One popular belief about addiction is that once someone develops a substance use disorder, she will always have it, even though she might learn to control it. This idea, like many beliefs about addiction, owes much of its popularity to AA. In AA, members introduce themselves as alcoholics–never “former alcoholics,” even if they’ve not had… Continue Reading Do You Ever Completely Recover from Addiction?
Depression is the number one mental health issue in the US, with more than 16 million Americans suffering from a depressive episode each year. Symptoms typically include sadness, irritability, lack of energy and motivation, disturbed sleep, poor concentration, physical aches, slow movements, and thought of suicide or death. Depression is typically treated with a combination… Continue Reading Why Some Depression Doesn’t Respond to Medication
Antabuse, or disulfiram, and naltrexone are common medications used to treat alcohol use disorders. Both have been shown to improve outcomes in people who want to stop drinking. As with many forms of treatment, what works best depends on your situation. Here are some considerations that can help you decide which is better for you.… Continue Reading Is Antabuse or Naltrexone Better for Quitting Alcohol?
Methadone and Suboxone are drugs commonly used in opioid replacement therapy, a form of medication assisted therapy, or MAT. Methadone and Suboxone both work by mimicking the effects of opioids, only they don’t cause the same euphoria. Therefore, they can reduce the intense cravings that so often derail recovery from opioid addiction while allowing the… Continue Reading Which is Better: Methadone or Suboxone?
By some estimates, as many as 20 percent of Americans will experience a depressive episode at some point in their lives. Depression includes prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and pessimism, along with sleep disturbances, fatigue, aches, slow movements, poor concentration, and persistent thoughts of death or suicide. There are many aspects of depression we are… Continue Reading 4 Lies Depression Tells You
Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, means using FDA-approved medications in conjunction with counselling or treatment to recovery from addiction. The most common and controversial form of MAT is opioid replacement therapy, in which patients typically take methadone or buprenorphine to control drug cravings and prevent relapse. While opioid replacement therapy is controversial, it is not… Continue Reading Do People on MAT Need Medication Forever?
Depression affects about 16 million American adults every year. Common symptoms include persistent sadness, fatigue, lack of motivation, disrupted sleep, body aches, feelings of hopelessness, poor concentration, and thoughts of death or suicide. If you experience several of these symptoms for more than two weeks, see a doctor. Depression is typically treated with a combination… Continue Reading How a Warm Bath Might Help with Depression
There’s a saying in AA that goes, “Your best thinking is what got you here.” Studies have shown that intelligence is no protection against substance use disorders. In fact, the opposite may be true. People with above average IQs are more prone to substance use and addiction. Clearly, intelligence can’t do much for you when… Continue Reading 5 Ways to Become More Emotionally Intelligent in Recovery
Women with substance use issues may find themselves in a difficult position if they become pregnant. Using drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can have many negative effects on both the mother and the child. Women who use stimulants during pregnancy are at a greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Many drugs can harm a… Continue Reading Can You Do Medication Assisted Therapy While Pregnant?
Panic attacks can be terrifying. Your heart races, you shake, you sweat, you have trouble breathing, and you feel like you might die. Many people mistake panic attacks for heart attacks, which only increases their fear. Once you’ve had a panic attack, the fear of having another one may actually precipitate another attack. People with… Continue Reading How to Stop a Panic Attack