Joy is a natural state. In recovery, it may feel like a distant state you cannot even get on an airplane and fly to if you tried. Feeling joy seems elusive sometimes, especially early on when your brain is foggy and your body is still shaking off the remnants of addiction. Even in the best…
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder caused by witnessing a traumatic event or experiencing it first hand. Those who experience PTSD may end up using self-medicating techniques like drugs or alcohol to reduce anxiety and stress. Most people who have suffered through events like this eventually overcome anxiety, depression, and agitation. When…
Professional treatment for addiction is a key part of recovery. While it is not the only decision people must make regarding rehab, other decisions have to get made that support a healthier recovery. One of the decisions is how to make a transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment. Structure and support may be more necessary…
Addiction is a disease that attacks all aspects of human psychology and physiology. The consequences of addiction are severe and can cause fatal lung and heart conditions. Addiction affects mental health and can elevate symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Gaining insight into the complex nature of…
Methadone is a medication used to treat a person’s addiction to opioids such as painkillers and heroin. Methadone helps lessen withdrawal symptoms from opioid abuse. The withdrawals are less intense and the methadone provides a more comfortable detox experience. Although methadone has been used in treatment for many years, it is a synthetic opioid and…
Many people buy medication from online pharmacies. While this is convenient for the consumer, many of the pharmacies online are illegal. These rogue pharmacies can be dangerous to the consumer. People who use online pharmacies for their medication risk receiving medication that is expired, contaminated, or counterfeit. The consumer is at risk of serious health…
Addiction is a complex disease that hijacks the brain and alters brain chemistry. People who suffer from addiction often live with a co-occurring mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can be hard to heal from past trauma and some people turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. Eye…
When your spouse drinks too much alcohol and too often, he or she could be at risk of developing alcoholism. Some people have a genetic predisposition for becoming addicted to alcohol. Drinking alcohol can lead to serious mental and physical health problems. Alcohol affects the brain and can lead to liver failure, heart attack, overdose,…
Making the decision to get help for your addiction is one of the best decisions you will ever make. The road may not always be smooth and easy, but sticking it out and really applying yourself to the concept of addiction recovery and all it entails is the key to really turning your life around.…
Drug and alcohol abuse destroys the brain. By sending mixed signals to your brain’s neurotransmitters, drugs effectively trick your brain into craving more and more of them, as they wreak havoc on organs and bodily functions. This craving turns into full scale dependency– a term that indicates that the body has transitioned from simply enjoying…