Real people sharing real stories about their experience with substance abuse and mental health.
During my twenty-five year career in substance abuse treatment, I’ve frequently heard family members (and clients) insist that "Alcohol isn't his/her/my problem - drugs are!" and "Alcoholism isn't his/her/my problem - addiction is!" as if the same principles of recovery from chemical dependency don't apply to any dysfunctional situation where alcohol either isn't present or isn't present enough to be identified as the primary drug-of-choice.
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Sitting at my desk this morning, I said, “Hey Siri, what is the definition of transformation?” In her robotic, Australian accent (it’s my favorite of the options) she responded, “transformation: a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.”
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When I was younger, about a decade ago, I dated someone who played guitar. Guitar is cool. It’s, you know, kind of sexy. (When you’re 23, I guess.) So I decided to start playing, and luckily it was something I stayed with, more or less, over the next few years.
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For many individuals, the cultural celebrations of winter – like Christmas and Hanukkah – mean an exciting time with family members. If you’re in recovery, though, it could mean an onslaught of holiday triggers. Returning home for the first time sober is a reason for celebration, but anyone who’s faced addiction knows it’s also a battle. Fortunately, there are several ways to overcome temptation and avoid triggers.
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The drug known as “ecstasy” has spread throughout the party and rave circuit to affect tens of thousands of people worldwide. But what exactly is the drug? What can it do to a human’s body and mind? Finally, and most importantly: Is ecstasy addictive?
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There are physical and psychological signs of Xanax addiction. First of all, Xanax is prescribed for a number of issues — mainly anxiety. However, it also works for agitation, seizures, mania, muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal, and insomnia.
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According to the NIMH, as of 2014, almost 8 million people in the United States had a mental illness (like depression) along with a substance abuse problem…
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Almost 20 percent of Americans have some type of anxiety. Along with those who have anxiety, some people have co-occurring disorders. These include substance abuse…
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Some people are under the misconception that ADHD is a children’s disorder. Yet, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder found in both…
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With an anxiety disorder being the most common mental illness in the United States, you or someone you love may feel the effects. For those who…
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