24891 Sausalito St Laguna Hills CA 92653

Debra A Hill, MD

In Depth, Comprehensive, Individualized Care

I like to take an integrative approach to understanding my patients. This means that I need to know everything about you that includes your life story from the beginning to the present, as well as a thorough understanding of your medical status including a recent physical from your own primary care doctor, and results of lab work that I will order on your first visit. Your medical status, your life history, and your present troubles are very interwoven–each effects the other. So I need to understand all of this to be helpful to you.

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Debra A Hill, MD

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24891 Sausalito St
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 202-5268
www.psychiatristinoc.com

Hours

Mon: By Appointment Only
Tue: By Appointment Only
Wed: By Appointment Only
Thu: By Appointment Only
Fri: By Appointment Only
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

Areas We Service:

Orange County, CA, Costa Mesa, CA, Dana Point, CA, Fountain Valley, CA, Huntington Beach, CA, Irvine, CA, Laguna Niguel, CA, Newport Beach, CA, Newport Coast, CA, Orange, CA, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, San Juan Capistrano, CA, Santa Ana, CA, Aliso Viejo, CA

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

Attention Deficit Treatment for Adults & Children

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is a general term used by the public and the media to describe a group of neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adults.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Learn About the Causes & Effects of ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one part of a group of neurodevelopmental disorders grouped into the term ADD - also called Attention Deficit Disorder. For many years, medical professionals considered ADD and ADHD to be separate conditions, but today both are treated the same way.

Anxiety

Understand the Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety

Living with anxiety is a difficult and common problem for many people. Anxiety can range from mild feelings of nervousness or tension to profound, crippling fear or panic attacks that keep you from enjoying life, holding a job or even going outside.

Anxiety Attack

Understanding Your Body's Stress Response Can Help You Stop Anxiety Attacks

An anxiety attack is an episode in which you experience sudden feelings of terror, which may include an increased heart rate, trembling and difficulty breathing. Learning the right information, such as learning how your symptoms are rooted in your body's natural stress response, can help you to choose methods that may help circumvent or arrest an anxiety attack.

Asperger Syndrome

Customized Treatment Plans for Children and Adults

Asperger Syndrome (also called Asperger's Syndrome) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People with Asperger syndrome are considered "high functioning" on the autism spectrum. This just means that along a spectrum there can be a wide range of conditions ranging from mild to very severe. Asperger's falls in the mild range.

Asperger's Syndrome Therapy

Asperger's Syndrome Is Now Diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorder

Asperger's syndrome, also called little professor syndrome, was formerly known as a high-functioning form of autism. Characteristics of Asperger's included patients having difficulty with social skills, as well as having an intense interest in specific topics. Patients with signs of Asperger's are now being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Autism and Gut Health

The GAPS Diet May Improve the Lives of Autistic People

The GAPS diet is an elimination diet that lasts several years, and is designed to reduce autistic traits by improving gut health. It is based on the theory that toxins produced by gut bacteria cause autism. The GAPS diet is purported to also reduce symptoms of ADHD, dyslexia, and schizophrenia.

Bipolar Disorder

Learn More About the Highs and Lows of Bipolar Disorder

Previously called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder. With a defining characteristic of switching rapidly between extreme moods, severe cases of bipolar disorder can drastically impact lives of patients. Fortunately, multiple treatments for bipolar disorder are available, including therapy and several kinds of medication.

Bipolar Disorder

Manic Depressive Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes changes in mood and affects the ability to function from day to day. People with bipolar disorder are often referred to as manic-depressive. The symptoms of bipolar disorder are more severe than the regular up and down emotions most people have.

Brain Gut Connection

The Effects of Gut Inflammation on Mental Focus

The gut, which helps the body digest food and convert it to energy, is an essential part of a healthy digestion system. The gut is home to thousands of different bacteria, some of which have positive effects on health and some of which have negative. Recent medical studies indicate that there may be a strong connection between mental health and gut health. This is known as the brain-gut connection.

Brain Health and Cognitive Function

Keep a Sharp Mind

The mind grows wiser with age, but age adversely blunts a mental edge, diminishes computing power and causes memories to fade. It doesn't have to be that way though. Anti-aging professionals may recommend a number of techniques to ward off the negative effects of time.

Candida Overgrowth Treatments

Arresting Candida Overgrowth and Restoring Balance to Your Gut Flora

Candida overgrowth occurs when the delicate balance of Candida yeast and bacteria in your intestines is disrupted and yeast begins to multiply and take over. Yeast is a microscopic fungal organism normally present in the healthy mucous membranes of the mouth, intestines or genitalia, but it can proliferate throughout your body and become toxic, causing severe illness and even death.

