A Dual Diagnosis The symptoms of bipolar disorder can often be masked by active substance abuse, but these conditions are two separate mental health issues. For a lasting recovery, both must be treated simultaneously. If your loved one has been diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and a substance use disorder, educating yourself on this dual [...]
Stress Can Be a Relapse Trigger Substance use disorders are chronic illnesses, which means your long-term treatment plan must include a strategy to manage relapse triggers. Everyone's experience is different, but stress is a very common trigger for relapse. Although some sources of stress can be easily avoided, it's impossible to create a stress-free environment. [...]
Although everyone has good days and bad days, depression is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness that interfere with day-to-day functioning. Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders and can pose a significant threat to your recovery if it's not properly addressed. Depression as a Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorder Many people initially [...]
It's difficult to say with certainty what causes some individuals to develop a drug or alcohol addiction. Substance use disorders are chronic biologically based illnesses with complex environmental triggers. However, exposure to trauma—especially during the childhood years—is strongly linked to an increased risk of developing an addiction. Defining Trauma Trauma can affect many aspects of [...]
When it comes to managing depression and anxiety, there's no right answer. For some people, medication is a vital part of keeping their condition under control. For others, lifestyle changes let them work towards naturally improving their mental health. This article outlines several ways to manage depression and anxiety without the use of prescription drugs, [...]
Throughout the United States, May is observed as Mental Health Awareness Month to bring attention to the role mental health care plays in a person's overall sense of wellbeing. Started in 1949 by Mental Health America (MHA), the observance encourages a better understanding of mental health disorders and promotes access to screening and treatment options. [...]
The gender-based differences in addiction are hard to ignore. According the National Institute on Drug Abuse: Men have higher rates of binge drinking and alcohol abuse in most age groups. Men more likely to use almost all types of illicit drugs—including both illegal street drugs and misused prescription drugs. Men are more likely to need [...]
Withdrawal is the first step towards addiction recovery, but it's an often misunderstood part of the process. Why Withdrawal Occurs The term withdrawal refers to the symptoms someone with a substance abuse problem experiences after suddenly stopping the use of drugs or alcohol. Withdrawal typically begins within a few hours of when the abused substance [...]
Co-occurring disorders are mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or OCD, that occur in people who are also suffering from drug or alcohol addiction. This is sometimes referred to as a dual diagnosis. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that most mentally ill people who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction are [...]
If only life was a true reflection of the fairy tales our mothers read to us as small children. There was a problem, with courage and determination it was overcome, and everyone could then live happily ever after. The illusion was that there was only one problem, and that if it was resolved, everything else [...]
