If you live with chronic pain, anxiety, depression or insomnia, your doctor may write you a prescription for a specific medication to help you find relief. While these drugs can improve your quality of life in the short term, they can also be habit-forming and cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit taking them. Women who are pregnant or hoping to be should talk to their health providers about drug-free ways to manage these conditions, because many prescription medications can be dangerous for a growing baby. Understanding Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS, is a form of [...]

While any trauma can have long-lasting ramifications, some events are significant enough that future generations feel a ripple effect. You may have grown up with intergenerational trauma if your great-grandparents or grandparents survived World War II, the Holocaust or the Great Depression. Similarly, your children’s children might mature into adulthood touched by the echoes of today’s momentous, life-changing events like global climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding Intergenerational Trauma Our bodies and brains have a built-in response to frightening or life-threatening events. Fight-or-flight mode is a survival mechanism that evolved to protect early humans in dangerous situations, and it was [...]

Diet culture rests on the idea of exclusion, or restricting what you eat by eliminating specific foods. However, denying yourself choices that are supposedly “bad” or “off-limits” can lead to intense cravings and preoccupation with all the things you’ve told yourself you can’t have. In contrast, taking a more neutral stance without judging yourself harshly for the decisions you make will allow you to trust yourself and eat when you are hungry, instead of counting calories, obsessing over every meal or viewing the world through a black-and-white lens. How to Prevent Disordered Eating Ultimately, labeling some foods as “bad” can lead [...]

Emotional manipulation is a tactic some people use to control or victimize others. It’s one characteristic of a dysfunctional relationship, and it can be highly successful. Someone who knows you well might turn your weaknesses and triggers against you, gradually increasing the pressure over time. Emotional manipulation might be so subtle that it’s hard to recognize, but knowing the warning signs and taking steps to manage them can help you regain control of your life. What Is Manipulation in Relationships? Manipulation is a way some people attempt to get what they want and avoid taking responsibility for their actions – at [...]

July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This month was first recognized in 2008 and is also known as BIPOC Mental Health Month. The purpose of the month is to bring awareness to the unique challenges people of color and underrepresented groups face when it comes to accessing care. Minority groups are statistically less likely to receive mental health services. By recognizing this disparity, the hope is that improvements can be made to the healthcare systems currently in place. Mental Health Disparities Among Minorities According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), mental illnesses affect minority populations more [...]

While everyone occasionally struggles to cope with life, mental illnesses are ongoing conditions that cause many women to suffer in silence. Sometimes, there’s an obvious difference between neurotypical behavior and mental illness, but in other cases, the distinction isn’t as clear. Here’s what you need to know. What Is Mental Health? Keeping tabs on your mental well-being involves observing patterns in your thoughts, moods, emotions and behaviors. You may have a mental illness if changes in the way you think and feel are significant enough to disrupt your daily life. A mental illness may affect how well you can: Maintain relationships [...]

After a terrifying or life-threatening experience, it’s normal to feel anxious and on edge. But if you can’t shake it off and move on, you might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD can leave you with ongoing feelings of fear and unwanted, unpleasant memories. By making some changes in your life, you can move on from the trauma and finally feel safe again. What Is PTSD? PTSD is a diagnosable mental health disorder that can happen to anyone after a one-time or ongoing event that overwhelms you and leaves you feeling emotionally vulnerable. Since people process trauma differently, you might [...]

Your mental image of yourself significantly affects numerous areas of your life – your relationships with others, personal style and self-esteem. If you struggle with your body image and insecurities about your appearance, or you can’t let go of the nagging idea that others are judging you, here are some ways to overcome these obstacles. 1. Identify and Challenge Negativity The first step to improving your body image is to tune into your inner monologue. Most of us don’t stop to pay attention to the flow of automatic thoughts that run through our minds, but take time to listen to the [...]

Social media has helped millions of users worldwide keep in touch with distant loved ones, learn about specific interests, share their perspective and feel more connected. But for all the benefits these platforms may have brought to your life, you should also consider how they affect your mental health. How Does Social Media Impact People’s Mental Health? Like an irresistibly appealing casino game, apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter incentivize repeated use through intermittent reinforcement. When you get a notification about a new like or comment, your brain releases a feel-good chemical called dopamine. The memory of these occasional, unpredictable [...]

Today, recreational marijuana has been legalized in 18 states plus the District of Columbia. Nonetheless, federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I substance with no legitimate use, and rumor paints it as a gateway to serious addiction and violent crime. Where does the truth lie? Can you get addicted to weed? Addiction to Weed: Marijuana Use Disorder There are real health risks in using weed. And one risk is addiction—medical term “marijuana use disorder.” At least 9 percent, perhaps as many as 30 percent, of users have this disorder. Over 100,000 people a year are treated for it. Symptoms [...]