Body dysmorphia is a debilitating preoccupation with perceived flaws in a person’s own physical appearance. People who experience it become extremely self-conscious and distressed by excessive, repetitive, negative thoughts about their face or body. They are often convinced that others see and judge them for things that may not be obvious or even real to...Read More

Mood disorders are a category of mental health diagnoses that includes depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder. Over 40 million Americans experience one or more of these conditions, which we treat at Cottonwood, in Tucson, Arizona. Mood disorders are far more common than most people think, and failing to recognize the signs can...Read More

The Saturday before Thanksgiving is designated as International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (also known as Survivor’s Day) each year. It is estimated that 49,000 Americans and 700,000 people worldwide end their own lives each year, and this day is set aside to remember them, bring awareness to suicide loss, and offer support to the...Read More

What are the Differences Between Anger and Rage? Anger and rage are two separate emotions.  Anger is a feeling that a person experiences when they have been wronged.  It is appropriate to express anger provided it is done in a healthy manner.  A person who experiences rage has little to no control over the emotion,...Read More

Americans are more focused on mental health than ever. We’re in a strange time in this country’s history, both culturally and emotionally. The Internet has us more connected than ever, yet many of us feel increasingly isolated.  If you think people seem angrier and more confrontational than they were just 10 years ago or so,...Read More

The growing loneliness epidemic in America may seem to have been born from the isolation required by the COVID-19 pandemic — the truth is that this trend of isolation and loneliness began long before COVID and it continues today.  In this article, Cottonwood Tucson explores America’s loneliness epidemic and how it may be contributing to...Read More

An anxiety disorder can have a tremendous impact on your quality of life. Most people who have ever experienced serious social anxiety, PTSD, or panic attacks struggle to understand just how drastically these conditions can affect everyday life. However regular use of a controlled substance like benzodiazepines often comes with a host of other concerns. ...Read More

As America has struggled with addiction over the past several decades, addiction treatment has been undergoing an evolution of sorts. The term holistic may seem a bit overused these days, but holistic addiction treatment is more than just a buzzword.  In this article, Cottonwood Tucson Explores what makes holistic addiction treatment different from traditional treatment...Read More

The past two decades have been especially challenging for America’s veterans. The War on Terror has meant traumatic combat experience for many of them. Between 2001 and 2022, nearly 3 million military personnel have served in war operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, there are another 12-15 million veterans alive in the U.S. today....Read More

Trauma affects the brain in many ways, perhaps the most important longer term effect is the creation of triggers and associations towards other stimuli in life that cause a person to unnecessarily experience a fight or flight response. Trauma is an integral part of the human experience. Every one of us has experienced trauma in...Read More