Sleep is essential for both physical and mental health, and it can be difficult to achieve a restful night’s sleep without the right tools. Deep breathing also helps to regulate our heart rate and blood pressure, promoting a sense of calmness and reducing feelings of tension. By focusing on our breath, we shift our attention…
Anxiety and panic attacks are issues that can cause tremendous stress and fear. It is estimated that about 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, and many of them experience panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden, intense feeling of fear or terror, accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, increased heart rate,…
June is National PTSD Awareness Month, which provides an important opportunity to increase understanding of this condition and to raise awareness of the hidden signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s essential for those living with PTSD to get the support they need to find relief. Fortunately, there are several different forms of therapy…
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as “a treatable, chronic medical disease,” explaining that “people with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.” Many addiction professionals regard the loss of control over substance use as an important aspect of the disease. While many people…
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of anguish for many Americans. Lockdowns and social distancing can make people feel isolated and lonely, increasing stress and anxiety. More than 460,000 Americans have now died from the disease. As we reported previously on this blog, the number of people reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression…
By Jaime W. Vinck, MC, LPC, NCC Chief Executive Officer CPF Recovery Ways Since early 2020 we have been in the midst of a triple pandemic; COVID19, mental health, and social/racial injustice. Last March when the depth and magnitude of COVID 19 was still unknown, (and from where we are today quite unimaginable), I…
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on American’s’ mental health. According to a recent Boston University study, the prevalence of depressive symptoms in adults in the US increased more than three-fold in the spring during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared with before the pandemic. The study found 27.8 percent of US adults had…
It’s not always easy to distinguish between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders. They often co-exist and can exacerbate each other. Symptoms such as trouble concentrating, feeling overwhelmed, irritability, and restlessness may overlap. One of the tricky things about the different conditions is that stimulants used to treat ADHD can exacerbate anxiety. D’Agati, Curatolo,…
According to a Boston University study published in JAMA Network Open, the prevalence of depressive symptoms in adults in the US increased more than three-fold in the spring during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with before the pandemic. During the pandemic, the study found 27.8 percent of US adults had symptoms of depression, as measured by…
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should be redefined in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, says Varun Choudhary, M.D., in a recent post for Addiction Professional. “One of the biggest concerns keeping behavioral health specialists up at night is the emotional weight of the coronavirus outbreak.” The number of Americans reporting symptoms of anxiety has tripled…
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