What Are Maladaptive Behaviors — and Why Do They Develop?
Ever noticed yourself snapping at a loved one after a stressful workday? Scrolling through your phone for hours to avoid a difficult task? Avoided eye contact to prevent having to interact with another person? These are maladaptive behaviors—any strategy or pattern of behavior that provides short-term relief or a sense of control but is harmful, […]
Rumination OCD: How to Break the Cycle
You’re trying to fall asleep, but your mind latches onto a question from earlier in the day: “Did I say something offensive?” Hours later, you’re still analyzing every word, tone, and reaction, seeking a certainty that never comes. Or, you’re thinking non-stop, “What do these abhorrent thoughts mean? What do they reveal about me as […]
Do I Have Repressed Memories? Trauma and Recall
You may have heard of someone who says they have repressed memories with a sense of “blankness” about childhood, strong emotional reactions without a clear source, or a sense of disconnect between their feelings and their remembered history. Some people do experience significant gaps for traumatic events, but “repressed memories” in the classic sense are […]
OCD Test: When to Seek Help
You’ve probably heard someone exclaim, “I’m so OCD about my desk!” or “I think I left the stove on”. Perhaps you’ve expressed a similar sentiment yourself, as most of us occasionally do. However, it doesn’t mean you actually have OCD, a serious, often debilitating condition. Some people take self-tests that can indicate potential OCD. However, […]
Ketamine Administration Methods
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with rapid-acting antidepressant and pain-relief properties. Medically, it is used for surgery as an anaesthetic and to treat treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain, all under strict clinical supervision. In this article, I outline ways ketamine can be administered. Ketamine can be delivered by several routes, most commonly intravenous (IV) infusion, […]
Best Foods for ADHD: Nutrition to Support Focus and Mood
The mid-afternoon crash, the brain fog after a sugary breakfast—food directly impacts our focus and mood, but especially so for those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While medication and behavioral strategies are primary for those with ADHD, nutrition is a critical, and often overlooked, key element for health. By consciously choosing foods rich in […]
Propranolol for Anxiety: How It Works and When It Helps
Have you ever had a racing heart, trembling hands, and sweating before a speech, musical performance, or an important meeting? That’s called performance anxiety, the situational response to performance stress. Propranolol is commonly used off-label as a prescription medication for anxiety, although it is not FDA-approved for this purpose. It tackles anxiety not by altering […]
What Is an Anxiety Pen — and Does It Actually Work?
Ever seen someone with a fidget pen? Or a lavender-scented vape pen? Or inhaling CBD oil from a pen? These are all forms on a spectrum of a new fad—anxiety pens. People use them for short-term management of anxiety. They’re all the rage on TikTok and now widely available in pharmacies or elsewhere. But do […]
ADHD and Social Anxiety: Why They Overlap
Imagine your dread going to a party because you forget names mid-conversation, miss social cues, or mentally replay awkward moments for days. Is that ADHD or Social Anxiety, or both at once? Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) are separate conditions, but they co-occur at high rates. This overlap is not a coincidence. […]
OCD vs ADHD: How to Tell the Difference (and When It’s Both)
“You can’t focus at work—is it ADHD inattention or an OCD obsession pulling your thoughts away?”. It’s often a challenge to know. While OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) are distinct conditions, they can look similar from the outside, leading to misdiagnosis. OCD and ADHD can both cause distraction, restlessness, and difficulty finishing tasks, […]
What Does ‘Queer’ Mean? Healing Through Acceptance
Language can both wound and heal. The word “queer” can be confusing or even painful for some, given its history as a slur. Today, “queer” has been powerfully reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community. Understanding its modern meaning is a gateway to self-discovery, acceptance, and profound mental well-being. Many are not clear on the acronym LGBTQIA+. […]
Are You Fearful or Dismissive Avoidant? How to Tell the Difference
You may know two people who both seem distant in relationships, but for seemingly different reasons. One is cold and self-reliant, the other is anxious and conflicted. Attachment theory helps to explain this. It is a framework for understanding how we connect in relationships, stemming from our early bonds with caregivers. Knowing about attachment styles […]
What Is a Narcissist — and How Do You Recognize the Signs?
Explore traits of narcissism and borderline personality. Understand Cluster B disorders and find effective treatment. Contact our team now.
What Is Trauma Bonding — and How Do You Break the Cycle?
Ever made excuses for someone who is always hurting you? And even when the relationship causes great pain, you feel a powerful, addictive pull to that person? It might be trauma bonding—the compelling emotional attachment that forms from cycles of abuse, devaluation, and intermittent reward—not love or respect. Yet, despite the illusion of an authentic […]
What Is Developmental Trauma Disorder and How Is It Treated?
