It is not uncommon to find that a drug created for one purpose may be used to treat other issues as well, and interesting new options for addressing addiction have experts taking notice. As we better understand how addiction and brain disease overlap, scientists are discovering new treatment methods in already established medications. Options being
Keep ReadingHistory is filled with wonderfully creative individuals who came to tragic ends. The commonality of artists struggling with alcohol, drugs or mental illness leads people to begin linking the two. But does creativity really correlate with addiction or mental health issues like depression and bipolar disorder? Is there a scientific connection? The answer is both
Keep ReadingWho hasn’t struggled to get to sleep? You lay in bed tossing and turning and trying not to look at the clock, because you know that will only cause you to count the shrinking number of hours until the alarm goes off. Lack of sleep can lead to desperation, and desperate times call for desperate
Keep ReadingLance Armstrong’s two-night interview with Oprah Winfrey was about two specific topics: Is he being honest now and is he sorry. After the cameras were turned off, other players in the story weighed in with their responses and shared additional details that made it even harder to determine the truth. As much as we speculate,
Keep ReadingUnless you live in a perpetually warm climate along the equator, winter means colder, shorter and darker days. This lack of sunshine can lead to depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that appears during the colder months of the year, and symptoms tend to be at their worst in
Keep ReadingBeing diagnosed with an illness or disorder can be life-changing, and determining who to share that information with is a personal decision. There may be fears that disclosure will negatively affect career opportunities or cause others to view you differently. This same thinking and reluctance to speak openly leads to the stigmatization of certain health
Keep ReadingIn addition to President Obama’s win on election night there were some smaller but noteworthy victories in the field of mental health. One came after seasoned reporter Tom Brokaw used the term “schizophrenic” to refer to some American voting patterns that seemed to be all over the place. “I am amazed by the schizophrenia of
Keep ReadingAs daylight savings time approaches, the days get shorter and the sky gets grayer. It’s also time to be on the alert for signs of depression in ourselves and those we love. While many of us grumble about “falling back,” those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) definitely don’t welcome the change of seasons.
Keep ReadingWhen it comes to healthcare, we often focus on physical ailments, but there are many psychological issues that affect millions in the US. These mental health concerns impact work and home life and cost our country billions of dollars. OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million American adults each year
Keep ReadingThere are many myths about addiction that may actually do harm by preventing people from seeking treatment when they need it or keeping loved ones from knowing how and when to help those with substance abuse issues. One of those dangerous addiction myths is the notion of hitting rock bottom. The idea is that if
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