Aldosterone is a hormone in the brain that isn’t frequently spoken about. Produced by the adrenal glands, the hormone takes part in regulating and controlling blood pressure. In addition, the aldosterone hormone helps balance electrolytes, which are needed for energy. New research from the NIAAA, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism discovered…
DetailsAdderall, an amphetamine meant for treating ADHD, is abused everywhere, especially on college campuses, where students share with friends—sometimes for last-minute exam cramming, sometimes for partying. When abused, Adderall acts similarly to methamphetamine and cocaine: it dramatically increased the activity of dopamine in the brain, causing a long, intense high–followed by a debilitating crash. How…
DetailsThere exists a strong relationship between healthy eating and positive mood regulation. Sticking to three healthy meals per day, with few snacks in-between, is a great way to keep your body’s functions in check and boost your spirits in the process. After eating fresh fruits, veggies, and meats, we feel good and refreshed. Tryptophan is…
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Addiction and mental health issues usually go together. Someone suffering from an addiction is twice as likely to suffer from at least one more mental health issue; and vice versa. Co-occurring disorders are now a common diagnosis in the medical field; the recognition is somewhat new but undeniably important. If a person with depression and…
DetailsNicotine is an addicting substance. Cigarettes are incredibly harmful. There is an overwhelming amount of research pointing to the fact that cigarettes are deadly, cause cancer, and are bad for the environment. Yet cigarette sales are consistently high and the tobacco industry is booming. Addicts and alcoholics in recovery are a large smoking population. Considered…
DetailsA quick and flippant answer to the question “how does heroin work” might be “all too well”. Heroin and medical morphine have the same effect on a person’s brain and metabolism, and a person’s body converts both heroin and medical morphine into the same form of morphine after it is administered. The primary difference is…
DetailsWe come up with all kinds of stories to convince ourselves that we don’t really have to do something. It’s called self-sabotage. We don’t believe we are worth accomplishing whatever it is we have set out to accomplish. Even years into our recovery we can still act in this self-sabotaging way, which harms our…
DetailsThere’s a lot of risk for relapse hidden in the phone. Your dealer’s number is there. You know how to access them on Facebook. You could call up an old drinking buddy and make plans, without calling anyone else. Silently, on Instagram, you can find illegal drugs for sale. If you are prone to…
DetailsRecovery goes through peaks and valleys, growth periods and plateaus. If you are feeling stuck in your recovery, ask yourself these three questions. What are your values? When we aren’t living according to our values, it can really bring us down. Suppose you really value fairness, honesty, and transparency but you work for a company…
DetailsAt first, it was novel. There’s an app for that. One app at a time, our lives were made easier, more accessible and more manageable by our smart devices in which we could download countless apps for every area of our life. There is an app for just about everything we can imagine, putting our…
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