If you have intrusive fears and go out of your way to counteract them with specific, repetitive behaviors, you may have obsessive-compulsive disorder. Many people struggling with OCD seek an escape from the flood of negativity that characterizes their daily lives. While alcohol might provide a short-lived reprieve from...
Some people view others as mere stepping stones on the path to achieving their goals. They might only contact you when they believe you have something they need, and dealing with them leaves you feeling drained and questioning your reality. Manipulation is a classic type of toxicity you’re better...
Alcohol can damage organs and systems throughout your body, including your brain. After years of heavy drinking, you may experience memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Daily tasks that require multiple steps, such as cooking a meal or balancing your household budget, can become difficult or impossible. If you routinely...
Pain and pain management are a growing concern among Americans aged 55 and older. In one NIH-funded study, more than half the respondents said they’d had bothersome pain in the past month, while three-quarters reported feeling pain in more than one area. Doctors frequently prescribe opioids to older adults...
The opioid epidemic has been a nationwide crisis for years, claiming the lives of approximately 130 people daily. However, in recent years, the introduction of novel synthetic opioids has changed the opioid epidemic’s trajectory. Like heroin, morphine and oxycodone, human-made opioids like fentanyl bind to receptors in a user’s brain....
Sadly, traumatic events are all too common. Some estimates suggest approximately 70% of American adults experience a severely traumatic event at least once in their life, and 20% of them will develop PTSD as a result. Older adults have lived through life-shaping experiences such as the Korean War, Vietnam...
Substance abuse can have severe adverse effects on anyone’s health, but these behaviors are especially risky for people with diabetes. Even when they are aware of the dangers, some people with diabetes still drink or take drugs. For example, depression often co-occurs with diabetes, which might cause you to...
Even people who are aware of the scope of our nation’s addiction epidemic may associate the problem solely with younger people, hence overlooking a significant at-risk population of older adults. While some older adults have successfully hidden a drug or drinking problem for decades, others develop a substance dependency...
