Health Issues

Also known as idiopathic hypersomnia, primary hypersomnia disorder is defined by hypoarousal, or a state of being less awake and alert and experiencing lesser cognitive and motor function as well as emotional capacity. In simpler terms, those who are living with primary hypersomnia disorder are often very sleepy and experience longer episodes of non-REM (rapid eye … Read more

In the early part of the 20th century, modern-day illicit drugs were once used to treat a variety of mental illnesses and ailments. Famous writers, doctors and notable figures took drugs to supposedly heighten their understanding of the world and everything in it. Further research in the decades that followed showed that many of these … Read more

It’s been thrown around in the media and used interchangeably as a nickname for people with erratic behavior, but what is bipolar disorder exactly? It starts in the brain where dysfunction occurs that impacts mood regulation, energy levels and motivation. Sufferers may feel extremely low at times and have no interest in leaving their home … Read more

Perhaps the most well-known piece of mental health legislation has been the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). This law made insurers offer no fewer benefits to an individual for mental health treatment than for physical health treatment. It did not require insurers to offer mental health coverage but it did … Read more

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is an anxiety disorder in which an individual experiences recurring thoughts that cause irrational fears and anxiety. Individuals with OCD engage in repeated, compulsive rituals, such as counting items, hand washing and organizing. Executing these rituals provides temporary relief while they are being performed, but the anxiety returns soon after they stop. OCD … Read more

It is a sad reality that mental health disorders are sometimes not taken as seriously as physical ailments. There has long been a stigma against recognizing mental health concerns as a legitimate form of distress, with Psychology Today explaining that people who are afflicted by such disorders often experience prejudice and discrimination from those who … Read more

Dreams have been called the brain’s home movies. When the lights are low and sleep sets in, the brain seems to process the events of the day in sight, sound and taste. If the day was pleasant, those dreams might be wonderful. But if the day was filled with some kind of tension or distress, … Read more

In short, art therapy is using art and creative media as a way to help an individual recover and heal from mental illness, trauma, or substance abuse. For over 100 years, the field of art therapy has been found to be effective in helping individuals explore and express feelings and improve overall wellbeing. Through creating art and discovering … Read more

When someone we love is affected by drug addiction and substance abuse, our entire world can seem to shift out of balance. We can become caught up in learning about treatment options in a desperate attempt to help our family member or friends stop harming themselves through the abuse of dangerous drugs. If we have … Read more

The origins of the consumer/ family alcohol & drug and mental health advocacy movements Sheryl McCormick, Advocacy Coordinator The more things change, the more they stay the same. Under the banner, “The Law Must Recognize a Leading Fact: Medical Not Penal Treatment Reforms the Drunkard,” the Keeley League, a national patient mutual aid society that combined … Read more

We all have times when we worry: about our personal relationships, our families, our jobs, our finances or our futures. But if you live in a constant state of worry that manifests itself in physical and psychological ways, you may be suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD. Some people who live with this psychiatric … Read more

Serotonin syndrome is unique among mental health disorders because it is one of the few that has a discernable cause: a negative drug reaction. It is a problem that is usually caused by taking two drugs designed to impact the level of serotonin. For example, combining triptans prescribed to treat migraines in addition to selective … Read more

Dealing with a Dual Diagnosis and an addiction can be costly, time-consuming, and an all-around impairing experience. Those who have lived with mental illness or substance abuse alone know the difficulties involved with coping, even with performing daily functions. Together, the two can create a world for the individual that is scary, depressing, or just plain impossible. Because the … Read more

If you struggle with drug or alcohol problems, there’s a strong chance that you may also be fighting depression, anxiety, mood swings or compulsive behavior. It’s not uncommon for people with mental health disorders to abuse street drugs, prescription medications or alcohol as a way to cope with their moods or control their fears. In fact, the National Survey on … Read more

A controversial issue in healthcare is the question of involuntary hospitalization. If an individual’s family has confronted him or her repeatedly about the damage that addiction and a struggle with bipolar disorder is causing, and loved ones have joined together to stage an intervention to let him know how bad things really are, and he still refuses to seek recovery help, … Read more

People with mental illnesses might abuse drugs or alcohol for reasons that would be familiar to people who don’t struggle with mental health. They might enjoy the sedation alcohol brings, for example, or they might feel as though a hit of cocaine is the only thing that can help them get through a busy day full … Read more

Chapter 3 — Mental Health And Addiction Treatment Systems: Philosophical and Treatment Approach Issues Introduction For people with dual disorders, the attempt to obtain professional help can be bewildering and confusing. They may have problems arising within themselves as a result of their psychiatric and AOD use disorders as well as problems of external origin that … Read more

You might be familiar with some kinds of psychological evaluations like the Rorschach Inkblot test or the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory – III (MCMI-III). Similarly, neuropsychological tests measure some personality or cognitive elements present in a person. Like psychological tests, these assessments are equally beneficial to clinicians and psychologists, particularly neuropsychologists. What Are Neuropsychological Tests? … Read more