Learn what developmental trauma disorder is, its symptoms, and effective treatment options. Corner Canyon offers compassionate, evidence-based care.
Mental Breakdown Stages: What Happens and How Long It Lasts
Learn the stages of a mental breakdown, common warning signs, and how to seek help. Corner Canyon Health Centers in Utah provides expert support
Trauma Bonding: Why Victims Get Attached to Their Abuser?
Discover what trauma bonding is, why victims feel attached to their abuser, and how therapy at Corner Canyon Health Centers can help break the cycle
How to Tell If Someone Is a Narcissist: Seeing the Signs
Learn how to spot narcissistic traits and behaviors, understand different types of narcissism, and how to navigate relationships with narcissists
What Is Fawning? Understanding the Trauma Response
Learn what fawning is, how it develops as a trauma response, its signs, how it affects relationships, and how trauma-informed care supports healing
What Is Mania? Signs, Triggers, and When to Get Help
Mania involves periods of abnormally elevated mood, energy, or activity levels. Most commonly, this is associated with bipolar disorder and related conditions. Mania is a very serious mental health condition and requires prompt medical attention to diagnose and treat. But it is treatable. Read on to learn more. What Types of Mania Exist — and […]
Dealing with Anxiety? Here’s Why You Freeze — and How to Get Unstuck
Learn how to get out of the freeze response caused by anxiety. Understand why it happens, coping mechanisms, and how your nervous system can heal
What Is Equine Therapy? Benefits and Uses Explained
Discover what equine therapy is, how it works, and who it helps. Understand the emotional and mental health benefits of this unique therapeutic approach
Does IOP Actually Work? What Research and Clinical Outcomes Tell Us
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) have become increasingly popular due to their flexibility and effectiveness. Nonetheless, there are a number of myths about them that can be confusing for those who are considering this form of addiction or mental health treatment. Myth 1: Are IOPs Just Group Therapy With No Medical Supervision? The Reality: IOPs do […]
What Is Epigenetics? How Gene Expression Shapes Mental Health
The complex relationship between our genes and mental health shapes who we are, yet doesn’t define who we can become. Epigenetics is an exciting emerging field that studies how behaviors, life experiences, and environment shape gene activity without changing DNA. Chemical “tags” on genes turn the genes on or off, influencing mental health. Stress, diet, […]
Nutritional Psychiatry & Genetic Testing for Mental Health
Two major breakthroughs in understanding and treating mental health conditions are nutritional psychiatry and genetic testing. The former is focused on the impact of diet on brain function and emotional well-being. The latter focuses on identifying genetic markers to personalize the selection of psychiatric medication. Both fields show promise but have distinct applications and limitations. […]
PGX Testing in Mental Health: Personalized Treatment Insights
Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is emerging as a promising tool in mental health care, using genetic insights to tailor antidepressant and antipsychotic treatments. PGx testing is a precision (also called personalized) medicine technology that examines genetic variation in the way medication is metabolized or broken down for processing by the body. By analyzing an individual’s unique […]
How Are Neurodivergent Disorders Treated?
Approximately 15% of the global population is neurodivergent, often experiencing multiple conditions simultaneously. Neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD, are often summarized as any condition in which someone develops atypical cognitive processes early in life. With advocacy from the expanding neurodiversity movement, neurodevelopmental disorders are no longer viewed as illnesses that need to be cured, […]
How Accurate Is Genetic Testing for Mental Health? What the Science Says
Genetic testing is a hot topic these days as it is enabling the rise of personalized, or precision medicine. The study of how a person’s unique genetic makeup influences their body’s response to medications is called pharmacogenomics or PGx. A genetic test involves testing a simple cheek swab or blood sample to pinpoint changes in […]
Can Genetic Testing Predict Depression, Anxiety or Bipolar Disorder?
You may have heard about genetic testing as the foundation of a new approach to medicine. It has been successfully applied to areas like cancer and cardiology treatment. But what about for mental health conditions? The field of psychiatric genetics has made great strides in the past 20 years, particularly for illnesses such as schizophrenia […]
How Much Does Genetic Testing for Mental Health Cost? Is It Worth It?
You may have heard of genetic testing which has grown in public awareness in the past few years, largely due to two things: its clinical validation for a variety of conditions, including for mental health, and its affordability. But does it work, and is it affordable enough to make the cost worthwhile? Read on to […]