Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an acquired injury to the brain caused by either movement of the brain within the skull or from penetration of an object into the skull, contacting the brain directly. The resulting injury(ies) causes impairment to cognitive (thinking), emotional, and/or physical functioning. Impairment may be partial or total; temporary or permanent. Some major causes of TBI are automobile or motorcycle accidents, either to the driver, passenger, or a pedestrian; gunshot wounds; shaken baby syndrome; accidents from recreational sports (i.e. football, boxing, etc.) or something as ordinary as a bad fall. Abuse and assault are also leading causes.

Substance abuse has long been an issue of concern for youth and their parents, and especially those youth with social, emotional, and/or behavioral disabilities. It’s not a new problem but an ongoing problem that seems to grow worse with every generation. Substance abuse in adolescents typically manifests itself in the form of tobacco, alcohol and more commonly, inhalants. Recent reports detail many new ways of getting “high” many times with common household products, and all are exceptionally dangerous.

CAUSES

WHAT IS OCD?
OCD is often described as actions that are excessively repeated, such as unusually frequent hand washing to assure that germs have been washed off, or turning the lock on a door a specific number of times to assure that the door is really locked. These are good examples of what a person with OCD might do, but they are not definitions of what OCD is. OCD is actually a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts, or obsessions; and/or repetitive behaviors, or compulsions. The repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking or cleaning are often done as a way to prevent obsessions that may be invading their thoughts. Sadly the relief people with OCD feel by acting out compulsions is only temporary.