Understanding the 5 stages of addiction for drugs or alcohol can be helpful for avoiding a substance use disorder that can cause many other health complications. Addiction is a complex, progressive disease of the brain. It is NSDH) estimates that around 20 million struggle with substance use disorders in the United States, and that number…
Though everyone experiences mood swings from time to time, people struggling Bipolar Disorder (BD) live with dramatic shifts that can affect their energy, behavior and ability to think clearly. Because it can impact anyone, it should come as no surprise there are many celebrities and famous people with Bipolar Disorder who have been able to…
Over the last nearly 50 years, an overwhelming amount of evidence has shown that the United States’ “war on drugs” has been an abject failure when compared to sentencing alternatives. Incarceration rates for drug offenses remain constant as law enforcement, much like the fabled Dutch Boy plugging leaks in the dam with his finger, finds…
As much as we crave it, the benefits of quitting sugar can improve a whole range of quality of life health issues for those of us who can’t get enough of the sweet stuff. There’s a long-standing debate among many people whether sugar is addictive like drugs or alcohol, although there are plenty of behavioral…
There’s so much overlap between the symptoms that it can be easy to confuse the difference between stress and depression. Some people might think they’re stressed out when, in fact, they’re dealing with undiagnosed depression. Another person might believe they’re depressed when in actuality a small behavioral change might alleviate their problem. This is why…
A complex psychiatric condition, once referred to as multiple personality disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is often misunderstood and even considered, incorrectly, a myth in some circles. Research over the last 40 years has proven this condition is very real and can be the source of significant anguish and impairment in day-to-day life. This is…
What helps one person achieve recovery may not work for another’s individual challenges. Two distinct and effective ways of treating those seeking help with substance abuse, depression and other mental health issues, outside of residential inpatient treatment, are outpatient recovery programs referred to as a PHP Program and an IOP Treatment Program. As with other
There’s always a lot of chatter about maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, but very often what’s missing from the discussion are the actual facts of why eating healthy is so important. One of those “finer points” is how our diet can chemically influence our mood, which is why regular consumption of serotonin foods is a…
An estimated 8 million people in the United States struggle with mental health issues related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Because it impacts so many people, June is recognized as PTSD Awareness Month. From combat veterans to survivors of physical or sexual abuse, and even those who have witnessed severe trauma, this condition can cause…
