Sleep Disturbances May Trigger SchizophreniaMental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 13, 2013Sleep disturbance is a general term that doctors use to describe any difficulties relating to the ability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout a sleeping session. Some people with these disturbances have problems severe enough to qualify as official sleep disorders, while others do not. Schizophrenia is heavily linked to sleep disturbances, and for…
The Insidious Connection Between Substance Abuse and StressAddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 12, 2013Stress is a normal and inevitable part of life. We all experience situations or emotions that activate stress responses. Sometimes stress is relatively mild, such as becoming tangled in traffic before an appointment. Other times it’s severe and prolonged, such as the stress experienced by victims of ongoing emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. While we…
Feeling ‘Phantom’ Vibrations? That’s So Not Good, Author SaysAddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 11, 2013The technological trappings of the modern age may be opening up a door to a new type of addiction. The evidence is increasing that people are showing signs of addiction to the Internet, smart phones, and videogames, but it’s unclear whether it’s an addiction to technology itself or an underlying problem such as anxiety manifesting…
Teens Prefer Marijuana to Cigarettes, New Survey FindsAdolescent IssuesBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 11, 2013As marijuana moves away from being deemed a “gateway” drug to a state-controlled recreational tool, those in the business of treating drug addiction are watching closely.
Beyond Peer Pressure: Girls Say They Drink Because They Want ToAdolescent IssuesBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 10, 2013Teenagers often cite peer pressure for their decision to start drinking alcohol or for choosing to binge drink in a social situation. In prevention and education programs, young people are taught strategies for resisting peer pressure and often take part in role play to get more comfortable with saying no to that pressure.
Vanessa Lachey Talks Openly About Post-Partum DepressionMood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 9, 2013Vanessa Lachey has a message for new moms – you’re not alone, and it’s OK to admit you need help when you’re experiencing symptoms that could be post-partum depression.
Key Found to Depression TreatmentMood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 8, 2013New research conducted on mice has uncovered why various therapies for depression likely work – because they target a protein that inhibits brain cell growth.
‘Internet Addicts’ Suffer Withdrawal Symptoms Like Drug Users, Study FindsAdolescent IssuesBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 7, 2013As a parent, you’ve had a sneaking suspicion that you child’s heavy use of the Internet just can’t be healthy.
Study Finds Shaming an Alcoholic Is the Worst Thing You Can DoAlcoholismBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 6, 2013Feeling shame about past alcoholism may increase the likelihood of relapse, according to a new study in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Assn. for Psychological Science. Conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, the study finds that behavioral displays of shame strongly predicted whether recovering alcoholics would relapse.
First-Time Drug Use Showing Up in Pre-TeensAdolescent IssuesBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 5, 2013Most parents consider drug use to be a topic appropriate for kids in their mid-to-late teenage years, not to their pubescent daughters and sons barely out of middle school. However, research by the American Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suggests that children as young as 12 are using drugs such as hallucinogens…