The symptoms of schizophrenia can be heartbreaking to watch, and the impact of a loved one's addiction adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation. It is common to feel powerless in the face of your loved one's struggles with these co-occurring conditions, but the team at St. Joseph Institute wants you to [...]
When you first started using marijuana, you were simply interested in relaxing and having a good time with your friends. Now that cannabis has become a regular part of your life, you may be wondering if it could be doing long-term damage. Although the negative effects of regular marijuana use are still being studied, there [...]
For many people contemplating addiction treatment, the thought of withdrawal gives them pause. Although specific symptoms depend on the substance being abused, a person's overall health, and the length of their addiction, withdrawal is often associated with uncomfortable symptoms such as sweating, chills, headaches, abdominal upset, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, and rapid heart rate. [...]
Many of us are prone to "either/or" thinking that affects our risk perception. For example, we often talk about drug overdoses in a way that assumes a person either suffers a fatal overdose or recovers with no lasting long-term effects. This couldn't be further from the truth, as drug overdoses can lead to permanent brain [...]
What Are the Risks of Detoxing Without Medical Supervision? Although most people think of detox as merely uncomfortable, the reality is that withdrawal from drugs or alcohol can be dangerous if you don't take proper precautions. Symptoms are notoriously unpredictable and can range from mild aches and pains to intense physical reactions, such as [...]
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the best-known self-help program for men and women struggling with alcohol abuse. However, many people have questions about the role that spirituality and religion play in the program. AA Is Spiritual, Not Religious The founders of AA were members of a fundamentalist Protestant Christian movement, the Oxford Group. However, AA is [...]
How are you celebrating your soberversary? A soberversary is a commemorative event celebrating the anniversary of your sobriety. You can think of it as your sober “birthday” to mark the growth of the new person you’re becoming now that your life is no longer ruled by drugs and alcohol. Often, soberversaries are related to the [...]
Cravings are a common symptom of marijuana withdrawal. Regular marijuana use affects the reward pathways in the brain and conditions them to expect the dopamine rush that comes from substance use. When you're newly sober, strong urges to use are your body's way of trying to keep its dopamine levels in balance. Cravings for marijuana [...]
In her new hit single "Flowers," Miley Cyrus advocates for self-care as a way to heal from a bad breakup. I can buy myself flowers Write my name in the sand Talk to myself for hours Say things you don't understand I can take myself dancing And I can hold my own hand Yeah, I [...]
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can help people who are struggling with substance use disorders manage their cravings and work towards lasting sobriety. Although there are several different types of medications that can be used in MAT, naltrexone is one of the most common. What Is Naltrexone? Naltrexone belongs to a class of medications that are collectively [...]