Child Psychology

Child Psychiatry: Taking Therapy from the Couch onto the Playground

The field of psychiatry is a diverse one with many specialties, some concentrate on personality disorders, others like to dedicate their time to family issues, while another group takes on the responsibility of providing psychiatric care to children. The last group of psychiatrists practice under the title of child psychiatry.

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Your Body's Response to Mold Toxicity Exposure

Mold forms as the result of water leaks, past flooding and condensation, presenting a white or grayish color and most often appearing in shower stalls, bathrooms and muggy basements. If toxic, mold can spread and infect your repository system, causing damage to your body. Mold toxicity treatment starts with removing any infected areas in your home.

Chronic Lyme Disease

A Comprehensive Retaliation to the Viruses and Parasites Involved in Lyme Disease

When traditional medical interventions are too late to prevent the development of chronic Lyme disease, integrative medicine approaches, using alternative treatments, can impact chronic Lyme disease through several different routes, including restoring immune function, reducing inflammation and addressing chronic pain issues.

Chronic Stress

You Can Break the Cycle, Get Relief from Stress Today

Chronic stress is a physical response to emotional triggers, in which the body releases stress hormones as a natural reaction. A result of continuous exposure to stressful situations, chronic stress leaves individuals feeling helpless and lacking in control. This phenomenon often leads to chronic health problems, changes in weight and adverse effects on mental health.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Take Control of your Thoughts, Feelings, & Behaviors

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy used to treat a variety of mental illnesses. CBT helps patients look more closely at the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Counseling

Counseling Provides Directions for Getting out of Life's Many Problems

Counseling is a "bandage" for emotional wounds, it allows them to heal without "infection." The main job of counseling is to help you view things differently, break out of destructive patterns and get the most out of life. Counseling can help guide you out of life's many problems.

Depressive Disorders

Depression is not Inescapable, Climb out of Depression Today

Depressive disorders are characterized by a severe sense of hopelessness, irritability, fatigue, and loss of interest in things that were once previously enjoyed. Depression can be pervasive, recurrent, or seasonal, and can affect nearly every aspect of someone's life. Thankfully, depressive disorders can be treated with therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.

Dietary Fiber

Your Digestive System's Secret Support System

Fiber, also called roughage or bulk, is a plant-based substance often found in food (dietary fiber) which helps you control your weight by making you feel full faster. It also helps with digestion and helps prevent constipation. You can find fiber in whole grains, nuts and seeds and fruits and vegetables.

Dietary Supplements

Vital Nutrients for Optimal Health

Proper supply of vital nutrients is essential to your well-being and optimal health. Your body needs a well-balanced diet and necessary dietary supplementation for desired mental and physical performance.

Dysthymia

Long Term Depression Treatment

Dysthymia is a long-term form of depression. People with dysthymia will have the same struggles as someone with another type of depression including loss of interest in activities, disrupted sleep patterns, low energy, and feelings of sadness.

Eating Disorder Treatment in Laguna Hills, CA

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Compulsive & Binge Eating

An eating disorder is a serious and complex set of emotional and physical addictions that cause men and women to practice disturbed eating behaviors. Eating disorders are usually a coping mechanism or symptom of another problem in a person's life including depression, emotional trauma, low self-esteem, stress, loss of control, and many others.

Functional Medicine

The Underlying Causes of What Ails You

Functional medicine is devoted to discovering the underlying causes of chronic medical conditions. Viewing your body as an integrated system, functional medicine uses a systems-oriented approach to patient-centered care.

Functional Nutrition

You Are What You Eat

Have you ever heard the statement "you are what you eat?" In functional nutrition, it's truer than ever. Functional nutrition operates on the understanding that the food you eat will either help or harm your body.

Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Laguna Hills, CA

Gastrointestinal Dysfunction and Chronic Disease

Your Gut and Chronic Disease

Your gastrointestinal system is responsible for processing and utilizing food as nutrition and energy. There are many well-known medical problems that can arise in the gastrointestinal (GI) system including inflammatory diseases like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or Celiac disease, but there may be much more to the gut's story and its role in treating long-term illness.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

GAD may be the Source of your Never-ending Worries.

Sometimes we worry. We care, want things to be perfect, want to get ahead of future. However, if this becomes our usual state, something may be wrong. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, also known as GAD, is a mental health condition where you may have trouble turning that worry off.

