Dementia is commonly associated with memory loss, confusion, and changes in thinking, but its effects are not limited to the mind. Depending on the type and stage of dementia, people may also experience noticeable changes in walking, balance, coordination, swallowing, continence, sleep, and their ability to complete everyday physical activities. These physical changes do not … Read more
Starting a diet can feel surprisingly easy. The first few days may bring motivation, careful meal planning, and confidence that this time will be different. Then hunger increases, stress takes over, cravings set in, a social event disrupts the plan, or one unplanned meal leads to thoughts of giving up completely. Why is sticking to … Read more
For someone recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD), the thought “I’ll just have one drink” can seem harmless. A person may believe that after weeks, months, or years without alcohol, drinking is now something they can control. But for people whose recovery goal is abstinence, that first drink can represent an important relapse risk. Not … Read more
When a controversial public figure experiences a personal crisis, people may be tempted to describe the situation as “karma.” Perez Hilton’s recent mental-health crisis has prompted exactly that kind of reaction online. But a life-threatening mental-health emergency is not an appropriate moment for celebration, punishment, or amateur diagnosis. It is an opportunity to discuss compassion, … Read more
Relapse stories involving celebrities, athletes, musicians, and other public figures often attract headlines, but behind the publicity is an experience shared by many people living with substance use disorders. Recovery is rarely a perfectly straight path. A return to substance use can occur after months or even years of progress, especially when stress, cravings, untreated … Read more
Loss can change a person’s life in an instant. The death of a loved one, divorce, separation from children, loss of employment, declining health, damaged relationships, or even the loss of one’s sense of identity can create overwhelming emotional pain. For someone struggling with addiction, that pain can lead in two very different directions. It … Read more
Sweet and fruity vape flavors can make vaping seem harmless, especially to young people. However, vape aerosols can contain nicotine, flavoring chemicals, solvents, metals, and compounds created during heating. Nicotine poses the clearest established risk to the developing brain by promoting dependence and affecting brain systems involved in attention, learning, and reward. Researchers are still … Read more
Ozzy Osbourne became one of the most recognizable figures in heavy metal as the lead singer of Black Sabbath and later through his successful solo career. Behind the theatrical image of the “Prince of Darkness,” however, Osbourne openly described decades of emotional difficulties, substance misuse, anxiety, depression, psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation, and periods when his behavior … Read more
Princess Diana was admired worldwide for her compassion and humanitarian work, but behind her public image, she experienced serious emotional struggles. She openly discussed bulimia nervosa, depression, self-harm, and low self-esteem, while biographical accounts also described suicide attempts during periods of severe distress. By speaking publicly about her experiences, Diana helped challenge the stigma surrounding … Read more
Marilyn Monroe remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, yet the glamorous public image associated with her was very different from the emotional difficulties documented during her life. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in 1926, Monroe experienced an unstable childhood that included foster homes and an orphanage while her mother struggled with serious mental health problems. … Read more