It’s become something of a cliché to say that a substance abuse problem poisons everything in an addict’s life, but that simply means that the truth cannot be underscored enough: a drug, alcohol or compulsive behavior problem really does corrode everything an addict holds dear, including – and especially – romantic and sexual partnerships. Like … Read more

Schizophrenia is not a singular diagnosis but a disorder that is characterized by a number of different types. Paranoid type schizophrenia is defined by the patient’s unwavering belief that someone or something is conspiring to harm him. This is usually the primary obsession of the person and even with evidence to the contrary, he will tend … Read more

Dual Diagnoses — the coexisting problems of addiction and mental illness — are often hard to treat because of the unstable nature of the individuals involved. Couple that with the fact that drugs and alcohol only make a mental condition worse, and you’ve got a high-risk patient who could easily spiral out of control. This … Read more

Schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) is a type of mental health diagnosis that is characterized by odd behaviors and beliefs that become the focus of the patient’s life so overwhelmingly that they find it difficult to connect with others in a meaningful way. The disorder can make it difficult for the patient to maintain positive relationships … Read more

The world is a social place. Tiny babies are expected to connect with their parents, share their toys, and otherwise relate to the people who care for them. Young children are asked to form friendships, work with teachers, and respect their elders. Adults, in turn, might be asked to collaborate, connect and share with their … Read more

Share (SAD) is a form of depression that strikes patients during specific seasons – usually winter when temperatures are cold, the sun is shining less often, and patients are often confined to the indoors. Though depressive symptoms associated with SAD may lift as the days lengthen, very often they can worsen and become debilitating without … Read more

Methadone is a controversial drug that is primarily used to help addicts recover from an addiction. The controversy is easy to see: many argue that a user is simply trading one substance for another, which can lead to another addiction. While some have used the drug to successfully defeat their problems, there are others that … Read more

People who struggle with schizophrenia often end up battling substance use disorders after trying to self-medicate the complicated symptoms that they live with on a daily basis. In some cases, schizophrenia and Xanax abuse go hand-in-hand. Xanax is a powerful benzodiazepine drug that is prescribed to treat anxiety and some seizure disorders. This drug is addictive and … Read more

The word “codependency” is somewhat controversial. To some, it’s a word that could be applied to a reasonable set of behaviors a family engages in when facing a substance abuse problem. To others, it’s a mental illness that arises due to a substance abuse problem that happened many, many years ago. To still others, the disorder doesn’t … Read more

Bipolar disorder is a very serious mental condition that causes a person to move between times of deep depression and brief periods of mania. Previously known as manic-depression, this condition affects millions of people of all ages, ethnicities and walks of life. If left untreated, bipolar disorder can lead to a wide range of painful and … Read more

Post-rehab residence in a sober living community can be part of an effective recovery plan. The lack of a stable, drug-free, supportive environment after rehab can be a trigger for relapse. Sober living communities provide a safeguard against relapse and can offer a recovering substance abuser the personal space needed to build a new life … Read more

Chapter 6 — Anxiety Disorders Definitions and Diagnoses The anxiety disorders are the most common group of psychiatric disorders. The term anxiety refers to the sensations of nervousness, tension, apprehension, and fear that emanate from the anticipation of danger, which may be internal or external. Anxiety disorders describe different clusters of signs and symptoms of anxiety, panic, and phobias. A panic … Read more

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a tool used by medical professionals to identify the signs of depression in older and medically ill patients. A report published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry said that the Geriatric Depression Scale: Is comprised of “yes” or “no” questions Can be taken by the patient or administered by the medical professional … Read more

Schizoaffective disorder is characterized by a combination of schizophrenia and mood disorders. A hard disease to categorize, it usually features one or more of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions, disorganized behavior, hallucinations, etc.) and manic episodes that may or may not include depression. Imagine the difficulty of schizoaffective disorder treatment when it is combined … Read more

Mental illness isn’t a uniquely modern phenomenon. The genetic influences that stand behind some types of mental illnesses, along with the physical and chemical assaults that can spark illnesses in some people, have always been part of human life. But the ways in which impacted people are treated by their peers, as well as the … Read more

A blow to the head can cause serious and persistent injuries to the brain. Cells can be damaged if the blow causes the brain to rattle about inside the skull, and sometimes, head injuries are so severe that brain cells die due to blunt trauma or a lack of oxygen. According to the U.S. Centers … Read more

According to the Mayo Clinic, a phobia is defined as an “overwhelming and unreasonable fear” of something that doesn’t actually pose a legitimate danger. A person can be fearful of spiders for instance and suffer from a condition known as arachnophobia. The fear of clowns, common among both adults and children, is known as coulrophobia. Generally … Read more

Typically, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about addiction recovery is how to quit using or abusing a substance forever. There are proponents of another theory though, that one can control addiction through moderation management (MM) behaviors, and there is evidence to support this theory, too. Abstinence Abstaining is the most traditional … Read more

