Stress runs rampant between Thanksgiving and Christmas, making it an especially difficult period of time for those struggling with mental health and substance use issues. That’s why we wanted to share this expert guide on 7 ways to enjoy Sober Holidays. Harvard describes holiday stress as “an acute reaction to an immediate threat” where “the … Read more
The most difficult part of overcoming addiction and addiction triggers is making the decision to seek help and quit using alcohol and drugs. The most effective way to overcome addiction is often the next hurdle that people struggling with the condition must face. Fortunately, evidence-based addiction treatment has made incredible advances in the last two … Read more
September is National Recovery Month and National Suicide Prevention Month to create awareness about each of these important mental health issues that sometimes intersect. Let’s begin by giving you some framework on how to best think about addiction. Imagine a close friend or family member is diagnosed with heart disease. Then, despite the fact that … Read more
Facing the fallout of a relapse can feel devastating for a person in recovery from addiction, but it’s important to know that you haven’t failed and there is life after relapse. In truth, setbacks are a normal part of recovery and it’s certainly not a reason to throw away all of the hard work that … Read more
The consequences of alcohol and drug abuse can create problems with work, school, and personal relationships. Even for people without a history of addiction, drugs and alcohol can cause mental and physical health issues known as Substance Induced Disorders (SIDs). These issues can severely impair a person’s ability to live a normal life. Fortunately, most … Read more
Many people wonder how to know when a bad habit becomes an addiction. It can be difficult to say depending on the type of habit or behaviors involved, especially if they include certain substances. First, it’s important to understand the differences and similarities between a bad habit vs. addiction. We are all, by nature, creatures … Read more
While it might be in the news as much these days, it’s important to understand meth withdrawal symptoms, detox, and treatment because methamphetamine abuse and addiction is still a very real problem in many parts of the United States. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that an estimated 1.6 million … Read more
In case you haven’t heard all the excuses addicts use to avoid going to addiction rehab, we’ve outlined some of the most common ones here. Anyone with sufficient time in recovery will tell you that it’s incredibly rewarding and life altering. But like anything else, it comes with challenges and struggles. Understanding that and anticipating … Read more
Polysubstance Abuse, or using more than one drug at a time, is increasingly common. The average adult in the United States is taking 4 medications at any one point in time. So it’s not surprising that 2 million serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occur every year in the U.S. – resulting in 106,000 deaths annually … Read more
It’s important to understand the 4 types of bipolar disorder and how they can impact substance use. While the public’s perception of recovery is commonly watered down to a simple solution of detox, 12-steps, and willpower, proper mental health and addiction treatment is actually far more complicated. While a commitment to abstinence and accountability works … Read more