Gluten Sensitivity

Treatment and Testing for Gluten Intolerance

Gluten refers to the substance that is found in many bread products and other foods. Gluten provides the elasticity found in dough and is frequently added to foods as a thickener. Those with gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance have issues digesting this substance, leading to many side-effects.

Gut Dysbiosis Treatment

Restore Balance to Your Gut Microbiome

Dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalanced ratio of good and bad bacteria in the gut, causing the pathogenic bacteria to flourish and invoke a slew of unpleasant symptoms. Dysbiosis treatment could include analyzing antibiotic use, dietary choices and lifestyle habits which are contributing to poor gut health.

Heavy Metal Testing

Understand and Treat Mercury & Lead Poisoning

The body needs certain metals in small quantities to perform essential functions. Iron, for example, makes up a large part of the hemoglobin in your blood which carries oxygen to all of your cells. Copper helps in the production of collagen, and zinc promotes healthy skin.

Hemoglobin A1c Testing

Blood Test to Measure Average Plasma Glucose Concentration

Glycated hemoglobin, or HbA1c, develops when hemoglobin bonds with glucose in the blood. Unlike a blood glucose level, which measures blood sugar levels at one point in time, the HbA1c test measures glycated hemoglobin to determine average blood sugar levels over time. Consistently high blood glucose levels present a greater risk of diabetes-related complications.

HPA Axis Dysfunction Treatment

Lifestyle Interventions to Alleviate Stress & Fatigue

The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis) is responsible for regulating your body's stress response. When your body is exposed to prolonged or extreme cases of stress, your HPA axis can begin to experience dysfunction by overreacting or underreacting to stressful situations. Certain treatments like nutritional supplements and dietary changes can help to improve HPA axis function.

Insomnia

Trouble Falling Asleep

Everyone has trouble falling asleep sometimes, but when the condition happens repeatedly it can begin to affect multiple aspects of your life. Excessive insomnia can impact your ability to function at school, in the work place, and even at home.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Intestinal and Bowel Permeability

Leaky gut syndrome is the common name for intestinal and bowel permeability. This condition can cause a number of frustrating symptoms that make your life difficult. Leaky gut is relatively unique in that it can both cause and result from other conditions. Any condition that inflames or damages the intestines, such as Crohn's disease, carries a risk of causing leaky gut syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome

Multiple Debilitating Conditions

Metabolic syndrome is a term used to describe a number of disorders that happen all at the same time. If you suffer from metabolic syndrome, it could be due to the genetic makeup you inherited from your parents, problems associated with being overweight, or the result of leading an inactive lifestyle.

Metabolic Testing

Understand Your Metabolism & Long-Term Health

Metabolic testing (also called a comprehensive metabolic panel or CMP) is a set of blood tests that provides information about your body's metabolism, or ability to convert and use energy. This energy is responsible for all of your body's functions including breathing, digesting food, circulating blood, eliminating wastes from the body and much more.

Methylation Testing & Treatment

Correct Your Methylation for Optimal Wellness

Methylation is a biochemical process intricately tied to our bodies' overall functioning including DNA repair, immune function and detoxification. When the methylation process is malfunctioning, disease can manifest. It is important to receive methylation testing to identify issues and to receive treatment in order to restore optimal health.

Micronutrient Testing

Nutrition, Vitamins, Minerals and Your Health

Vitamins and nutrients play a large role in both diet and overall wellness. Without proper levels of these substances, sometimes referred to micronutrients, you may be putting your health at risk. Micronutrient testing is a diagnostic process created to test levels of key vitamins, minerals and more.

Mitochondrial Disease

Symptoms and Functional Treatment for Mitochondrial Disease

In your body, each and every cell works in unison - from the largest organ systems to the tiniest individual cells. But even the slightest change in the function of one component can cause this system to change dramatically. Mitochondria are a perfect example of this.

Mood Disorder

Mood Disorders: Hidden Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Mood disorders cause a pervasive change in mood. However, mood disorders are mild versions of well known conditions, depression and bipolar disorder. Because mood disorders are relatively unknown, they commonly go undiagnosed. Don't let their "milder" symptoms fool you though, mood disorders are still serious.

MTHFR Testing

Genetic Testing and Identification of MTHFR Defects

The MTHFR gene, known medically as methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is responsible for producing a key enzyme that serves many functions in your body. This MTHFR gene can become defective or mutated, which may have damaging impacts on your health.

Neurotransmitter Imbalance

Neurotoxins and Depleted Amino Acids

Neurotransmitters are molecules made out of amino acids that serve as the chemical messengers of the nervous system. They transmit information between the brain and the organs to control vital functions such as breathing and heart rate. Neurotransmitters are also involved in our cognitive functions such as thinking and memory, and can affect our emotions or sleep.