Let’s face it: Everyone has good and bad days, and normal changes in mood are not only expected but a routine aspect of life. But bipolar disorder is something different altogether. When someone’s mood swings are so dramatic they interfere with his/her ability to maintain relationships, career or overall mental and physical health, untreated bipolar … Read more

An estimated 34,000 Americans die each year due to suicide, making it the 11th leading cause of death in the US, according to Psychiatric Times. Some of the most prominent risk factors for suicide attempts and suicidal ideation are mental health problems – and bipolar disorder and drug and alcohol use disorders are the most commonly diagnosed … Read more

Those who struggle with insomnia disorder have a hard time falling asleep at night, staying asleep for the duration of the night, or both. It is an issue for many in the United States and the disorder can cause a host of related problems that come with risks of their own. The National Institute on Neurological … Read more

Marijuana is not the easy breezy, laidback substance that so many make it out to be. For many users, it can induce feelings of paranoia and have a negative effect on mood. It’s a problem, but it’s not one that is stopping too many people from indulging in the substance. According to the United Nations Office … Read more

Experiencing trauma as a child can lead to a host of emotional and psychological issues that may not emerge until later in life. Adults who experienced trauma during childhood may experience difficulties in many aspects of their lives. They may not realize that these traumatic experiences are contributing factors to their current issues or even … Read more

This publication is part of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant technical assistance program. All material appearing in this volume except quoted passages from copyrighted sources is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) or the authors. Citation of the … Read more

What makes a depression disorder atypical? When the patient experiences all the symptoms of a specific depression disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, dysthymia, major depression, etc.) but also exhibits one symptom or multiple symptoms that are not typical of that disorder. For example, according to a study published in the journal Psychiatry, the following are signs of atypical … Read more

A buildup of emotions like frustration, anger, self-loathing, depression and anxiety can cause someone to seek an outlet through self-mutilation. A common misconception is to lump suicidal behavior with this deliberate self-harm, sometimes referred to as DSH and other times as NSSI, non-suicidal self-injury. They are, however, not the same and should be considered separately. … Read more

Unlike bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar I, bipolar II disorder is not characterized by manic episodes but by depressive episodes as well as hypomanic episodes that occur in cycles. It’s one of the more commonly diagnosed types of bipolar disorder, and it can be disruptive for patients, making it difficult for them to have positive and … Read more

Family therapy can play an important role in an individual’s recovery from substance abuse. The addict is not the only person damaged when substance abuse is in play. Rather, every person the addict deals with intimately or on a regular basis can be affected by the addiction. As a result, family therapy is often needed to repair … Read more

Chapter 8 — Psychotic Disorders Dual-Focus Perspective This chapter is an overview of current assessment and treatment principles for patients with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders and psychosis. Along with an increased awareness of the treatment needs of patients with these dual disorders, an increased emphasis on service systems has evolved. These and other … Read more

Though everyone experiences depression from time to time, the experience of moderate to severe depression and the serious contemplation of suicide are serious mental health issues that require immediate intervention and treatment. If you believe that your loved one is at risk of taking his or her own life, don’t wait to intervene. Emergency medical … Read more

Mental health disorders and addiction very often go hand in hand, and heroin addiction is commonly diagnosed as co-occurring with an anxiety disorder. Whether panic disorder, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or another type of anxiety disorder, many patients find solace in the use of illicit substances that are sedative in their effect, like heroin. Unfortunately, the existence of … Read more

The life of a young adult is a like a rollercoaster that last for years. With emotional ups and downs and ins and outs, a young person can feel on the verge of something – anything – long after puberty sets in. Early adulthood is a period marked by changes and growth physically, mentally, and … Read more

The target of prescription medications like Adderall is a serious mental illness known as attention deficient disorder (ADD). People with this particular mental illness feel sped up, distracted and unable to concentrate almost every single day of every single week. Not surprisingly, people who experience this face extra challenges as students. They may hop up … Read more

Delusional disorder, previously referred to as paranoid disorder, is a rare condition. Sufferers of delusional disorder experience delusions, but they do not hallucinate nor do they experience thought or mood disorders or other key symptoms of psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia. These delusions are a form of psychosis, and they typically involve a conviction that something … Read more

Clubs are hot, sweaty, crowded places full of loud music and flashing lights. They can be wonderfully exciting for young people, who might find the idea of dancing all night with complete strangers to be incredibly liberating. But some teens might be intimidated by the idea of cutting loose in a club, and they might … Read more

Everyone has bad days. Whether it’s because of problems at home, at work or in our relationships, we all experience down periods in our lives. For most people, the down periods come and go in a reasonable, ordinary fashion and can be remedied by things that make us happy. But for those who suffer from … Read more

People who are struggling with mental health might be quite capable of describing their symptoms. They might be able to describe how they’re feeling using metaphors, stories or examples, and they might be quite capable of describing how they felt before the troubles began and how things seem different now. But they might not be able … Read more