The skeletal muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine is available under the name Flexeril. It's used to treat short-term pain and discomfort arising from muscle injuries, such as sprains, strains, and spasms. When used alongside physical therapy and rest, Flexeril is very effective. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ... Read More
How to Heal from a ‘Father Wound’ and Family Trauma
A father wound, or unresolved trauma between a father and child, occurs when a person's father is abusive or physically or emotionally absent. This type of trauma can have a significant impact on an individual's life, setting a blueprint for their personal relationships and shaping how they feel about ... Read More
How to Overcome Depressive Episodes – Mental Health Tools
The word "depression" has become highly normalized in modern culture. Saying things like "I feel depressed today" or "today is so depressing" have become colloquial ways to comment on a downward trend in mood or an unfortunate time when things didn't go according to plan. However, for those living with bipolar disorder ... Read More
How Louis Armstrong Got Entangled with Weed, Laxatives and the Mob
Louis Armstrong is widely considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. When he was 11 and living in New Orleans, Armstrong was arrested for firing a gun during a New Year's Eve celebration and was sent to the Colored Waif's Home for Boys, where he learned to play the clarinet and, as Armstrong later ... Read More
The Power of Transparency in Therapy
Transparency - one of the most valuable traits to acquire as a human, yet every molecule in my body rejects the thought of it. I think it’s fair to say that any individual, addict, or non-addict, that has experienced any form of trauma can relate to the detestable feelings associated with vulnerability and ... Read More
The Dangers of Combining Tramadol and Ativan
Ativan and Tramadol are two fairly common prescription medications that you may find together in your medicine cabinet at some point. While Tramadol is typically prescribed to manage symptoms of physical pain, Ativan is commonly prescribed for managing anxiety. Tramadol is an opioid, and Ativan is a benzodiazepine. ... Read More
How the DSM Became the Defining Authority on Mental Disorders
There's no question that the mental health treatment community — as well as society at large — is always learning about mental illness. Every year, new research comes out that shifts our thinking slightly about certain conditions. These changes may be so incremental we hardly notice them. But a look back at how the ... Read More
How Perfectionism Affects Mental Health
Before we dive into the direct connection between mental health and perfectionism, I have a confession to make. I am unequivocally a perfectionist. Maybe it’s the thrill of chasing an unattainable outcome, or perhaps it dives deeper into my psyche and taps into the part of me that feels perfection is the only ... Read More
