Blackouts: A Lesson on Alcohol, Memory, and the Brain
Those who struggle with alcohol dependency may be all too familiar with blackouts. Suddenly, you wake up with absolutely no recollection of what happened the night before. What exactly IS a blackout? A blackout is a drug-related amnesia. Chances are you know someone who has had one, or you have had your share of blackouts. . . . . Continue Reading
What True Emotional Strength Looks Like
What are the signs of emotional strength? When most of us think of the word “strength,” we think of power and force. Therefore, emotional strength might be perceived as being cold and detached from the harsh realities of life. However, this is far from an emotional strength. Emotional strength has more to do with being . . . . Continue Reading
The Royal Trio: William, Kate and Harry Weigh In On Mental Health
Mental health stigmas are not something that affects only the general population; it affects royalty too. In fact, the royal trio—Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry marked World Mental Health Day by celebrating with charities under the Heads Together coalition. Kate, along with William and Harry joined others for an exclusive party at Country Hall, . . . . Continue Reading
Are We Overlooking The Benzo Addiction Epidemic?
With all the headlines regarding opioid addiction and overdoses recently, another epidemic hides in the shadows: benzos abuse. Benzodiazepine misuse and addiction remain serious problems, and there has been a sharp rise in benzos prescribing. In fact, a study, published in the American Journal of Public Health in April of 2016, found that benzos were . . . . Continue Reading
Michelle Obama: Mental Illness Should Carry No Stigma
Michelle Obama slammed mental health stigmas in the October issue of Prevention magazine. In the interview, First Lady Michelle Obama tackles mental health stigmas and the negative stereotypes associated with mental illness. Often those who desperately need to get treatment do not get the help they need out of fear. They feel like others will . . . . Continue Reading
Spice Girls’ Mel C Explains Why She Said No To Reunion
In the 90s, Spice Girls were the hottest girl group out there. Growing up, I had quite the obsession. I collected all the Spice Girl Collectibles (remember those lollipops with the stickers tucked into the wrapper?) and watched The Spice Girls movie hundreds of times. Therefore, when I heard about the possibility of a reunion, . . . . Continue Reading
New Treatment Approach Could Help Depressed Smokers Quit
Author: Shernide Delva Quitting smoking is hard. Quitting smoking when you’re depressed is even harder. That’s why researchers are testing a new smoking cessation treatment combining medication and behavioral activation therapy targeted at this particular population. Researchers from Northwestern Medicine have pinpointed why quitting smoking is so difficult for depressed people. Now, they are testing . . . . Continue Reading
Nearly 10 Million U.S. Adults Seriously Considered Suicide Last Year
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and to mark the occurrence, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a comprehensive report on suicide statistics from 2015. The report revealed that a high amount of American citizens contemplated and even seriously planned a suicide attempt. During just one year, 9.8 million . . . . Continue Reading
Simone Biles: I Have ADHD, And It’s Nothing To Be Ashamed Of
On Tuesday, the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) made the startling announcement that Russian hackers had leaked confidential information about U.S. Olympic athletes. The leaks revealed information from Therapeutic Use Exemptions, which allow athletes to use banned substances if they are for treating legitimate medical issues. The list of athletes on this list ranged from Venus . . . . Continue Reading
The Signs of High-Functioning Depression
The media paints a clear picture of what depression looks like. You see the man or woman sad, isolated, and unable to get out of bed. They go about their day withdrawn from family and friends, struggle with sleep and are emotional wrecks. While those are major signs of depression, there are people who have . . . . Continue Reading