Norton Psychological Services LLC

02/11/2024

https://ktvz.com/health/cnn-health/2024/02/08/opioid-crisis-fast-facts-5/

CNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here’s a look at the opioid crisis. Experts say the United States is in the throes of an opioid epidemic. An estimated 8.9 million Americans aged 12 and older misused opioids in 2022, including 8.5 million prescription pain reliever abusers and 1 million he**in use...

11/30/2023

Find a Therapist

Look no further - I have decades of experience, great insight, I’m easy to talk to, invested in your mental health/well-being, and I can help you! Check out my reviews at:

Deb Norton, MS is a counselor in Libertyville, IL. Her office accepts new patients and telehealth appointments.

08/14/2023

Here is an article that’s speaks to the very core of my work with women and alcohol in today’s society. I highly recommend that you read the whole thing. It’s insightful. And in my opinion, spot on.

The one thing it fails to mention - that the majority of my female clients claim they never knew - is that women get sicker faster from alcohol and they die sooner. This is due to First Pass Metabolism. Men have an enzyme in their gut that breaks down ethanol - the active ingredient in alcohol - before it’s passed off to the liver for processing. Women lack that enzyme. So our livers process 100% of the ethanol that we ingest! Hence, more damage done sooner.

For more information on this, reach out to me at deb@debnorton.com.

Wishing you all good health. 💫

Social, political and cultural solutions are required to address rising alcohol-related deaths among American women, writes Jill Filipovic.

06/14/2023

Stress Tolerance is something that young adults really struggle with nowadays. Stress Tolerance is defined as “the ability to withstand and cope with various stressors or pressures in life without experiencing significant negative effects on physical or mental well-being.”

Every week I have young adults sitting in my office telling me what they cannot do because it’s too stressful.

“I can’t work a job and go to school at the same time.”

“ I can’t make two phone calls in a day. It’s too much.”

“ I can’t have a conversation with my dad.”

“ I can’t go out with my friends and have a good time.”

“ I can’t handle ______ (fill in the blank)”.

So Much Anxiety! And it eats away the stress tolerance making a lot of things feel much harder to manage. Even every day stressors that don’t bother most of us, by can feel overwhelming to somebody with anxiety.

Anxiety is the #1 diagnosed mental illness for young adults today with an average incidence rate of over 30% in the US. This includes generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, and specific phobias.

The leading causal factors include education concerns, careers, social, relationships and financial responsibilities.

Instead of reacting to the things that young adults say they can’t do, offer them tools to help them manage their anxiety. Things like:

> Raising their awareness about mental health - specifically anxiety disorders
> Promoting healthy living choices such as adequate sleep, a balanced diet and regular exercise
> Offer them a supportive environment where they can share their experiences and find help
> Encourage them to seek out professional mental health services to help with alleviating anxiety symptoms

Although anxiety can have a negative impact on stress tolerance, managing anxiety can improve stress resilience. Therapy, self-care, and the development of healthy coping tools can help young adults enhance their stress tolerance, build resilience, and become fully functioning adults.

For more help with mental health concerns, just reach out to me for a free consultation.

deb@debnorton.com
224-406-1474

05/29/2022

Tip #1 - Young Adults Failing to Launch

It’s never easy having a young adult child who can’t finish college, can’t find a job, and doesn’t seem motivated to do much of anything.

When our children become adults at the age of 18, they’re protected by HIPAA. Their private healthcare information is no longer accessible to us as parents. This can be frustrating.

One of my first recommendations is to negotiate with your child to have them participate in psych testing. There is no good treatment without an accurate diagnosis.

For more information and guidance on this process, please feel free to contact me for a consultation appointment. 

05/29/2022

We are over two years since Covid took hold on the world. Many people are still struggling with managing the aftermath and finding their way forward. Mental health concerns have greatly increased in our society. 

If you were one of those people struggling with a mental health issue, please feel free to reach out to me. I value the opportunity to evaluate your situation and help you move forward.

Call me.

“Everyone Deserves to Feel Heard.”

Deb Norton MS LCPC NCC
(224) 406-1474



03/06/2021

Su***de is the #1 risk of Depression.
And depression rates skyrocketed from 10% to over 30% this past year.

The Mental Health industry is busier than ever. Programs and treatment facilities are overwhelmed. Mental health therapists are trying to keep up with heavier client caseloads and sicker clients. Many clients are presenting with severe mental health issues such as delusional disorder, psychosis and treatment resistant depression. We are seeing more substance abuse and binge eating going on. Clients in recovery from drugs, alcohol and eating disorders are at a greater risk of relapse.

People are lonely, isolated and scared. They’re worried about older loved ones in facilities where they can’t have visitors. This is devastating to those who are without parents, partners or children. And those who work from home are further isolated. All this leads to more mental health concerns.

Be aware of those around you who are emotionally struggling. And encourage them to reach out for help. We are here.

We can all help prevent su***de. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

01/12/2021

One of the biggest detriments to a person’s mental health is sleep issues.  A lack of sleep can slow down cognitive functioning, impair thinking, drop motivation, increase anxiety and increase physical pain. Coupled with mental health issues, sleep deprivation can be insidious.

If you are struggling with sleep deprivation, give me a call! In just a few sessions, we can get your sleep back on track and improve your overall functioning! 

Let’s work together!

01/06/2021

As we move towards healing this nation, recovering from a devastating pandemic, know that there are many qualified mental health clinicians in Illinois to help you heal, cope, manage and recover. My virtual door is open. I’m here. “Everyone deserves to feel heard.”

06/29/2020

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/lifestyle-and-wellness/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system?cid=63emHLN062220ENG&elqTrackId=28AF7BCE02A4C3250F1714A0BE98688B&elq=3ebcd8663ed1477291a188dcb5e99895&elqaid=3320&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=1728

How long alcohol stays in your system depends on your body weight, metabolism, and how much you drink. Find out how your body metabolizes alcohol and how long it takes to leave your system, including how long alcohol stays in your blood and urine.