Of the elements that form the basis of a healthy lifestyle–adequate sleep, healthy diet, regular exercise, positive relationships–sleep is perhaps the most essential. Past studies have found that even getting too little sleep by as much as an hour or two for several nights in a row can have negative consequences such as reduced self-control,… Continue Reading New Study Support the Importance of Adequate Sleep
Teens, especially younger teens, are often limited in their access to alcohol and illicit drugs. They typically lack the money and connections to get alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. However, they can be resourceful in the face of these obstacles. There are several common household items that can alter your consciousness just as powerfully as… Continue Reading 4 Household Items Teens Use to Get High
Most people occasionally get anxious in social situations, especially those that involve public speaking, meeting new people, or high stakes interactions like a job interview or asking someone out. You may get butterflies in your stomach just before you have to give a toast, but then feel fine once you get going. People with social… Continue Reading How is Social Anxiety Disorder Treated?
Although we’re learning more about mental illness all the time, brains are extremely complex and there is still much we don’t understand about how they work and what can go wrong. What’s more, everyone is different and symptoms often present differently in different people. These differences can be related to age, sex, culture, background, and… Continue Reading 3 Mental Health Issues that Are Frequently Misdiagnosed
Therapy is essential for anyone trying to recover from a substance use disorder or a mental health issue. Therapy is where you uncover what drives destructive behavior and where you learn strategies for emotional regulation, processing trauma, and living a more fulfilling life. Therapists are experts in mental health and experienced therapists have a process… Continue Reading 7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Therapy
People recovering from substance use disorders often feel like they have much to apologize for. Addiction can distort your priorities and make you do things you would otherwise never do. They may do things that leave their loved ones feeling hurt, betrayed, and angry. Apologizing and making amends are well-known parts of the 12 steps… Continue Reading How to Apologize
Bipolar disorder is characterized by both episodes of depression and episodes of mania, or less intense manic episodes called hypomania. During a depressive episode, someone typically exhibits all the classic symptoms of depression, including sadness, hopelessness, lethargy, sleep disturbances, aches, poor concentration and memory, and thoughts of suicide or death. The manic episodes, on the… Continue Reading Is Bipolar Disorder Different in Men and Women?
Bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by both depressive episodes and manic or hypomanic episodes. The pattern of these symptoms is different for everyone. Some people may feel relatively normal much of the time, occasionally tipping into a manic or depressive episode and some people may cycle more quickly from one to the other. There… Continue Reading 4 Triggers for Bipolar Disorder
People with high-functioning depression are typically able to get through the day, often performing well at work or other areas of life despite feeling the constant drag of low mood, fatigue, poor concentration, and other symptoms of depression. While major depression can be completely debilitating, preventing someone from so much as getting out of bed,… Continue Reading What is High-functioning Depression?
Family therapy is an important part of addiction treatment. A major aspect of family therapy is learning to respect boundaries in family relationships. Boundaries essentially mean respecting someone else’s needs and desires while at the same time asserting your own. It means neither trying to control someone else nor being too distant. Dysfunctional relationships often… Continue Reading Why Are Family Boundaries Important in Addiction Recovery?