The source may not be entirely scientific, but a recent survey of Americans shows that we may be succumbing to addictive behaviors when it comes to shopping. A shopping addiction, sometimes called compulsive shopping, is not quite the same as a chemical addiction to a drug or alcohol, but the results can still be devastating.…
You’ve already sensed that something is not right with your teenager. Maybe she’s become touchy or defensive about her eating habits. Perhaps he’s starting to develop an obsession with maintaining his weight for the wrestling team. Parenting is always hard; however, it can be even tougher when you sense a problem, like an eating disorder,…
Female sexual interest/arousal disorder is a mental health condition first defined in May 2013 in the new fifth edition of the reference guide called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM. It replaces two other conditions, called female hypoactive sexual desire disorder and female sexual arousal disorder, listed in the now obsolete…
Addiction rehab centers across the U.S. are seeing more of an older demographic than your typical troubled teen or young adult: baby boomers. According to a new government study, addiction rates among baby boomers are on the rise. Substance addiction among men and women in their 50s and 60s comes with its own set of…
It’s not so bad, being an addict. And for those of us who fit that description, most have discovered that the biggest hurdle to jump is neither the actual quitting, nor the emotional and physical withdrawal symptoms. It is making the pure and honest admission that you have become what you feared, and if you…
Although Eric and Christine had been married 12 years, their lives never felt settled or comfortable. Eric could be incredibly charming and was a man of fantastic charisma; indeed these traits were the very things that had originally attracted Christine and swept her off her feet. But behind closed doors, he could be an entirely…
It’s not uncommon for depression to develop (or recur if you have a history) later in life. This can be due to a variety of reasons – both psychological (e.g. suddenly coping with an empty nest) and physiological (e.g. age-related health issues, menopause). Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe. They may include…
For some people, receiving the diagnosis of depression is akin to receiving nearly any other diagnosis at the doctor’s office: the doc gives you the news, hands you a prescription, and your job is simply to do as he or she says and get better. In a certain percentage of cases of depression, this is…
The 1970s saw the rise in the use of PCP (Phencyclidine), or “angel dust,’’ as well as its eventual decline. While the drug provided the desirable high, the paranoia, frightening hallucinations and violent side effects kept it from becoming a mainstream high. Years later, cocaine and crack took over as the drugs of choice among…
It doesn’t matter if you’ve struggled with alcoholism yourself or if someone close to you has abused it, you understand the challenges of becoming and staying sober. But what happens when another addiction takes the place of drinking? Instead of reaching for beer or vodka, or even a drug, the alcoholic reaches for a box…
