The intensities of war, demand for mental and physical toughness, and separation from family make military veterans susceptible to a wide range of mental health risks. A study reported by the American Psychology Association revealed just how widespread military mental health challenges can be: In 2013, there were 1,080 ... Read More
The Surprising Effects of Taking Antihistamines for Anxiety and Depression
Updated November 8, 2024 Doctors sometimes prescribe a drug for use outside of its listed purposes, especially if it looks safe and they believe it will be effective. This off-label use is common with many classes of drugs. That includes antihistamines, which have emerged as a promising way to treat short-term ... Read More
Common Medications for Treating Substance Use Disorders
Once considered an individual moral failing, addiction, and substance use disorders are now recognized as medical conditions. Like with any other disorder type, treatment options have evolved to include pharmaceuticals alongside psychotherapy and support group attendance. Medication-assisted treatment can effectively ... Read More
What It’s Like to Respond to an Overdose Emergency
Trigger Warning: This article contains language about overdose that could be triggering for some people. The overdose epidemic in this country has continued to outpace itself. Drug overdose deaths, most of which were opioid-related, hit a new high in 2022. For every one of these 109,000 deaths, there were many ... Read More
What Does It Mean to Be “Mentally Unstable”?
Updated on 10/17/2024 "Mental instability" is a broad phrase people use to refer to a wide range of mental health conditions, from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder to bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. When someone uses this phrase, they generally mean that someone is showing signs of ... Read More
What Factors Influence Your Risk of Relapse
Achieving sobriety after years of battling drug and alcohol addiction is far from easy. There's more to recovery than getting past withdrawal. It also involves learning new coping mechanisms, making significant lifestyle changes, and having a comprehensive relapse prevention plan. Substance use disorder is ... Read More
No More Shame: Jeff M.
What possesses a 16-year-old kid to join the fire service in Orangeburg, South Carolina? “I wanted to help people and was drawn to the lights, sirens, and equipment,” Jeff M. said, in an interview for our No More Shame series. He also wanted to know “what people were running away from—to go into the burning building ... Read More
How to Navigate a Parent’s Alcohol or Drug Problem
Living with alcoholic parents can be challenging. Due to their substance abuse problems, they may display abnormal behaviors, struggle to maintain a job or fail to meet your emotional and physical needs. Without help, you risk developing your own addiction or mental health issues that can last into ... Read More