There are certainly some special struggles that long-time singles face when getting back into dating or into a steady, long-term relationship. When someone has been single, perhaps for a very long time, they build up a wide gamut of habits that can sometimes be hard to leave behind when they become involved romantically with a…

As a psychiatrist, it’s clear to me that Covid has scrambled so many of the social conventions that we used to share. That goes for our understanding of “sick days.” In what now seem like the old days, if you weren’t well, you were meant to stay home and rest. This was largely to make…

Although there is confusion around the topic in the general public, cocaine and crack are actually two forms of the same drug and they are almost chemically identical. Powder cocaine comes from processing coca leaves. Crack is powdered cocaine that has been mixed with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and water. It is then cooked down…

To understand the psychology of overspending it’s crucial to recognize that there’s a lot of emotions behind money in general and the decision-making about spending.  One example of this is when people spend beyond their means because they believe that buying things will make them happy.  In addition, they often spend money on things they…

Hoarding is a mental health disorder in which people pack their homes with so many items of limited or no use that they can create health risks to themselves and anyone they live with. This need to save items is often compounded by getting upset when they are confronted about their hoarding and the need…

By their very nature, humans are social beings. The vast majority of them expect and enjoy interaction with others. Sitting alone in your house all day long in front of a computer turns this natural propensity on it’s head. Therefore, in my opinion, social isolation is a significant threat to the mental well-being of remote…

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression related to the change of seasons. People experience SAD mostly in the autumn and winter months and it leaves them with symptoms including feelings of depression and lethargy. The shorter days, reduced sunshine and stresses of the holiday season might contribute to SAD. There are various…

Hydrocodone is an opioid prescribed for moderate-to-severe pain control in patients with trauma, post-operative patients or patients with cancer. Studies have also shown that certain formulations of hydrocodone are effective to relieve chronic pain. Regardless of what it’s prescribed for, all use of hydrocodone must be closely monitored by a physician since it can be…

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. It is a common disorder that affects people of all ages around the world. Most cases of OCD occur by the age of 19, although boys tend to experience OCD earlier than girls. OCD can take various forms, including…

The body and brain work to maintain a state of balance called homeostasis. But ingesting strong substance alters that balance and then your body has to take steps to adjust, including via your neurotransmitters. So basically the human body makes a physiological adaptation when a foreign substance is introduced or maintained in the system. Opioids…