Trauma vs. PTSD: Understanding the Differences
Experiencing trauma can leave lasting emotional and physical effects, but not every response develops into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the distinction between a natural stress reaction and a clinical condition is essential to recognizing when professional support may be needed. For loved ones, the signs can be just as confusing. Behaviors such as avoidance, […]
The Connection Between Trauma + Addiction: Why You Have to Heal Both
Addiction rarely begins in isolation. For many individuals, it grows out of an attempt to cope with deep emotional wounds. Trauma — whether it comes from childhood abuse, loss, neglect, or violence — can leave scars that feel too heavy to carry. Substances may seem like a way to numb or escape that pain, but […]
Signs a Loved One is Self-Medicating With Alcohol + How to Help
When someone you love is drinking more than usual, it’s easy to assume the problem is simply the alcohol. For many, however, drinking is less about wanting to party or unwind and more about trying to cope with something painful underneath. This is what’s known as self-medicating — using alcohol to numb or manage symptoms […]
How Addiction Causes Depression + How to Break the Cycle
Addiction and depression are often talked about as separate struggles, but for many individuals, the two are deeply connected. Understanding this relationship matters because it helps explain why recovery requires more than simply addressing one problem at a time. Read on to learn more about the relationship between depression and drug abuse, how each feeds […]
Are There Different Types of Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a complex, commonly misunderstood neuropsychiatric disorder. Left untreated, it can cause a host of debilitating symptoms and create dangerous cycles of confusion, fear, and destruction for both the people experiencing the disorder and their loved ones. Medical experts are far from having all the answers about schizophrenia, but new research and improved science […]
What is Family Enmeshment?
Close family bonds are an important part of development for children and adolescents. A strong family unit provides stability and safety for kids as they grow, allowing them to explore, make mistakes, and mature into physically and emotionally independent adults. Among families with grown children, close family bonds can provide an ongoing source of emotional […]
Uncovering the Facts and Myths About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is one of the most widely misunderstood mental health conditions. Exaggerated and inaccurate media depictions and representations have left the general public with false (and often harmful) assumptions about people who live with this disorder. Although it affects roughly 0.25% of the population in the US, schizophrenia impacts a diverse group of people (1), […]
Exploring the Link Between Anxiety and Depression
You might think there is a stark difference between anxiety and depression. Anxiety causes excessive worry and frustration, while depression causes lethargy and loss of interest. While they might seem like opposites, these two mental health conditions are closely related. They’re almost like two sides of the same coin. Both anxiety and depression are distinct […]
Dealing with Psychosis: A Closer Look at the Experience
Are you familiar with psychosis? An often misunderstood condition, psychosis can be a frightening experience for both those going through it and their loved ones. But what is psychosis? What causes it? How can you manage it, and what are some ways to practice self-care for psychosis? What is Psychosis? Psychosis is a collection of […]
Long-Term Effects of Comorbid Anxiety Disorder
Although nervousness, fear, and worry are normal human experiences, some people are debilitated by their worries. When someone’s anxiety interrupts their daily life, they may meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders account for the majority of mental health disorders in the United States. About 40 million adults in the U.S. (19.1% of […]