Impulse control disorder (ICD) is an overarching classificatory label given to psychiatric disorders characterized by inability to resist impulses (or urges) that yield deleterious implications. Examples of impulse control disorders include: compulsive gambling, incessant sexual encounters, and binge shopping. If unrecognized and/or unaddressed for an extended duration, an impulse control disorder may ruin a person’s: …
Feline hyperthyroidism is characterized by overproduction of T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) hormones via the thyroid glands in cats. As a result of excessive T4 and T3 hormone secretion, concentrations of T4 and T3 reach supraphysiological concentrations within the body of the cat. At supraphysiological concentrations, these hormones elicit deleterious effects upon normative physiological processes, …
Nearly all individuals taking Adderall can attest to the fact that its psychostimulatory effect is most potent after an initial “first-time” dosage. Thereafter, its efficacy is generally maintained for weeks, or perhaps months after the initial dosage with favorable results. However, eventually Adderall users may notice that its therapeutic psychostimulation seems to have dwindled and/or …
If you experience depression solely in the winter months, you may have a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also referred to in layman’s terms as “seasonal depression.” Throughout human evolution, it was speculated that mood changes occurred during inclement conditions such as winter months due to the fact that in these conditions, it …
In some cases, individuals may experience a traumatic event that triggers such a potent stress response via the sympathetic nervous system, that memory of the event becomes repressed. The potency of the stress-response exceeds their innate ability to cope and other coping resources. Emotions associated with the traumatic event are often overpowering, leading to intense …
Individuals that have used any potent drug, particularly for a long-term and/or at high doses are known to experience significant short-term withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include things like dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Over time, they usually lessen in severity as the nervous system and physiology adjusts to function without the presence of the …
Insomnia is considered a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. There are many different types of insomnia, some of which are short-term days or weeks), and others which are long-term (e.g. months or years). If you suffer from insomnia, it is important to realize that it …