Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive, and fatal disease. Although there is no absolute “cure” for alcoholism, we are able to recover from the hopeless state of body and mind that has resulted from the disease. Rather than a cure, we have recovery programs designed to maintain sobriety and remove symptoms of the disease. Alcoholism can…
When we were in active addiction or suffering other mental health issues, we rarely cared about exercise or getting out into nature. When we enter into sobriety and are in the process of healing, however, hiking can be a great way to improve our physical and mental health. Hiking provides the aerobic exercise we need…
What should people think about before going through the admissions process for a rehab center? Apart from checking if they have health insurance for rehab, they should also check if they can use leaves covered by FMLA for rehab attendance. Addiction is a complex and chronic disease that can affect both the body and the…
Before you go through the admissions process at an addiction treatment facility, it’s best to determine if you can use your health insurance for drug rehab costs. Many insurance companies didn’t cover substance abuse treatment in the past. Most denied addiction treatment coverage based on whether substance use disorders or other co-occurring mental health conditions…
When you think about your gut health, you might be thinking about what’s going on in your stomach. However, the ‘gut’ actually represents the interactions of the entire digestive system, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, and rectum. The gastrointestinal tract is a thirty-foot-long muscular tube that transports food from your…
Most researchers and theoreticians consider the family as a fundamental unit of society and the building block of our communities. The home is the primary place where a child learns what normal and healthy behavior looks like. However, it can also be the first place where a growing child may learn detrimental behaviors from a mom…
For those suffering from a substance use disorder, the threat of relapse can feel omnipresent. Family and friends may worry that one wrong move will spell the end of their loved one’s sobriety. Relapse can hurt everyone involved and cause meaningful, long-term relationships to fall by the wayside. The tug of alcohol or drugs on…
Substance abuse and subsequent addiction can have short- and long-term effects on the mind and body. Addiction is now seen as a brain disease that is caused by excessive drug or alcohol use. Addiction alters the biochemistry and anatomy of neurons within the brain, causing these essential cells to become less responsive to toxic substances.…
Heroin is a highly addictive drug with a long and rich history of narcotic and pain-relieving effects. Heroin is produced from morphine, which is an organic compound itself derived from opium, a latex substance that leaks from the poppy seedpod when damaged. Opium has been used in its original state for thousands of years. Evidence dates…
Everyone feels sad or down from time to time, but depression is an entirely different ballgame. Depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, can be dark and lonesome for people who experience the disorder. It can feel like endless sadness, discontentedness, and hopelessness. Like a slug, hauling its sticky and slow body…