Barbiturates used to be a common drug prescribed back in the 60s and 70s to treat anxiety, seizures, and other illnesses. Barbiturates derive from barbituric acid and are central nervous system depressants. This guide will help you learn more about their impact on the brain, common drugs, signs of...
A stimulant drug is so-called because it “stimulates” the central nervous system, causing body functions to speed up and energy levels to rise. Medically, stimulants are most commonly used in ADHD treatment because, in carefully measured doses, they improve concentration and reduce restlessness. They also reduce appetite, which can...
You may have heard that fewer than 10 percent of people keep their New Year’s resolutions. You may also have heard that recovery isn’t guaranteed. In either case, that’s the sort of pessimistic attitude that creates self-fulfilling prophecies of failure—and which can be particularly discouraging to hear when you’re...
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by panic when confronted with a situation that makes you feel trapped. To demonstrate, you fear using an elevator since you would be in a confined space with other people. For some, this escalates until they can no longer function in day-to-day life. The...
If you’ve struggled with alcohol addiction and finally got sober in 2021, congratulations! But since substance use disorder is a chronic illness, you probably know about the risk of relapse—and as the calendar approaches 2022, you may be anticipating New Year’s Eve with dread, wondering if you’ll be able...
PTSS vs. PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, has been part of everyday language for a generation now (though it first became an official medical term in 1980). Less often heard of, but a legitimate item of concern, is post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS), which has similar symptoms and usually begins in...
No one begins to use drugs or alcohol with the goal of becoming addicted. In reality, substance use disorders form for countless reasons. Many people find themselves reliant on drinking or drug use as a way to alleviate stress, relax after a long day, or let loose on the...
Alcoholism (chronic alcohol use disorder) is associated with serious accidents, overdose, cancer, heart and liver disease, and weakened immune systems. Regular heavy drinking can also cause less life-threatening problems that run the spectrum from major disability to persistent nuisance. One example is alcoholic neuropathy, a variety of unpleasant symptoms...
