we will assess your emotional and physical health to better understand what you are going through.
• Treatment options – If appropriate, we can prescribe and manage antidepressant medications, closely monitoring your progress and making adjustments as needed.
• Ongoing support – You will never be left to navigate your mental health alone. We stay connected, check in regularly, and make sure your treatment plan continues to work for you.
• Referral and care coordination – If you would benefit from seeing a psychiatrist, therapist, or counselor, we will provide referrals and coordinate care to make sure everyone involved is on the same page.

At Internal Medicine & Primary Care of Sebastian, we understand that anxiety can look different for everyone and take the time to look at the full picture. Here is how our provider supports you in managing anxiety:

• Assesses your symptoms carefully to rule out any underlying physical issues that may mimic anxiety
• Provides a safe space where you can speak openly and feel heard without judgment
• Prescribes medications, such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), when appropriate, to help regulate mood and reduce anxiety over time
• Offers guidance on stress-management techniques and mindfulness practices, like deep breathing or guided meditation
• Helps you build routines that support mental wellness and reduce unpredictability that can lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm
• Provides guidance on healthy dietary choices and encourages regular physical activity to help ease anxiety and support a more stable mood
• Supports behavioral changes, like setting healthy boundaries, limiting screen time, or incorporating journaling and daily self-check-ins
• Connects you with trusted mental health professionals (therapists, counselors, or psychiatrists) when additional care is needed, and coordinates closely to ensure a supportive experience

We provide thoughtful and supportive care to help you understand what’s normal, what’s not, and what steps to take next. We help patients and families navigate the uncertainty that can come with memory changes and cognitive decline. 

Here is how we support you in addressing memory issues or cognitive concerns.

Screen for Early Signs of Cognitive Decline

If you or a loved one is noticing forgetfulness, confusion, or changes in focus, we can perform in-office basic cognitive screening tests. This testing may include simple questions and tasks to evaluate your memory, attention, language skills, and other brain functions. These screenings can help detect early cognitive changes that might otherwise be missed.

While these tools may not confirm a medical diagnosis, they can offer a strong indication of whether something more serious might be happening. If concerns are found, we will move toward a deeper evaluation or specialist referral.

Identify Other Possible Causes

Memory and cognitive concerns are not always caused by dementia. They can be a normal part of aging or sometimes linked to other underlying health conditions that affect brain function. 

Issues like thyroid disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency, sleep disturbances, or even medication side effects can lead to symptoms such as brain fog, confusion, slowed thinking, and poor concentration.

If your symptoms are connected to one of these treatable conditions, we can help identify and manage the root cause.

Create a Personalized Care Plan

Once we understand what’s contributing to your symptoms, we will create a treatment plan tailored specifically to your needs. This may include:

• Managing chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol which can affect your brain health. Studies suggest that patients with chronic illnesses may experience worsening memory, slower thinking, or difficulty concentrating. Our provider works with you to manage these conditions effectively and reduce their impact on cognitive function.
• Prescribing appropriate medications to reduce confusion or cognitive side effects
• Encouraging healthy sleep, nutrition, and physical activity habits that promote cognitive function
• Offering emotional health support and guidance on how to maintain independence and adapt to changing needs

Coordinate with Mental Health Specialists

If cognitive decline progresses or if more advanced testing or management is needed, we can refer you to a neurologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health specialist. 

To ensure this is a smooth process, he:

• Shares your test results, health history, concerns, and treatment goals with your care team
• Oversees your overall care plan, making sure that any new prescriptions from specialists are safe to take with your current medications and health conditions
• Stays in communication throughout your treatment and helps keep your overall care organized and streamlined

Support Families & Caregivers

If you are caring for a loved one experiencing memory loss, we understand how emotionally and physically challenging that role can be. 

Our physician takes time to involve family members in the care process, listening to concerns, answering questions, and offering realistic, compassionate guidance. This support may include:

• Discussing safety at home to reduce risks like falls or wandering
• Talking through daily care needs and how to maintain as much independence as possible
• Helping with medical documentation, advance directives, and long-term care planning
• Connecting families to local resources, such as home health aides, support groups, or adult day programs