Addiction affects more than someone who uses drugs. It impacts everyone in their life as well. If you have a loved one who suffers from an addiction, it can be challenging to see a path forward. What should your next steps be once you know the addiction exists? One way you can help them and…
If you are addicted to substances, getting help to move into recovery is very important. But you might not be sure about the signs of drug addiction. The signs may be obvious, or they could be harder to spot, depending on how long you have been dealing with addiction and how big of a role…
A cognitive distortion is a skewed way of thinking that makes life chaotic for many people. For instance, if you suffer from cognitive distortions, you may have a unique, negative view of people and life experiences. You may always expect the worst to happen, or feel like you are never good enough. These are all…
What is mental illness? The Mayo Clinic defines mental illness as a “disorder that affects mood, thinking, and behavior.” Generally speaking, all people struggle with different variations in these three aspects on occasion. However, you may have a mental illness if your symptoms continue, repeat themselves frequently, cause stress, and impact your ability to function…
Alcohol kills more people every year than car crashes, drownings, or accidents. It is the third-leading cause of preventable death in America, coming in behind only smoking and leading an unhealthy lifestyle. This is only one of many startling substance abuse statistics that everyone should know. The more you know about addiction, the easier it…
Addiction is a complicated issue. Even though some believe that addiction is either strictly a physical problem or a psychological issue, neither is correct. An individual may use opioids because they like the way the substance makes their body feel. However, the medication creates a strong psychological dependence on your brain as well. To gain…
It may be easy to spot signs of addiction in your teen. Parents have learned how to watch for signs of addiction for many decades, and they know what to look for. However, it is much more difficult to spot signs of drug addiction in your parents. How does one do this? Surprisingly, substance use…
Motivational interviewing programThe opioid epidemic is a national tragedy. It is marked by high rates of opioid fatalities and a lack of medical recognition of the addictive nature of opioids. The opioid epidemic has rocked many communities. It has flipped how we see pain medicine on its head. Doctors prescribed opioids for every kind of…
Is alcohol a drug? Yes. Alcohol belongs to a family of drugs known as depressants. Depressants slow your heartbeat and other body functions. When you drink alcohol, you may feel pleasantly ‘buzzed’ or sleepy. Your speech may become slurred, and your thinking may become confused. Though many people drink socially without problems, others become dependent…
Scientists have long referred to addiction as a disease. Scientists know that addiction is a disease because real physical changes occur in an individual’s brain chemistry that causes addiction. Once these changes happen, it is extremely difficult for a patient to heal themselves. Just as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease require medical treatment, so does…
