If you're like most people, your day just doesn't start until you've had a cup of coffee. Its benefits are substantial: more energy, improved mood and better physical performance. But how many of your "caffeine addiction" jokes are steeped in reality? Is coffee addictive like other stimulating substances? Yes, and ... Read More
Learning Center
FHE Health is dedicated to educating the American public—especially individuals, families, and communities—about mental health and substance abuse topics. In our Learning Center, you'll find articles on alcoholism, substance abuse, behavioral and mental health, and other treatment-related issues. Our articles are written both for the person in need of treatment as well as loved ones seeking more information. We also provide information for those who have gone through treatment and are building a new life in recovery.
Featured in Learning Center
Gambling and Suicide: The Hidden Story
The Toll of Online Dating: Surprising New Survey Data
Can You Be Addicted to Coffee?
Pain & the Mind: Anxiety
Pain and mental health have a close relationship, according to the medical literature. A person suffering from long-term pain related to a health condition or injury is vulnerable to developing anxiety or depression; someone who has an anxiety or mood disorder is at increased risk for a worsening of symptoms because of ... Read More
PTSD vs. PTSI: The Power of Labels in Mental Health Treatment
A lot can ride on a name, especially when it is a diagnosis. In recent years, the mental health condition known for decades as “post-traumatic stress disorder” (PTSD) has gained another label, and with it, calls for a name change altogether. The newer term, “post-traumatic stress injury,” usually refers to a biological ... Read More
Treating PTSD in Men: Insights from an Expert
Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in men are about half those in women—but men are at higher risk of experiencing traumatic events. What explains the discrepancy? That question is worth exploring because it has direct implications for the treatment of PTSD in men. For more insights, we reached out to ... Read More
Breaking the Silence: Men’s PTSD Stories and Experiences
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often affects sufferers differently, but symptoms tend to overlap to include powerful flashbacks, nightmares, depression, and difficulty maintaining concentration. Men may also face a range of signs and symptoms that are particularly associated with their experience. PTSD is ... Read More
Can You Be Addicted to Sugar?
Sugar dependency shares many parallels with behavioral addiction. Although sugar isn't a drug, the cravings and withdrawals are similar to drug addiction. Sugar releases the feel-good hormone dopamine, which means the brain's reward center is activated whenever you reach for a sugary snack. This immediate release of ... Read More
John Fetterman’s Public Bout with Depression
On November 8, 2022, John Fetterman defeated Mehmet Oz in one of the most talked about U.S. Senate elections of that year. Before becoming a senator, 53-year-old Fetterman had a successful career in the insurance industry until he served as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, from 2006 to 2019. Fetterman also worked as ... Read More
PTSD and Substance Abuse: What’s the Link?
Research suggests a strong link between trauma and addiction. Learn how people with PTSD can break the cycle and find healthier coping mechanisms. After a traumatic event, some people find they can't relax. They jump at small noises, stay awake all night, and have panic attacks in ordinary situations. Eventually, ... Read More
