Behavioral Health Archives | Carson Tahoe Health

Understanding & Coping With Loss

Grief. A five-letter word all of us have experienced but may not fully understand. It manifests in different ways for numerous reasons. Whether you get a pit in your stomach, feel the urge to cry at any moment, or even feel numb to all emotion, this is a way your body & mind are adjusting to a tragic event or death of someone you know. While loss is a normal part of life, it only happens occasionally, making it feel especially uncomfortable and even maybe abnormal. “It is helpful to understand that losses and stressors are not a sign that life is not working but rather is how life works,” says Grant Clowers, LCSW, Clinical Services Supervisor with Carson Tahoe …


And the Beat Goes ON… Keep your heart pumping and your mind calm

It’s no secret we have collectively experienced unanticipated changes (and challenges) in the last year. Whether you are adjusting to working from home, having to be a parent AND teacher to your children, or unable to gather with family and friends … it’s definitely been a time to adapt and cope. Many of these coping mechanisms may have negatively affected us either emotionally or physically. With that said, it’s more important now, than ever before, to listen to your body. Heart health, whether it’s tied to your mental health or your atomical heart, is crucial to maintaining your well-being. For years, studies have shown a connection between emotions and heart health (a.k.a. the brain-heart relationship). The University of Wisconsin Health …


Self-Care Made Simple

Managing your mental and physical health is never an easy feat. Add a global pandemic, a turbulent election year, and everything else 2020 so generously blessed us with. The onset and marathon of COVID-19 robbed many people of their jobs, maybe their alone time, and inarguably brought great loss. Because of the constant and immense stress, many people may have created new (and not so great) habits. Last year taught us that our health is our most important asset and it is up to us to be aware of our needs and make sure they’re filled. Cue self-care. Yes, it’s been a buzz word for a while, but what does it actually mean to take care of yourself? Think about …


Navigating COVID with a Disability

It has been nearly six months since the country first started to shelter in place to avoid the potential spread of COVID-19. While many companies race to find a vaccine, we continue to adapt to our new normal. Obviously there is nothing normal about wearing masks and keeping a strict six-foot distance from one another, but we do our best to stay positive, productive, and keep our health in check. Staying healthy might be more challenging for those with small school-aged children, those with pre-existing conditions, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Having an impairment doesn’t necessarily put you at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19, however, there are certain disabilities that can make illness more complicated. For example: people …


Do Adults Get Autism?

Although many associate autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with children, more adults have sought an ASD diagnosis as awareness has increased over the years. ASD has a wide variance in symptoms and mostly-child specific diagnostic criteria. Because of this, adults may find receiving a diagnosis challenging. “It’s still rare for an adult to receive an autism diagnosis,” says Gregory P. Giron, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist with Carson Tahoe Health’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Services. “It’s a developmental disorder, and we usually find it in toddlers and preschoolers rather than adults.” Dr. Giron treats patients from 3 to 80 years old. While it’s been uncommon in the past to diagnose an adult with autism, he’s seeing more men and women diagnosed. How Is Autism …