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Mental Health Center

Menopause and Mental Health

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menopause

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Menopause Menopause describes the point in time where changes in a woman’s hormones lead to the end of menstrual cycles. It usually is diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55. It usually lasts about seven years but can be as long as 14 years. The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity. During perimenopause, the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones made by the ovaries, varies greatly (2021). Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that “many healthcare providers actually use the term menopause to refer to the period of time when a woman’s hormone levels start to change. Menopause is said to be complete when menstrual periods have ceased for one continuous year. The transition phase before menopause is often referred …

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DEA’s National Take Back Day 2023

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menopause

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. What is DEA’s National Take Back Day? The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a national security threat to public health and safety.  The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds a “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day” every year as a reflection of the DEA’s “commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting” (DEA, 2023).  Last year, there were a total of 4,902 collection sites and 647,163 pounds (324 tons) of unneeded medications collected (DEA, 2023). This year, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is on October 28, 2023. Find a collection site near you using the Collection Site Locator. Statistics According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people who died from a …

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How to Cope with War Anxiety 2023

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menopause

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. War Anxiety War anxiety, also known as nuclear anxiety, is a common reaction to the news and images about conflict. This has been extremely relevant in light of the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war. Though research is still being conducted on the long-term effects of war anxiety, a Finnish study found that teens worried about a nuclear war were at increased risk for mental health disorders (ex: generalized anxiety disorder) five years later (Poikolainen et al., 2004). Research also indicates that media exposure to mass violence events can fuel a cycle of distress, and those more prone to anxiety are also more likely to seek out media coverage of crises (Thompson et al., 2019).  Symptoms Symptoms of war anxiety are similar to many symptoms of anxiety disorders. Symptoms may be more cognitive, in the form of worries and anxiety thoughts. Symptoms can also be more physical, …

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ADHD Awareness Month 2023

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menopause

By Ashley Barnes M.S. Why ADHD Awareness Month? October is Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month! In 2004, ADHD Awareness Month started as ADHD Awareness Day but has since expanded to the entire month of October with the purpose of spreading awareness and providing education on this form of neurodivergence. What is Neurodivergence? In understanding neurodivergence, it is important to understand the concept of neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is the concept that there are a variety of ways that people’s brains function, present behaviorally, and process information. Like fingerprints, no two brains are the same. Neurodivergence describes how brain differences impact brain functioning and people whose brains function differently than what is deemed standard or typical. These brain differences present neurodivergent individuals with unique strengths and challenges. Possible challenges include learning disabilities, medical disorders, and differences in social functioning. Potential strengths include enhanced pattern recognition and memory. Forms of neurodivergence include …

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Substance Abuse and the Brain

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menopause

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Substance Abuse According to the American Psychological Association (APA), substance abuse is defined as “a pattern of compulsive substance use marked by recurrent significant social, occupational, legal, or interpersonal adverse consequences, such as repeated absences from work or school, arrests, and marital difficulties” (2022). Addiction describes the “state of psychological or physical dependence (or both) on the use of alcohol or other drugs” (APA, 2022). Substance abuse goes hand in hand with addiction, as substance abuse can lead to addiction.  Substance Use Disorder Symptoms The following are symptoms of substance use disorders as outlined by The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine: Using/drinking larger amounts or over longer periods of time than planned. Continually wanting or unsuccessfully trying to cut down or control use of drugs or alcohol. Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of drugs or alcohol. Craving, or a strong …

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