A Short History of Opioid Use As early as 5000 BCE, Sumerians living in southern Mesopotamia were consuming or smoking the leaves and flowers of opium poppy plants. Archaeologists have interpreted ideograms found in Sumerian writing examples that translate as HUL GIL, which means "joy plant" or "rejoicing". As early ... Read More
Search Results for: anxiety
How to Help Someone with Mental Illness Who Won’t Take Their Meds
In the United States alone, approximately one in five adults is living with some type of mental illness. Of those people, about a quarter experience a serious mental illness that significantly impacts their ability to lead a healthy, productive life. Making the decision to seek treatment for a mental illness is its ... Read More
5 Mental Health Benefits of Laughter
Laughter is good for you–and that's no joke! Most of us have heard the saying that "laughter is the best medicine," but not everyone is aware that scientific evidence supports that theory. According to research, laughter is good for both the mind and body. If you've ever experienced a long, deep belly laugh, you likely ... Read More
Signs That Someone May Have Opioid Addiction
According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics, opioid-related deaths in the United States increased from 56,064 to 75,673 during the 12 months ending April 2021. This shocking statistic shows that it's critical for family members and loved ones to recognize the ... Read More
Insomnia Treatment for PTSD
When you routinely can’t sleep, it’s very hard to function or feel good about life. Who isn’t miserable after an accumulation of sleepless nights? Unfortunately, insomnia and sleep problems are a frequent symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They are also one of the more common reasons that many people ... Read More
Tramadol Drug Profile: Side Effects, Addiction and Treatment
Is Tramadol a Narcotic – Is Tramadol an Opioid? Tramadol is a habit-forming drug that is often prescribed for the purposes of pain management. But tramadol also poses serious side effects and high risks for addiction. The drug is both a type of opioid and a narcotic, abuse of which can lead to overdose and ... Read More
The New Mental Health Crisis from Covid Isolation
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced many changes that have impacted mental health. Loneliness was already a major health problem before the enforced isolation of quarantines and social distancing. Now, after a gradual return to pre-pandemic normalcy, there is still cause for concern that COVID-19 isolation may have ... Read More
Why Mental Illness Is Not a Sign of Spiritual Weakness
Despite medical and scientific advances in how we understand and treat mental illness, people who live with it continue to face stigmatization. This can occur in various contexts and can take different forms. One example is the notion that mental illness is a sign of “spiritual weakness.” Whether overt or indirect, ... Read More
