Causes of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, emotional, and mental development. During this stage, some teenagers may experiment with drugs or alcohol due to curiosity, peer pressure, stress, family problems, or a lack of awareness about their harmful effects. Easy access to these substances and negative social influences can also increase the risk. The developing brain can be particularly vulnerable to the effects of early substance use, which

The human psyche is far from perfect. The brain is an extraordinarily complex organ, yet it remains a biological structure built through countless molecular interactions that ultimately give rise to consciousness. That consciousness is inherently fragile. At some point in life, most people will experience psychological crises, traumatic events, or emotional responses to everyday stressors. Illustration by Rob Dobi (Getty Images) Mental health professionals—including psycholog

Overview Social media has a powerful influence on an adolescent's mental health but there are safe ways to use it to mitigate its negative impact on adolescents' mental health. This could be because of a number of reasons not limited to the long hours spent by adolescents on various social media sites consuming different content to the point of disrupting sleep and offline activities. Accountably, different adolescents are impacted by social media use based on their uniquen

GLP-1 receptor agonists (often called “GLP-1s”) are medicines commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and help with weight loss. Researchers are now looking at whether these medicines might also help with addiction. Early studies and patient reports suggest that some people taking medicines like semaglutide or tirzepatide notice fewer cravings—for example, they may feel less urge to drink alcohol or smoke. Because of these reports, more studies are underway to see if GLP-1s co

The importance of understanding how serious suicide is, and the impacts it has on families and communities "Suicide," a word that can bring in many mixed emotions and feelings. For some, it's traumatic to hear either because they have a lost a friend or family member to it, or they themselves have been thinking about committing it. And for others, it's foreign to them as they don't really know what it means. This article is to address how it is a public and medical issue in t

Neurographic art, a relatively new therapeutic practice developed by Russian psychologist Dr. Pavel Piskarev, is attracting growing interest among therapists, educators, and artists as a tool to reduce stress, express emotions, and aid self-reflection.

When someone you love is facing cancer, joy and fear often sit side by side. One moment you’re bracing for the next update; the next, a small laugh reminds you your heart can still find light. These brief sparks don’t erase the hard parts, but they soften the edges and help you keep going. Even in difficult seasons, noticing one gentle moment can support your resilience.

In the childbirth cycle, the postpartum period begins after a woman gives birth and extends through the first 12 weeks after delivery. During this time, mothers recover from childbirth and may experience varying levels of uterine, perineal, abdominal incision, and breast pain (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologist [ACOG], 2020). Researchers have found that Black women in the United States experience greater disparities in postpartum pain management compared to Whit

Neuroaesthetics is a relatively new interdisciplinary field that investigates how the brain and mind perceive, process, and respond to aesthetic experiences. A combination of neuroscience, cognitive psychology, the philosophy of aesthetics, and the fine arts, the field seeks to explain why humans find certain visual forms, sounds, movements, and environments beautiful or emotionally meaningful.

Feeling sad during any difficult moments is a normal part of life. Losing a loved one, facing any disappointment, problems in a relationship, or stressful situations can affect emotions and temporarily lower the mood. For most people, these feelings improve gradually with time, support, and healthy coping strategies. However, when sadness becomes persistent, overwhelming, and begins to interfere with daily life, it may be a sign of depression. While sadness and depression can

by Catherina Pascale Abstract Loneliness has emerged as one of the most significant public health challenges of the twenty-first century. Once regarded primarily as a personal emotional experience, loneliness is now recognized as a major determinant of physical health, mental health, quality of life, and longevity. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that approximately one in six people worldwide experiences loneliness, with an estimated 871,000 deaths annua

By: Dionne Roberts, MSN, RN-BC Understanding Tobacco Dependence Tobacco dependence is a chronic condition driven by an addiction to nicotine, often requiring multiple quit attempts to become tobacco-free. (1) The use of nicotine products can create a temporary sense of euphoria, which reinforces their addictive quality. As nicotine use increases, dependence grows. When nicotine is not used, withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating can oc

Discover how SSRI can help improve your mental health. Learn about SSRI benefits, side effects, and finding the right fit for you.

Taking lithium? Know the signs. This guide explains the three types of lithium toxicity, common symptoms, and when to seek immediate medical help.

Introduction Adolescence is a time of significant change. Teens navigate new social dynamics, academic pressures, and personal growth while their brains continue developing. For many adolescents, this period also brings challenges to mental health. When mental health struggles emerge during these years, they often intersect with substance use in ways that complicate both conditions. Mental health issues can make teens more vulnerable to substance use, while substance use can

Health Literacy in the Digital Age Health literacy in our modern age has several definitions, but the key definition, as stated by the World Health Organization, is the ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information and to apply that knowledge to addressing a health problem.(1) In a world riddled by several opinionated angles from several sources, which is mostly propagated by the new modern information database that is social media, it is crucial that fac

By: Linda Boone BSN,RN Imagine living with an internal alarm that never fully turns off, leaving you constantly on edge—startled by sudden noises or feeling as though you might jump out of your skin. This persistent state of tension can create a cycle of anxiety, keeping your body in a “fight or flight” response even in the absence of real danger. When stress becomes chronic, you may alternate between feeling anxious and irritable or emotionally numb and shut down. If your bo

Postpartum depression is a condition that happens after delivering a baby, leading a person to feel extreme sadness and extreme mood swings. The exact cause of postpartum depression is currently unknown, but it's said to stem from a variety of factors such as changes in hormonal levels, changing lifestyle factors, and physical changes. Postpartum depression can develop gradually or within the first weeks after having a baby. Women with postpartum depression are usually diagno

As someone who has suffered with COVID, and truly at times feel as though I am still suffering with Long COVID this is exciting news. Here’s the simplest way to explain it: Certain antidepressants don’t just affect mood—they also calm inflammation, improve serotonin balance, reduce micro clots, and help cells recover from stress. These combined effects may ease Long COVID symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. How Antidepressants Might Help with Long COVID Long COVID can leave

Introduction Most people have experienced some version of it: a stretch of weeks or months where exhaustion becomes a kind of background noise, concentration slips, and even small tasks feel heavier than they should. For some, that feeling resolves with rest. For others, it does not. What distinguishes ordinary fatigue from burnout is not simply a matter of degree, but of biology. Burnout is not a character flaw or a sign of weakness. It is a measurable stress response, o