Neurotransmitter Testing

Identify Neurotransmitter Imbalance and Begin Treatment

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are naturally produced in your body. Their main responsibility is to help facilitate communication from one neuron to the next across a synapse - which is a gap between two neurons. Identifying and managing neurotransmitter imbalances is facilitated with a neurotransmitter test.

Neurotransmitter Therapy

Neurotransmitter Imbalance Treatment

Neurotransmitters are proteins found in the brain that control your mood, sleep patterns, eating habits, ability to focus, and much more. Healthy levels of neurotransmitters are necessary for these processes to work correctly.

Nutraceuticals

Dietary Supplements, Vitamins, Nutrition & More

Nutraceuticals is a blanket term for the combination of nutrients, vitamins, dietary supplements, healthy foods and sometimes herbal products that contribute to overall wellness. Nutraceutical products are designed for a variety of uses and functions.

Nutritional Counseling

A Complete Lifestyle Plan

It's often overlooked, but food plays a major role in your health and wellness. Making the correct choices on what to eat can improve your overall physical and mental fitness, and can even help mitigate certain illnesses.

Nutritional Deficiency

Nutritional and Vitamin Deficiencies in B12, D & More

Nutritional deficiency occurs when your body does not absorb the necessary amount of nutrients it requires. Also known as malnutrition, nutritional deficiency can influence just about every system in your body, as well as your mental health. It may seem impossible, but many Americans suffer from nutritional deficiencies due to poor food choices

Laguna Hills, CA Depression Nutritionists

Nutritional Support for Depression

Food as Medicine for Your Depression

Depression is overwhelming and can negatively affect your overall health - your mental wellbeing, after all, is largely responsible for powering your physical health. Naturally combat depressive symptoms by introducing healthy foods to optimize brain function and in turn positively influence your mood.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Rituals, Thoughts, Behaviors

Men, women and children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) struggle with a mental health condition that causes an obsession with rituals, thoughts or behaviors. These obsessions can interfere with daily life. People with OCD are distressed by their own behavior but cannot control their impulses.

Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements

Essential Fatty Acids to Support Overall Health

Omega-3 fish oil supplements are generally sourced from areas where freshwater fish reside. Omega-3 fish oil supports cardiovascular health, and helps to maintain a healthy blood pressure range and proper cholesterol levels. It can also benefit other areas of health, including supporting the immune system and providing better circulation for enhanced cognitive health.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

ODD Disorder - Symptoms and Treatment

Consistent, frequent defiance of rules or guidelines can negatively impact a child's life. Oppositional defiant disorder is a condition that affects children. As they grow, the condition may progress into an adult conduct disorder.

Oxidative Stress

Oxidation, Free Radicals and Antioxidants

There are a variety of health issues that can be influenced by oxidative stress. Because oxidation isn't limited to one body system or area, you may see the symptoms emerge in just about any part of the body.

Panic Disorder

See if Your Anxiety is Actually Panic Disorder

Panic and fear are primal reactions, deeply ingrained into human nature. Sometimes, however, this feeling of extreme panic-our fight-or-flight response-can become faulty. When this happens, you may experience panic attacks, anxiety attacks and life-altering terror from everyday occurrences. If this happens routinely, you may have panic disorder.

Panic Disorder/Panic Attacks Treatment in Laguna Hills, CA

Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks

Diagnosis and Treatment of Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is a mental health condition that causes people to suffer from panic attacks. Panic attacks trigger sudden feelings of extreme fear and danger even when no real risk exists. Attacks can last several minutes or longer and may trigger strong physical responses.

Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Learn How Pervasive Developmental Disorders May Impact You or Your Child

Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) was an umbrella term referring to five conditions that impact a person's behavior. PDD was once comprised of autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Except for Rett syndrome, these diagnoses have been subsumed by autism spectrum disorder.

Phobias

Phobias are emotional and physical reactions to objects or situations.

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that causes strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no real danger. Symptoms of a phobia include feelings of panic, rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. Phobias are often treated through behavior therapy, medication or a combination of the two.

