When a person goes through something traumatic, the effects are damaging. Trauma is calamitous in every sense of the word – it changes a person’s life forever and effect all aspects of life. There are two sides to trauma –  the direct effects of it happening, and the short to long-term effects that remain after...Read More

Anxiety isn’t Always Anxiety Research has shown that approximately 40 million people suffer from anxiety – that’s about 1 in every 13 people that experience this. Some forms of anxiety are helpful – with the right kind of anxiety, we often perform our best under pressure and take precautionary steps before making a major decision....Read More

Therapy and treatment is taking a new turn for compulsive and behavioral disorders like gambling addiction. Virtual reality is promising a world of possibilities for psychotherapeutic treatments. So far, the results are promising. For example, some research studies have found great success in using virtual reality to treat PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder, in veterans....Read More

Some months ago, we covered a topic that many readers may have found disturbing. It dealt with the military and what is known as “bad paper.” That is, being discharged from the military under less than favorable circumstances, or dishonorable discharge. At the time, upwards of 10 percent of post-9/11 veterans were found to have...Read More

In the wake of two Mideast wars, many Americans added a new acronym to their lexicon IED, which stands for improvised explosive device. Essentially, homemade bombs constructed in unconventional ways, typically hidden in debris along roadways to inflict unsuspected carnage. Many American servicemen and women have been maimed or lost their lives as a result...Read More

Tran·scen·den·tal Med·i·ta·tion ™ noun a technique for detaching oneself from anxiety and promoting harmony and self-realization by meditation, repetition of a mantra, and other yogic practices, promulgated by an international organization founded by the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ( c. 1911–2008). In circles of recovery around the globe, the practice of prayer and meditation...Read More

The United States military has long had a torrid relationship with mental health, specifically how it handles mental illness in its ranks. A somewhat paradoxical reality considering that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) goes hand in hand with war; there is really no way around it. Whenever you put thousands of people in high stress environments...Read More

In the field of addiction medicine there is a clear link between trauma and substance use. People who experience traumatic events are far more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with their feelings. A traumatic event can take shape in a number of different ways, such as experiencing the loss of a...Read More

Veterans Day Today is Veterans Day, a time for every American to acknowledge the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces. Across the country, people are gathering for parades and events to honor those who have made the greatest sacrifice for this country. However, Veterans Day is about more than parades,...Read More

Surviving trauma Over the past week or so, many of us have wondered aloud how will those traumatized by the latest mass shooting survive? How will their day to day lives change? Will they be able to move on from their personal trauma? With 24-hour news media coverage we are able to witness the grief...Read More