Category: Conditions

September is Pain Awareness Month, and at Valley Oaks, we understand the connection between chronic pain and mental health.  You may be familiar with the 0-10 pain scale a doctor shows patients when they’ve experienced an injury. This helps the doctor better understand how to appropriately treat the pain. However, pain can be elusive and… Continue reading Physical Pain’s Impact on Mental Health

More than 700,000 people die by suicide each year, and for each person that dies, it’s estimated that 20 others attempt. It’s time we break the myths and misunderstandings around suicide to help everyone struggling find hope. Myth: People who consider suicide will always find a way. Many people who consider suicide are unsure about… Continue reading Demystifying the Struggle with Suicide

The word “addiction” is thrown around for a lot of things. I’m addicted to my phone. My child is addicted to video games. But when it comes to substance use, how can you know when a habit has become harmful? What is addiction? The American Psychiatric Association defines substance use disorder, a form of addiction,… Continue reading When is it Addiction?

In medical studies, women lack the longevity and quantity of scientific research to understand how addiction to drugs or alcohol can affect them. What we do know is that addiction does show up differently in men and women.  Women tend to metabolize alcohol and drugs faster, meaning they feel the effects of drugs and alcohol… Continue reading Addiction in Women

While addiction can affect anyone, it often presents itself differently depending upon biological and sociological factors. For example, research has shown that men are more likely than women to abuse drugs and alcohol. Not only do hormones like testosterone and progesterone metabolize drugs and alcohol differently between the biological sexes, but upbringing and other environmental… Continue reading Addiction in Men

Feeling the winter blues of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is more commonly discussed than summertime sadness. Those affected by warm weather-related SAD can experience depression, sadness, and loss of interest in enjoying the season and can be set in motion by some of the following: Daylight patterns Longer days can disturb sleeping patterns and can… Continue reading 5 Triggers for SAD During Summer

Many people experience shifts in mood and periods of sadness during winter when days are shorter with less daylight. Colder months are not the only time of year one can feel blue. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can also bring on the summer blues. What is SAD? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, seasonal… Continue reading Summer Blues?

To the 8 million diagnosed Americans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we are here to support you on your road to recovery. For those who remain undiagnosed and suffer from enduring trauma, you are not alone; treatment is available. To those who have witnessed the searing pain a loved one relives over and over again,… Continue reading PTSD Awareness Month

This May, Valley Oaks Health is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month by shining a light on the daily toll of burnout and ways to build better mental health through small changes. Burnout happens when the brain and body feel overworked and overwhelmed. At Valley Oaks Health, we believe even during the darkest days, the right… Continue reading Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health has become a more commonly used term in the last decade. But as something we often cannot see, it’s important to remember what mental health is, what it entails, and how we can take care of ourselves and others that may be facing mental health challenges. The definition Mental health is the culmination… Continue reading What is Mental Health?