Addiction is a disease that can consume every aspect of your life. It impacts you if you are actively trying to manage your addiction, and it impacts anyone around you–friends, family, co-workers, the list goes on. Addiction changes self-perception as well as the perception others may have of you. Regardless of the addiction being faced,… Continue reading The Lies About Addiction
While organizations like Autism Speaks and the Autism Society have helped shed new light on Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its community, many myths about the condition still persist today. Here are a few of the most common Autism falsehoods, misconceptions, and stereotypes—alongside the facts that debunk them. Myth: Autism is caused by an adverse… Continue reading Busting Myths About Autism
An eating disorder can take a toll at any age. That’s why at Valley Oaks Health, we want to help you support your child through their recovery journey. Here are just a few things to avoid as you help them understand their disorder and heal from it. Make negative comments about weight and appearance Parents… Continue reading What Not to Do If Your Child Has an Eating Disorder
The holiday season can be challenging when you are dealing with the loss of a loved one. You may find it difficult to put on a smile, be engaged, and keep busy when you’ve experienced loss. That’s why it’s important to take intentional steps to manage your grief and not let it overcome you. Surround… Continue reading Grieving During the Holiday Season
Stress, wanting an escape, peer pressure, curiosity, self-medication, trying to feel grown up—there are many reasons teenagers experiment with drugs. But with time, that recreational drug use may turn into addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as “a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and… Continue reading Addiction in Adolescents
We all know the benefits of regular exercise: a longer life, a decrease in stress, an increase in self-esteem. However, sometimes exercise can become an obsession that can have a negative impact on physical and mental health. Symptoms of exercise addiction Exercise addiction is a behavioral addiction, or a compulsion to continually engage in an… Continue reading Exercise Addiction
Addiction is a chronic condition that can have chronic consequences. Substance use can affect several aspects of a person’s life depending on the substance and the person’s health history. If you recognize the signs of addiction in yourself or someone you know, reaching out for help is the first step to reaching recovery and preventing… Continue reading The Long-Term Damage of Addiction
Night terrors happen to a person when they’re asleep, often causing them to experience intense fear, scream, or even sleepwalk. While they are more common in children, around 2% of adults experience night terrors at some point during their life. So, what do you need to know about this condition? Causes and symptoms Night terrors… Continue reading What Are Night Terrors?
Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression most often associated with winter months, but it also has another variation that impacts people during the warm summer months. Summertime depression can particularly impact children since their routines fade away in the summer. As a parent, there are ways to acknowledge your child’s feelings, talk to… Continue reading Summertime Depression in Students
No one likes germs, but some people may experience extreme anxiety at the thought of touching a surface that could contain germs, bacteria, or other microorganisms. And this anxiety may be becoming more common. Researchers have linked broad virus-centric outbreaks—like the COVID-19 pandemic—to an increase in mysophobia, more commonly known as germophobia. While worrying about… Continue reading Understanding Germophobia
