Editor’s Note: This story is Part 1 of a 2-part series on behavioral health. Part 2 covers the benefits of group therapy.

The field of behavioral health has shifted in the past five years, both in the challenges being experienced and the strides being made in how those challenges are addressed.

Kara McArtor, the director of behavioral health for UCHealth, outlines a few of those changes below.

Intensified behavioral addictions:

From online gambling to constant cell phone usage, behavioral addictions are more prevalent than ever.

“We’re hearing more about gaming addictions, shopping addictions, tech addictions in general,” McArtor said. “People will say, ‘I put my phone down for 90 seconds and I reach for it again and don’t even know why.’ We are constantly looking for dopamine hits, whether that’s shopping, gaming, social media, sex, gambling.”

With so much available any time of day with a click of a button, it’s easier than ever to get hooked.

“Everything is just so immediately accessible,” McArtor said. “In the past, you had to get dressed, put on shoes and drive somewhere. Through that process, you might think, ‘This isn’t good for me. I’m not going to do it.’ We don’t have that buffer anymore because we can just do it all so quickly.”

Impact of COVID-19:

From heightened fear and stress, to long-term isolation during lockdowns, the impact of the pandemic was far-reaching and is still being felt.

“It’s not news that COVID-19 led to many of us around the world not only feeling isolated, but legitimately being isolated,” McArtor said.

One silver lining was that the pandemic ushered in the widespread use of virtual health services, including virtual behavioral health therapy and groups, making access to help more prevalent and convenient.

From one addiction to another:

It’s not uncommon for someone to experience relief from one addiction, only to find another addiction takes its place. For instance, someone may give up alcohol only to find themselves compulsively shopping online. With any issue, it’s important to get to the root cause and address what’s driving the addiction.

McArtor also reminds people that addictions aren’t just limited to issues like using substances. “An addiction is really any behavior that’s compulsive and is causing negative consequences in your life,” McArtor said. “Everybody can relate. I would be shocked if you could find many human beings who can’t identify a compulsive behavior.”

Holistic approach:

One area of behavioral health that has shifted for the better is the renewed focus on treating the whole person through a broad understanding of wellness.

“We’re doing a better job of looking at the different areas of wellness and saying, ‘What exactly is going on? Are you raging at people? Are you barely leaving your house because you’re so anxious about interaction? Are you overeating?” McArtor said. “It’s not a new idea, but I do think we’re doing a better job of addressing the specific problem and not stopping there.”

Variety of services:

Also positive is the range of services available, from in-person counseling to online community groups. While it can feel challenging to take the first step towards getting help, it’s always worth it.

“It can feel impossible to navigate the behavioral health care system and it can be really intimidating to walk into a peer support group when you don’t know anyone,” McArtor said. “But there are so many options now. The more people are willing to take the first step, the more they will see the vast majority of their fears are unfounded.”

Openness towards all interventions:

While medications can be a vital part of addressing issues, McArtor has seen a growing interest in encouraging patients to explore behavioral health interventions as well.

“Something that’s been refreshing to me lately is working with doctors who genuinely want to help their patients shift away from controlled medications and sleep medications when possible,” McArtor said. “Research tells us that behavioral interventions are more effective than medications alone. It’s refreshing when doctors say, ‘I’ll prescribe you this, but you need to go to this therapy because what you learn there is impactful.'”

Susan Cunningham writes for UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. She can be reached at cunninghamsbc@gmail.com.