• Three changes of clothing (free washers and dryers are available)
• Shoes with no laces
• Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, shower shoes, deodorant, hair brush, lotion (cannot include alcohol-based products, aerosol or glass bottles)
• Warm pajamas and robes (no ties)
• Tobacco products (must remain unopened prior to admission)
• Home medications (will be stored in pharmacy and must be in the prescription bottle from the pharmacy at which they were filled)
• C-PAP or Bi-PAP machines if prescribed
• Contact lenses, solution and glasses
• Religious items (Bible, prayer accessories, rosaries, etc. will be checked in and provided at prayer time)

• Electronics (cell phones, iPods, laptops, earphones, recording devices, radios, clocks, etc.)
• Shoestrings, drawstrings or belts
• Hair dryers, curling irons or flat irons
• Outside food or drink
• Jewelry (except wedding bands)
• Items with sharp edges, points, glass or containing flammable liquids
• Pens, pencils or binders with metal spirals
• Mirrors, nail files or nail clippers
• Stuffed animals, pillows or blankets
• Makeup (kept and provided upon request)
• Disposable razors
• Sunglasses, scarves, sock hats or cowboy hats
• Nail polish remover or chemical hair remover
• Hoodies
• Cups, water bottles or travel cups of any kind

People with an anxiety disorder experience chronic anxiety and exaggerated worry, even when there is little to provoke it. Their feelings of anxiety may also be accompanied by physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating and hot flashes.

Bipolar disorder describes recurring episodes of mania and depression that can last from one day to months. It causes dramatic shifts in mood, energy and the ability to think clearly. Cycles of mania and depression may follow an irregular pattern, unlike the ups and downs people typically experience. Side effects include damaged relationships and declined performance at work or school.

Manic state can be identified by extreme irritability, euphoria, agitation, excess energy, lack of sleep, talkativeness, pleasure-seeking and increased risk-taking behavior. Depressed state includes extremely sadness, hopeless and loss of energy. Not everyone’s symptoms are the same and the severity of mania and depression can vary.

BPD is a serious mental health disorder defined by pervasive instability in moods, relationships, self-image and behavior. While less known, DBD is just as common as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and affects between one to two percent of the general population.

The disorder was officially recognized in 1980. It was given its name because it was thought to occur on the border between psychotic and neurotic behavior. This is no longer considered a relevant analysis and the term itself has made diagnosing BPD problematic due to negative connotation.

Depression creates feelings of extreme sadness that can interfere with daily life and cause pain for people who suffer it and their loved ones. It is a common but serious disorder. Many people with depression never seek treatment but medications, psychotherapies and other methods can effectively treat people with depression.

OCD occurs when an individual experiences obsessions and compulsions for more than an hour each day in a way that interferes with his or her life. It is often described as “a disease of doubt.” People with OCD experience “pathological doubt” because they are unable to distinguish between what is possible, what is probable and what is unlikely to happen.

PTSD can affect people following various types of traumatic experiences, such as rape, natural disasters and warfare. Roughly, ten percent of women and five percent of men are diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetimes, and many others will experience adverse effects from trauma.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history. About one percent of Americans have this disorder. It may cause people to hear voices or believe others are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts or plotting to harm them. This can make them become withdrawn or extremely agitated.

People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking. Sometimes people with schizophrenia seem perfectly fine until they talk about what they are really thinking.

Below, you will find a list of links to outside organizations offering additional resources and support groups:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Montgomery County

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

National Institute of Mental Health

Support Groups

Narcotics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alzheimer’s Disease Resources

Alzheimer’s Association

National Institute on Aging

American Health Assistance Foundation

Resources on Mental Health of the Elderly

National Institute on Aging