Blog

Category: Mental Health

What is OCD?

What is OCD? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often joked about in society.  Someone who like to have their hands meticulously clean, or someone who likes their spices alphabetized int eh pantry may be accused lightly of having OCD.  In fact, OCD is a mental anxiety disorder where a person has intrusive, distressing and often irrational … Read More

Anxiety

Anxiety The high stressed, overworked, perfectionistic lifestyle many of us are attempting to live is causing our US society a lot of anxiety.  There are many anxiety symptoms but despite their different forms, all anxiety disorders share one major symptom: persistent or severe fear or worry in situations where most people wouldn’t feel threatened. The … Read More

Moms and Drug Abuse

Moms and Drug Abus Ten years ago, it was reported that at least 18 million women aged 26 and older take prescription medications for unintended purposes.  Today, that number is even higher, and many of those abusing drugs include women who are moms.  Some are surprised to find out how many moms deal with drug … Read More

Ritalin Addiction

Ritalin Addiction With all of the media focus on opioid addiction and prescription painkiller regulating, other drugs that are addicting get overlooked, like Ritalin.  Ritalin is often prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  It helps with focus and attention.  Recently, Ritalin abuse has been seen on college campuses where … Read More

Suicide Rates on Rise in U.S.

Suicide Rates on Rise in U.S. In a new report by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) they indicate that suicide rates are on the rise in the United States and have been increasing in number since the year 2000. In fact, from 1999 to 2015, approximately 600,000 U.S. residents died by suicide, … Read More

What are Benzos?

What are Benzos? Benzodiazepines, known to many as “benzos,” are man-made medications that cause mild to severe depression of the nerves within the brain (central nervous system) and sedation (drowsiness).  Seizures, anxiety, and other diseases that require benzodiazepine treatment may be caused by excessive activity of nerves in the brain. These drugs may work by … Read More

Is my loved one developing a mental illness?

Is someone you are close with developing behaviors that seem different or worrisome to you? Are they between 18-24 years old (the age at which most mental illnesses manifest)? Recently, the APA (American Psychiatric Association) developed a check list that concerned individuals can refer to when they see unusual behaviors in their lives or the … Read More

KSTP-TV meteorologist Ken Barlow reflects on life with bipolar disorder

Two years ago, when he made the decision to tell the world about his diagnosis of bipolar disorder, KSTP-TV meteorologist Ken Barlow could only guess what kind of reaction he would get. “I could have lost my job,” he said. “I could have lost my friends. I had no idea what was going to happen, … Read More

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Dual Diagnosis Treatment is much more common that it once was. Years ago, addiction and mental health disorders were treated separately. In fact, many believed that one had to overcome addiction first in order to work on mental health disorders. Research shows that working on both addictive disorders (alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling … Read More