Post-Myocardial Infarction Syndrome (Dressler Syndrome)

A Post-Heart Attack Syndrome That Mimics a Heart Attack

Post-Myocardial Infarction Syndrome, also known as Dressler Syndrome and post-cardiac injury syndrome, is a condition in which patients experience heart attack like symptoms after a heart injury, including chest pain, difficulty breathing and fever. Dressler Syndrome involves inflammation of the protective sac of the heart known as the pericardium.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Could Your Brain be Hardwired for PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is most commonly associated with combat veterans. However anyone who experiences -or witnesses-a traumatic event can develop PTSD. New research has shed light on the neurobiological effect PTSD has on the brain and what this may mean for sufferers and treatment of this debilitating condition.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder PTSD

Get Help with Posttraumatic Stress

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects men, women and children who have witnessed or been a part of a traumatic event. Posttraumatic stress disorder is most effectively treated if identified early. Talk therapy is one of the most effective methods of treatment.

Psychiatry

Psychiatric Care for Anxiety, Depression & More

Many people worldwide suffer from mental disorders or require mental health treatment. This treatment is typically provided by psychiatrists, who practice psychiatry. Psychiatrists help people from all walks of life achieve mental clarity and overcome mental and personality disorders.

Psychological Evaluation

The First Step in Developing a Psychiatric Treatment Plan

For individuals who may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder, a psychiatric evaluation is the first step in developing a treatment plan. Family members often request psychiatric assessments for spouses, children or parents who need treatment but may not realize they are suffering from a mental disorder.

Psychotherapy

Treatment of Mental Health Disorders

Psychotherapy refers to the treatment of mental health conditions through the use of therapy. This therapy can come in many different forms, depending on the professional providing it and the individual needs of the patient. Most commonly, psychotherapy is provided by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Depression Occurring in the Fall and Winter Months

If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you usually feel depressed as the season changes from summer to fall, and the depression continues into the winter months. Seasonal affective disorder can also be experienced in the spring and summer but is less common.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Find out if your Anxiety is Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a mental health condition in which sufferers feel intense anxiety from social interaction. While many of us experience anxiety in job interviews or on first dates, those with SAD experience intense anxiety from common everyday occurrences, and at a level that causes significant emotional distress.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Symptoms and Treatment of Social Anxiety

People with social anxiety disorder are afraid of doing basic, seemingly normal things in front of others. This may include being afraid to eat or drink in front of others, speak to a new person or just go out the front door. Some people will experience anxiety only in certain settings

Stress Management

Keep Your Tension Low

While stress itself is not a medical condition, it can have a very real effect on our health. Excessive anxiety can lead to a range of ailments including heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immune system. It can affect sleep and eating habits, leading to weight gain or a general "burnt-out" feeling.

Treatment for Child Behavioral Problems

The Top 5 Mental Health Issues in Children (and Adolescents)

Mental illness and associated behavioral issues are shockingly common among children; the Surgeon General estimates that 20% of children have a mental illness. However with so many conditions out there how can you determine if your child has a serious mental health problem, or is just a "kid being a kid?"

Treatment for Selective Mutism

Unlock the Mysteries of Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is a disorder in which someone who is able to speak and communicate fails to do so. The disorder is closely associated with (and, possibly, the product of) social anxiety or shyness. In fact, almost all children diagnosed with selective mutism also suffer from some form of anxiety.

Trichotillomania

A Mental Health Disorder Involving Pulling Out Your Hair

Trichotillomania is recognized by mental health professionals as an impulse control disorder in which you pull out your hair from your scalp. It can also include your eyelashes, eyebrows and other areas of the body. People who suffer from trichotillomania are unable to prevent themselves from pulling out their hair.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Restore Your Body's Natural Levels

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to depression, paranoia and delusions, memory loss, incontinence, loss of taste and smell and more. The body needs B12 to make red blood cells, nerves, DNA and carry out other functions. Vitamin B12 is not produced by the body, it only consumed in animal products.

Vitamin C Deficiency Treatment

Optimize Ascorbic Acid Levels to Optimize Immune Function

Your body relies on an essential nutrient, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), to grow and repair tissues and produce collagen. When you become deficient in vitamin C, a number of health problems may follow. Known colloquially as scurvy, severe vitamin C deficiency derives from a dearth of vitamin C in the diet.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Avoiding Rickets through Treatment

Vitamin D helps boost bone and muscle growth - vitamin D deficiency has been linked to health conditions including prostate cancer and a number of other illnesses. If you are vitamin D deficient, your physician may recommend a combination of diet changes and supplements to bring levels back to normal.

Zinc Deficiency Treatment

Revitalize the Immune System with Zinc

While often considered a global issue, particularly in developing countries, a zinc deficiency can create troubling health conditions, even when the deficiency is considered mild. To combat a zinc deficiency, meet with your healthcare provider who can evaluate your symptoms and recommend effective treatment like zinc supplements and dietary changes.

Debra A Hill, MD

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