Category: Conditions

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

On the surface, social media can seem like a great thing. Connecting with those you can’t be physically close to and finding communities that support you and share your passions. However, the reality is that social media can be harmful. This is especially true for girls and young women. The impact of these platforms on… Continue reading The Impact of Social Media on Young Women

While fireworks delight celebratory crowds in the summer, for those experiencing PTSD, autism, or sensory-related triggers, these loud and illuminated events can be anxiety-inducing. Understanding how fireworks affect others can help us celebrate holidays safely and with compassion for those around us. Fireworks & your brain The loudness of fireworks isn’t the only reason they… Continue reading Managing Auditory Anxiety Caused by Fireworks