Are you or a loved one is taking benzodiazepines? If so, it’s important to be aware of the signs of benzo abuse before starting this medication. Benzodiazepines, or benzos for short, are a type of central nervous system depressant that treats insomnia, anxiety, and panic disorders. They produce a calming effect by slowing the neurotransmitter…
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental health illness affecting millions of teens and adults yearly. There are healthy ways to manage OCD symptoms that you can do at home in addition to therapy and medication in cases of severe symptoms. OCD symptoms can range in severity from mild fear to uncontrollable thoughts and behaviors…
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The heroin withdrawal timeline describes how long it takes for the drug to leave the body and withdrawal symptoms to subside. While detox and withdrawal can take place at an addiction treatment center, some people try to self-detox at home. This is a dangerous practice that may cause relapse, overdose, and fatality. To avoid the…
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Living with OCD can be incredibly overwhelming. Moreover, it can be hard for loved ones to understand how OCD affects someone. If you or someone you love is worried OCD is ruining your life, there are now OCD treatment programs to help recognize triggers and treat OCD with evidence-based and holistic therapies. If you or…
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Finding an effective pain medication is imperative after recovery from surgery, a car accident, or for those living with chronic pain. Some of the commonly abused painkillers on the market today can treat pain successfully. However, this is only true when following the prescription and not taking it with other drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, most…
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What is dissociative identity disorder (DID)? It’s a complex psychological disorder that is the result of severe early-age trauma or recurring emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. It affects 1% of the population, and symptoms can include loss of time, headaches, amnesia, and having an out-of-body experience. Episodes are triggered by a wide range of situations…
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In the United States, substance use is prevalent in the media. Songs, TV shows, and movies all highlight the appeal of substance use. However, the United States also faces an opioid crisis that claims countless lives every year. Many people blame the growth of gateway drugs on the rise of the opioid addiction crisis. However,…
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Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive illegal stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It can also cause a serious addiction after a few uses. The Portland area is currently seeing an increase in the number of overdose deaths due to meth. Sadly, nearly half of the overdose deaths involve more than one substance.…
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Childhood trauma can have lingering effects that are felt long into adulthood and seriously impact people’s mental health. It can cause depression and anxiety and negatively impact work and personal relationships. There are multiple causes of childhood trauma that can impact children now and in the future. Starting treatment for childhood trauma today is essential…
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Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder that affects more than 10 million men and women each year. It causes individuals to have an unhealthy body image and always see themselves as overweight, even when they are starving themselves. The long-term effects of anorexia can produce serious physical and psychological complications and death if…
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