There are few things more difficult than supporting someone in rehab for drugs or alcohol, and that goes tenfold when the case involves a close family member. But when it's your child who's struggling? Arguably, this is the toughest situation of all, and it can take tremendous emotional strength to overcome the ... Read More
Search Results for: trauma
Step 12 of AA: Sharing Your Spiritual Awakening With Others
What Is the 12-Step Program? Originally described in a book called Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism (1939), the 12-step program consists of a set of precepts guiding substance abusers towards achieving a sober life. Some of these precepts include admitting ... Read More
Co-occurring Addiction and Mental Illness: The Complex Question of Which to Treat First
Mental illness and addiction are often linked, meaning a person who may have a substance abuse problem could also suffer from depression or anxiety. When mental health and substance abuse are evident, it’s called dual diagnosis. Such patients will need an integrated approach to treatment. It’s not possible to manage ... Read More
Obstacles for Men in Recovery
In early recovery, men face multiple challenges and barriers that may interfere with them from getting the help they need. Cultural expectations and societal pressures leave the impression that men are to assume the role of being strong, fearless, and in control. These unhealthy and unrealistic expectations produce the ... Read More
How Today’s Treatments Spell “Hope” for Those With Schizophrenia
What Is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness characterized by an inability to distinguish reality from fantasy. People with schizophrenia must take antipsychotic medications to reduce symptom severity. Although an exact cause of schizophrenia has yet to be determined, psychiatrists ... Read More
Forgetting The Last Hangover (and Other Causes of Alcohol Relapse)
After spending a few days in detox and three weeks in an inpatient treatment center, it seems that all the hard work and effort has paid off. You’re sober and seeing life through clear lenses for the first time in a long time. You have done the work, attend your AA meetings and feel confident in your ability to push a ... Read More
Understanding Integrated Medical Care: Expert Opinion with Dr. Howeedy
“Integrated medical care” is a cutting-edge approach to behavioral healthcare. This collaborative care model for patient care employs an interdisciplinary team of medical and clinical health professionals who together treat the whole patient— not just the presenting mental health problem in isolation, but other medical ... Read More
Treating Co-Occurring Disorders to Help Prevent Suicide
According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 8.2 million American adults had a mental illness as well as a substance use disorder within the past year. The same study also documented a co-occurrence of serious mental illness and the presence of substance use disorder within 2.6 ... Read More
