Many people who find themselves in treatment or at 12-step meetings are there because they have no choice. They may have pleaded guilty or been convicted of DUI or drug-related charges and been sent to treatment as part of sentencing. It certainly seems like a better sentence than prison, but does sending someone to treatment…
Stimulant psychosis is a mental disturbance caused by an overdose of stimulants, typically meth, cocaine, or methylphenidate, better known as Ritalin. It can even be caused by caffeine, but not in the concentrations found in coffee. Stimulant psychosis is usually temporary. About 80 percent of people with stimulant psychosis recover within 30 days. About five…
Many people who struggle with addiction to drugs or alcohol also smoke. Not only that, they tend to keep smoking after they get sober. Studies have found that AA members smoke more heavily and at a much higher rate than the general population. Other studies have found that smoking correlates with a much higher risk…
Xanax is one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the world. It is a powerful, fast-acting benzodiazepine that is typically prescribed for panic disorders and insomnia. Unfortunately, Xanax is also extremely addictive. You can develop a physical dependence in two weeks of daily use. People often find they soon have to take a higher…
Fighting cravings is one of the hardest parts of fighting any addiction. It’s a pull that defies logic or reason and feels inescapable. Learning to tolerate cravings is one of the most important skills to learn during recovery. One thing that might help is simply taking some deep breaths. Smokers who have quit often find…
Some occupations have higher rates of addiction than others. Among the most vulnerable are lawyers, food service workers, manual laborers, and medical professionals. It’s strange to think medical professionals, including doctors, surgeons, EMT workers, and nurses, would be more likely to struggle with addiction. Many of them see first-hand the damage addiction can do to…
Exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself in recovery. Exercise strengthens willpower and executive function. It improves your mood by increasing serotonin, endorphins, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which actually grows brain cells in certain parts of your brain. Exercise also makes you healthier and repairs some of the…
The idea behind neurofeedback is simple and powerful: When you can actually see what your brain is doing you have much more control over your mental states. Learning new skills requires immediate feedback. When you learn to write your name it’s much easier when you can see where the pencil is going and make corrections.…
False “Facts” You’ve Heard About Rehab With addiction becoming more common, especially with today’s opioid epidemic plaguing the Nation, more and more people are talking about substance abuse rehabilitation. There are many facts out there about treatment centers, some true, and some false. These false “facts” being talked about can be detrimental, especially to someone…
Treatment Doesn’t Have To Be Boring. How Recreational Therapy Improves Addiction Treatment. Many people, when they think of recovery treatment, they think about the detox (which is probably the least desirable part), all the individual and group therapies they will have to do, and how boring the sober days are going to be. This is…
We are in-network with University of Utah Health Plans, Select Health & PEHP!