Mental Health - Galyn Savage, Ph.D.

Ask A Doctor
Galyn Savage, Ph.D.
Mental Health

Q: What causes mental illness?
A: That answer is huge—genetics, brain trauma, emotional trauma, drug exposure/intoxication, bad habits and learned behaviors. The concept of mental illness itself is an ever widening one, incorporating more and more behaviors that used to be thought of as odd or eccentric. We are living in an age in which pharmaceutical companies have much to gain by encouraging us feel inadequate or “mentally ill.” Mental illness itself is a theoretical construct which attempts to address almost all behaviors which fall outside of the “norm.” Sometimes we are too quick to diagnose ourselves and each other with an “illness” instead of taking the time to understand the context of the unusual or self-defeating behaviors we see.
“Mental illness” is a medical model term, which I have problems with—it pathologizes human responses to emotional pain. It invalidates our grief, sadness, anxiety, and to some extent, our individual differences. It suggests there is a safely defined norm that we should all remain within, when in fact, so many of our world’s great history makers fall far outside of the bell curve…. If we look at the experiences of people in the Bible from a modern psychiatric orientation, we would find ourselves diagnosing lots of illness, and to what benefit? Calling emotions and behaviors “illnesses” objectifies the human experience that is being expressed.

Q: What resources are available if I suspect a family member may be suffering symptoms of a mental disorder? What services are available in Tuolumne County?
A: We have behavioral health services here at the Forest Road Health and Wellness Clinic which include diagnosis and assessment and individual and family therapy. We work in conjunction with our primary care providers in an integrated health model. Tuolumne County Behavioral Health offers limited services to those suffering from chronic mental illness on MediCal. It is also possible to look for a marriage and family therapist in the telephone book or consult with your primary care provider to ask for a referral.

Q: What are the best ways for friends and family to support someone with mental illness?
A: “Mental illness” covers such a huge array of symptoms that this question is difficult to answer. Mental illness could mean a chronic life destroying condition, or a temporary difficulty in coping with a tragedy, or painful life circumstance.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, NAMI, is an excellent national organization that offers help for family, friends and caregivers along with people suffering from serious mental illness. Many, many online resources are available as well, including information, referrals and chat groups.
Supporting anyone going through a rough time requires loving kindness, compassion and a recognition that if the symptoms don’t get better within a couple of weeks, that the issue may require professional help.
The most helpful support one can give another who suffers from a mental illness is non judgmental kindness; to see them as separate from their illness, and to not give up on them. People with mental illness can be very frustrating and trying. Begin by understanding that the problem is not you. After helping to arrange for the initial screening, make sure that the patient gets his or her prescribed medicine and gets to scheduled appointments with a mental health specialist.

Q: What are the most common mental disorders?
A: Affective Disorders, including depression, anxiety, and phobias, are among the most common problems we see at Forest Road. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 6.8 million adults in the U.S. are estimated to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and 20.9 million adults are estimated to have mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder.

Q: Is hoarding considered a mental disorder? How common is hoarding and how do you know if someone is a hoarder versus simply being cluttered and unorganized?
A: Hoarding has been considered a subset of Obsessive/Compulsive disorder. The new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the DSM-5, will treat it as an illness in its own right. All mental disorders are only clinically diagnosable when they impair, or significantly impact, academic, occupational and/or social functioning. Hoarding would have to be impeding one’s ability to work, have satisfying relationships, or become a health risk in order to be diagnosed as an illness.

Bio:
Galyn Savage, PhD, is the Director of Behavioral Health for Sonora Regional Medical Center and works at the Forest Road Health and Wellness Center Specialty Clinic. She has been in Sonora since 1998.

Before joining the Medical Center in 2007, she worked for the California Department of Corrections, serving at three prisons including the one in Jamestown. She also worked for Tuolumne General Hospital and King’s View in addition to her private practice. Dr. Savage focuses on helping her clients live an optimum life that is balanced and full by working to increase their sense of personal satisfaction and happiness rather than just dealing with symptom management.

Dr. Savage enjoys time with family and says, “My 88-year-old mother is one of my best friends.” She is proud of her mother’s recent accomplishments which include teaching through the University of Arizona’s Learning Curve, tutoring, and leading a tour group to Greece and Turkey last summer.