According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people worldwide struggle with depression, making it the leading cause of disability in the world. While depression is sometimes completely debilitating, meaning some people can’t even get out of bed, most people with depression continue to work and meet other responsibilities despite feeling chronically irritable,…
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When you’re considering whether to invest your time, money, and effort into a treatment program for a substance use disorder or mental health issue, there’s really only one thing you want to know: Will it work? This is a surprisingly hard question to answer. While a common estimate for treatment success rates is that between…
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Treatment is first big step in recovery, but it’s only the beginning. The first major challenge after treatment is making the transition back to daily life. Treatment provides quite a bit of structure, whether it’s inpatient treatment, a partial hospitalization program, or an intensive outpatient program. You spend many hours every week engaged in therapy…
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Social anxiety disorder, or SAD, is an intense fear of social interaction. It can interfere with life in many ways, making dating, school, and work much more difficult. People with SAD typically avoid social situations. When they can’t, they often rely on drugs or alcohol in order to relieve their anxiety and be more “themselves”…
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Prescription opioids have been a major driver of the opioid epidemic that claimed nearly 60,000 American lives in 2017. Many people who would not otherwise have been exposed to opioid drugs were prescribed excessive amounts of painkillers following surgeries or other medical procedures, developed a physical dependence, then became addicted. Some of these people turned…
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Substance use among college students is surprisingly high. One study found that about 40 percent of college students qualify as binge drinkers, compared to less than 20 percent in the general population. College students also use other substances heavily. The study found that 37 percent used at least one illicit drug and about 7 percent…
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It’s good to have a hobby in addiction recovery. Hobbies keep boredom under control, challenge you to learn new things, and give you a sense of accomplishment. Trying to learn something new or complete a project gives you a sense of purpose and direction. Immersing yourself in a hobby is also an excellent way to…
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Whether you have an alcohol use disorder or you just feel like it might be a good idea to cut back, you may feel conflicted about quitting alcohol. The costs of drinking might be apparent to you, but no one drinks without getting something out of it. It might help you relax, cope with emotional…
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Getting enough quality sleep is one of the best things you can do for yourself, especially if you’re recovering from addiction or a mental health issue such as an anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or others. Even a few nights of too little sleep can lead to significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal…
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Despite all the media attention the opioid crisis has gotten in recent years, many myths about addiction still persist. One of the more dangerous myths is that someone struggling with a substance use disorder has to hit “rock bottom” before she can have a successful recovery. While many people do have a last-straw moment when…
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