Explore mental illness, its common symptoms, causes, and treatment options. Learn how to support mental health and seek help when needed.
When we switch our computer on in the morning, we are usually greeted by a beautiful screensaver. Maybe it is a vacation snapshot, a picture of the kids, or a beautiful scene out of nature. Try as we might, those beautiful screensavers cannot cover up the fact that our computer screens may be causing us headache pain. Headache from computer use is a growing issue. Here’s what you should know about preventing it, along with…
Fibromyalgia is a set of symptoms characterized by widespread pain, but the disorder brings with it a signature symptom known as fibro fog. Fibro fog affects cognitive function, leading to feelings of exhaustion and mental cloudiness, even after a full night’s sleep. Researchers still aren’t sure about the causes or biological underpinnings of fibromyalgia itself, let alone one of its symptoms, but fibro fog is nevertheless a very real problem experienced with the disease. Here’s what you…
Chronic pain and mood disorders can often go hand-in-hand. In fact, as many as 50% of people with chronic pain also have depression. It seems that one particular pair of conditions – depression and back pain – may be particularly widespread. Considering how often chronic pain and mood disorders can co-occur, this isn’t very surprising. After all, back pain is one of the most commonly-reported pain conditions, and depression is one of the most common mood disorders.…
Self-affirmation is the practice of expressing positivity about yourself. It can be stated aloud, said in your head, or written down. While some may scoff or assume that it’s pointless, science is proving that self-affirmation and positive thinking can have measurably positive effects on people. What are the benefits of positive thinking? So far, the clearest benefit to self-affirmation is its ability to encourage changes in health behavior. When you’re told by a physician (or…
How many times have you rolled around in bed wondering why you are still awake? It is never fun to go through the next day exhausted, but that could be the least of your problems—your body can suffer in many different ways from sleep deprivation effects. This is doubly true if you also suffer from chronic pain, with 65% of patients reporting sleep issues. What are common sleep deprivation effects? We spend one-third of our…
If you suffer from anxiety, you’re not alone. If you’re a pain patient, you should know that anxiety and pain are often interrelated. Anxiety itself is the most common mental health issue, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). About 18% of all U.S. adults suffer from an anxiety disorder, and about one-third of people don’t receive treatment. Even more difficult, up to 45% of pain patients may suffer from anxiety. Although difficult to live…
If you’ve ever had any sort of health issues, you probably know what it’s like to be handed a thick stack of prescriptions with no idea what each medication does, why you should take them, or how often to take them. It can be easy to become overwhelmed, which can quickly lead to refusing to take all medications. However, with some careful planning and organizations, managing your medications can be simplified. How to remember to…
Chronic pain is the number one cause of disability in the U.S. According to the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), one in six people are living with chronic pain. The type of pain can vary with age. People in their 20s and 30s are most likely to suffer from headaches or chronic migraine. Adults in middle age tend to suffer from chronic back pain. The elderly often report pain as a result of arthritis or…
Pain is an unavoidable fact of life, especially for those with a chronic pain condition. There are dozens of potential treatments for pain already, but researchers are always searching for a deeper understanding of pain to help them devise even better treatments. One group of researchers has found a way to cut off the communication of pain in the brain. At the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute, neuroscientist Gerald Zamponi, phd, and his team…
Nearly everyone will experience head pain at some point during their lives, but for some people, head pain can become chronic. Chronic migraines and headaches can range in severity from annoying to debilitating. Thankfully, a wide range of treatment options are available for head pain, providing lots of potential options to try when managing head pain. Oral medications are usually the first type of pain management attempted to treat head pain. The most common reason…