Category: Conditions

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?

Work-life balance is something we all strive to achieve, but if the scales are tipping in favor of long nights in the office and weekends away from loved ones, you may be on the path toward burnout. The definition According to the Mayo Clinic, burnout is a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that involves… Continue reading What is Burnout?

Stress has become a normal part of our daily routines. From overflowing inboxes to packed schedules, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and underprepared for life’s curveballs. But stress can have serious impacts and can reveal unhealthy patterns in our lives. This April, Valley Oaks Health is observing Stress Awareness Month and helping you find ways… Continue reading Stress Awareness Month

Signs that a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect are not always obvious. Unexplained bruises and marks raise red flags. However, not all signals that a child is in harm’s way are immediately evident. Add in the stress and isolation of living through a pandemic, and that means tension in home environments… Continue reading The Warning Signs of Child Abuse

National Child Abuse Prevention Month is an opportunity for communities to come together, become educated on the signs of child abuse, and take steps to prevent harm. Throughout the month of April, community activists and organizations across the United States, including Valley Oaks Health, are raising awareness by sharing the warning signs of child abuse,… Continue reading National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. In 2017, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that over 19 million Americans are living with substance use disorder. Despite its prevalence in our society, many myths and misunderstandings still exist about addiction. We’re here to… Continue reading The Stigma Around Substance Use Disorder

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and during this time, Valley Oaks Health is bringing awareness and erasing stigma around alcohol use disorder (AUD). There are many statistics that show the cost of alcohol misuse: According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 14 million American adults suffered from AUD.  Alcohol-related deaths… Continue reading Alcohol Awareness Month

The immediate effects of substance use during pregnancy are evident, but what do drug-exposed children experience long-term? A child’s cognition and behavior can both suffer from drug exposure in their mother’s womb, and they may experience a higher likelihood for addictive behaviors later in life. Cognitive impairments Between 30 and 40 percent of drug-exposed toddlers… Continue reading The Lasting Impact of Newborn Drug Dependency

The use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, or the misuse of prescription drugs by pregnant women can have severe health consequences for their baby. Recent research shows that substance use during pregnancy is linked to double—even triple—the risk of stillbirth as well as the development of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).  Nearly 1 in 20 expecting… Continue reading Addiction During Pregnancy