At a time when there seems to be more of an emphasis on female empowerment than ever before, messages of shame related to body size still permeate our culture.

• Depression Research: Diet Soda Drinkers More Prone to Depression
• Depression: Researchers Say Diet Can Prevent Depression

© Taylor Dawn Fortune

At certain periods in life, living with a person who uses maladaptive thinking styles increases your risk of depression. Fortunately, the opposite is also true.

• Robin Williams: Robin Williams Tragedy - Middle Aged Suicides on the Rise
• Quitting Smoking: Cigarette Withdrawal Can Cause Acute Depression
• Demi Lovato: On Cutting and Mental Illness - Demi Lovato Says She’s Not Cured
• German National Team Goalkeeper Robert Enke Commits Suicide at 32
• Adult Video Gamers Are Heavier, More Introverted and More Likely Depressed

© MShades

A study which proves that it is never too late to quit drinking shows that even severely brain damaged alcoholics (who suffer balance and walking problems from their neural deficits) will recover much balance and motor function in time.

• Marijuana Abuse: Heavy Marijuana Use Causes Brain Changes
• Methamphetamines: Fetal Meth Exposure Causes Brain Damage
• 40% of Medical Marijuana Patients Use Cannabis to Control Alcohol Cravings
• Heavy and Long-Term Marijuana Use Causes Brain Shrinkage
• Heavy and Long-Term Marijuana Use Causes Brain Shrinkage

© Bruckerrlb

Here’s one very compelling reason to quit opiates sooner rather than later.

• People Prescribed High Doses of Opiates are 9 Times More Likely to OD
• Pain Killers: Doctors Too Scared to Prescribe Pain Medications
• Microsoft Allows Illegal Online Pharmacies to Advertise on Bing
• Prescription Drug Overdose Deaths Skyrocket in Florida - Experts Blame Storefront Pain Clinics
• Bush Urges Congress to Ban the Sale of Dangerous Prescription Drugs over the Internet

© Leo Hidalgo

Of all the culturally conditioned behaviors we’ve mindlessly adopted, alcoholism is one of the most curious.

• Alcohol Abuse: Intervention Text Messages Reduce Drinking
• Aging: Alcohol Abuse Accelerates Aging
• 8 Years of War Causes a Sharp Increase in American Military Binge Drinking Rates
• It Is Never Too Late To Stop Drinking
• Poll: Do you consider substance abuse to be your biggest problem?