Why are cocaine and alcohol so frequently combined? If a person gets high from cocaine or drunk from alcohol, why would they need to mix the two drugs? The answer is both simple and complicated: Alcohol is a depressant, and cocaine is a stimulant. When an addict has drunk too much alcohol and wants to "party" some ... Read More
The Hidden Trauma of Being Raised by a Narcissist
Imagine what it's like for a child to grow up in a home with a parent who's almost impossible to please. Where every time they looked for encouragement or validation, they were met with criticism or belittlement. Where their parent felt threatened any time their child stretched their wings and showed a glimmer of ... Read More
The College Student’s Guide to Addiction and Mental Health Help
It's no secret that substance abuse is a problem on American college campuses. Each year, publications such as Princeton Review and Best Colleges post annual lists highlighting the "top party schools." Fraternity/sorority and house parties and near-campus bars with dirt-cheap drink specials accompany the typical ... Read More
What Is It Like to Have Borderline Personality Disorder?
For most people, a crisis is something that unexpectedly disrupts their lives but eventually resolves itself. A death in the family, sudden job loss or losing your home in a fire is a crisis. The way we deal with a crisis depends on many factors as well, such as how much family support is available, financial resources ... Read More
Can Drug Seizures Kill You?
Seizures are a common topic in discussions about substance abuse. Their occurrences are common during withdrawal from several addictive substances, including alcohol and benzodiazepines. But what many people aren't so aware of are seizures caused by other drugs. These can occur as a result of short- and long-term ... Read More
The Dangers of Combining Caffeine and Alcohol
Some people may think that drinking coffee after drinking alcohol will perk them up and alleviate the symptoms they're feeling as a result of the drinks they consume, but this isn't the case. The dangerous reality is that consuming caffeine after alcohol can mask alcohol's depressant side effects, making you feel you ... Read More
Why Psychoeducational Groups Are Effective at Treating Mental Health Issues
Psychoeducation is a type of group therapy for those seeking help for mental health disorders or addiction. Psychoeducation isn’t always well understood by the public or by those who seek out psychoeducational group therapy. Yet, its premise is very simple and very valuable. Psychoeducational groups work to educate ... Read More
What Is Endogenous Depression?
Everyone feels a little down occasionally, but sometimes those feelings don't go away. When feelings of sadness, hopelessness or numbness persist for more than two weeks, it may become clinical depression. Consider the exogenous and endogenous definitions of depression to be more specific about the type of illness ... Read More