“I used to be the guy I hate now,” JC Santana joked. Santana, who founded the Florida-based Institute of Human Performance in 2001, was describing his earlier self as a young combat athlete. “I was that kid in his 20s and 30s who thought, ‘The more you hurt me, the more I like it,’” he said, in a recent interview with ... Read More
The Experience Blog
FHE Health is comprised of a team of professionals dedicated to improving our patients well-being. In this section our experience is used to weigh in on current events including legislation and trends as well as expert opinion articles directly contributed by our staff. The proof of our program is our Alumni, so we often feature articles from those who have completed our program. They offer real-life stories of struggle, hope and a new life. In our blog you’ll also find out about upcoming events and community impact efforts FHE Health is taking part in.
Mental Health in Combat Sports: An Interview with an Expert
What Is Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD)?
An estimated 5.5 million adults in the United States use hallucinogenic drugs. People who take hallucinogens may be hoping to escape their lives, reset their brains or have new experiences. While the drugs may provide these benefits, they can also cause side effects, including hallucinogen persisting perception ... Read More
This Country Has the Lowest Drug Overdose Rates—Why?
Drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths are a significant and growing public health problem in this country. In the year 2020, a record 90,000 people died from drug overdose in the United States, and in 2021 that number increased even more—to nearly 110,000 deaths. Experts have highlighted many factors that could be ... Read More
The Concern That’s Causing Early Retirement in the NFL
As a high-contact sport, football asks players to subject themselves to extraordinary trauma. With every tackle, they risk countless injuries to their bodies and minds alike. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the NFL, CTE and other traumatic brain injuries remain prevalent in the league. Players and fans have ... Read More
Learning to Take on More Responsibility After Rehab
Years before Zack Traynor was Director of Admissions at FHE Health, he was fresh out of rehab, new to recovery, and trying to discern short-term versus long-term goals. Questions of responsibility loomed large, as they do for so many in this critical first year of sobriety: Which responsibilities should come ... Read More
Recreational Therapy: What Are Its Benefits in Rehab?
“Can you provide a definition of recreational therapy?” We were talking to Adam Lazarus. Lazarus is the recreational therapist at FHE Health and had agreed to be interviewed as part of our expert interview series. “Recreational therapy is a way to utilize recreation to help clients find purpose, meaning and joy in ... Read More
Alumni: How to Respectfully Set Boundaries to Maintain Sobriety
Whether it’s a new job, a new apartment, tax season, family in town, or the holidays, certain moments or events are often accompanied by higher rates of stress. For some, these moments can become a potential trigger for relapse. But the good news is that with thoughtful boundaries, these whirlwind experiences become ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: The Difference Between Anxiety and Social Anxiety
What is Anxiety? The definition of the word anxiety is as follows: “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” If we go simply off of that definition alone, many of us have probably had many moments where we felt some anxiety. Life is full of ... Read More
