Screen Time
There’s one in every neighborhood: a parent who allows unlimited screen time. They exist to make the rest of us feel better. Our own offspring might spend hours texting or watching cartoons. But at least...
Relationships & Belonging
"Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us. Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and seeking approval, which are not only hollow...
Medications Used in the Treatment of Depression
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. They are highly effective and generally cause fewer side effects than the other antidepressants. SSRIs...
Teens and Cell Phones
French students are about to get a much-needed detox from their cellphones now that the government has banned them during school for kids 15 and under. When will our educational system follow France’s...
In Praise of ADD
Today the word “hyperactive” doesn’t just describe certain individuals; it also is a quality of our society. We are bombarded each day by four times the number of words we encountered daily when my mother...
How to Tolerate Uncertainty
Dealing with uncertainty is an unavoidable part of daily life. Because we can’t see the future, we can never be certain about what exactly is going to happen day to day. Research has found that people...
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
These disorders come in many forms, like a panicked feeling in social situations or constant anxiety about your health, your job, or your family. If you can’t seem to shake something like this, talk...
Marijuana and the Adolescent Brain
These days it’s hard to find anybody critical of marijuana. The drug enjoys broad acceptance by most Americans — 63 percent favored ending cannabis prohibition in a recent Quinnipiac poll — and legislators...
The Relationship Between Sleep and Addiction
Addiction and sleep share a problematic bidirectional relationship where each influences the other. Many people treat sleep problems with drugs and alcohol, which can lead to addiction. People who are...
Addiction and the Brain
Your Brain Your brain is who you are. It’s what allows you to think, breathe, move, speak, and feel. It’s just 3 pounds of gray-and-white matter that rests in your skull, and it is your own personal...
Effects of Nicotine on the Brain and the Body
When nicotine enters the body, it initially causes the adrenal glands to release a hormone called adrenaline. The rush of adrenaline stimulates the body and causes an increase in blood pressure, heart...
Understanding Why Do Teens Use Alcohol and Drugs
Today’s teens are growing up in an environment with pressures, stress and priorities vastly different from when we were their age. If you’re concerned that your son or daughter might be using drugs...