Articles

Definition: Social Anxiety Disorder is more than just about shyness and can be considerably disabling. A diagnosis requires that a person’s fear or anxiety must be out of proportion, in duration and/or frequency, to the actual situation. The symptoms must be...

Definition: A phobia is defined as an irrational and intense fear of a specific object or situation. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 8.7% of people, or about 19.2 million American adults, suffer from one or more specific phobias....

ADHD Definition: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting both children and adults. In diagnosing ADHD in adults, clinicians now look back to middle childhood and the teen years for the beginning of symptoms. ADHD is described as a persistent or on-going...

Definition An individual who is addicted to nicotine through the use of tobacco products may have Tobacco Use Disorder (TUD). Nicotine, which stimulates the central nervous system, can be inhaled by smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes; can be placed directly in the...

Definition: Opioids are drugs that work on the nervous system to relieve pain. Opioid use disorder includes signs and symptoms that show compulsive, prolonged self-administration of opioid substances that are used for no legitimate medical purpose or, if another...

Pornography and Addiction Jeffery Miller, LCPC, CADC As we become increasingly more connected with the world, and our access to the internet progresses from being a novelty to a way of life, pornography is becoming an increasingly pervasive issue in our society,...

Addiction By Jeffery Miller, LCPC, CADC Addiction is one of the most prevalent and widespread epidemics in the United States today. It is estimated that as many as one out of every eight Americans suffer from some type of drug or alcohol addiction. It is also worth...

Definition: Gambling Disorder (GD) is characterized by a persistent and a repeating dysfunctional pattern of gambling behavior. It is typically associated with impaired functioning, reduced quality of life and high rates of bankruptcy, divorce, and incarceration....

Substance Use Disorder - Caffeine Intoxication Definition: Caffeine intoxication is an over-stimulation of the central nervous system caused by a high dose of caffeine. Caffeine is highly addictive and can cause physical, mental, and psychomotor impairments. Coffee is...

Definition Substance use disorders occur when the on-going use of alcohol and/or drugs causes significant impairment, such as health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. A diagnosis of substance use disorder is...