Mental Health

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when someone has witnessed a traumatic event – and the symptoms can be debilitating. Many people with PTSD experience nightmares, flashbacks, paranoia, anxiety, depression and more, with many people who also abuse substances in an attempt to get through the day. Much tension is held throughout the body in those with PTSD because of being easily-startled, stressed, angered, or due to having difficulties sleeping. If this is something you’ve been struggling with, addiction recovery is a great place to begin working through the physical, mental and emotional symptoms that have held you back in making the most of your life. Holistic practices treat the mind, body and spirit in a way that is restorative – and massage therapy could be an excellent route to take if your doctor recommends it. It is estimated that 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some form of trauma at least once in their lives, and with a wide range of symptoms and severities, it’s hard to tell how a person will experience PTSD without treatment. A 2017 study published in the by a researcher from George Fox University assessed the decision-making and critical thinking abilities of firefighters – a group of professionals who have been exposed to trauma often – after receiving massage therapy. They found that massage therapy significantly improved both of these factors, enabling the firefighters to think more clearly and efficiently. Massage therapy reduces cortisol (a stress response) and increases serotonin (which regulates mood, sleep, appetite, etc.) and dopamine (the “feel good” chemical). With this, people in addiction recovery can feel less anxious and less in danger, as massage therapy can provoke feelings of security. For someone who struggles with both addiction and PTSD, massage therapy could be just one of many components of holistic treatment that could help aid in uncomfortable symptoms. Now is the time to take a firm hold on your self-care; it’s time to get your life back.

One of the most challenging yet worthwhile components of addiction recovery is learning about how we tend to cope with stressful situations and finding ways to apply healthier stress responses to them. For many in addiction recovery, stress is something we’ve always tried to avoid – either by not acknowledging it, by physically leaving the situation, or by numbing the pain with substances.

Addiction doesn’t always come by itself. We’re all made up of different genetic makeups, different backgrounds, histories, experiences, mental health issues and more. For many people, addiction comes alongside mental disorders – and sudden bouts of anxiety or overwhelming fear can lead to panic attacks, which can make us feel as though we can’t think or breathe. Our palms become sweaty, our vision is blurred, and before we know it, everything around us is spinning. If you’ve been trying to make sense of what you’ve been going through, it can be helpful to understand the difference between panic attacks and panic disorder.

When you’re in the throes of anxiety, it can feel as though the entire world is falling apart. Your fears take over, your head starts spinning, and all these thoughts come flooding in – with no way to stop it. It’s easy to hear from friends or family to “calm down” or “it will all be okay” – but will it? Countless times, you’ve tried to “wish” your anxiety away – but unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. For many in addiction recovery, anxiety is a staple symptom of coming to grips with major change. Detoxification can bring about these symptoms, or anxiety itself could be something that you’ve been struggling with for quite some time. Either way, it feels like it’s hard to manage; thankfully, there are a number of effective coping skills you can utilize to improve the levels of anxiety that you have – and one of the first coping skills you should try is mental distraction. Mental distraction has been defined as, “The technique of focusing on something else when your mind is preoccupied with anxious thoughts that are not proving productive.” Mind.org, a UK-based organization, has noted that small-scale distraction techniques, such as the ones we’re about to show you, can greatly help break the inertia of anxiety running its course:

“He or she only cares about themselves…they are such a narcissist.” We’ve been hearing different variations of that phrase for quite some time now, as the term “narcissist” has been taken over on social media to serve as a quick insult. This isn’t the first time that mental health issues have been used incorrectly in the public forum, but misuse is likely to occur when explanation behind these disorders isn’t provided as much as they should be. The truth is, narcissism isn’t bad. In fact, we all have it to some degree – and we shouldn’t stigmatize that term nor the disorder so much, because it only makes it more challenging for those around us to seek the help they need.

A co-occurring diagnosis is a condition in which an individual is struggling with addiction, while simultaneously coping with some form of mental illness. This type of situation is common enough that addiction treatment centers have incorporated mental health treatments into their programs. While co-occurring may sound like an easy condition to identify, it's actually a very complex psychological problem that has generated myths and rumors.

College brings new responsibility, experiences, and freedom to young adults. It is the first chance for many to really experience life away from home without restrictions. Some students use this opportunity to grow and learn who they are as an adult. Others abuse this freedom, and find college campuses are a place to party and experiment with illegal drugs. While college is an exciting time, it also carries added stress. Full-time students are twice as likely to suffer drug abuse as young adults who don't attend college. Stress, heavy course loads, and peer pressure are some of the reasons college students begin using drugs.

Narcissists can have a way of taking over a room with their charismatic personalities, and while their charm initially seems seductive, their overbearing nature may soon leave you feeling drained. Whether you are dealing with a coworker, spouse or parent, you can use these tips to set boundaries that minimize the effects that the narcissist in your life has on your self-esteem.

Reports of people suffering from anxiety and general stress are on the rise. It’s no secret that we live in a fast-paced world, and it’s easy to find ourselves overwhelmed at work, while dealing everyday life or navigating family life. While there are medications on the market to help, there are also natural methods to consider. Meditation has been used by yogis and people in other cultures for thousands of years. It can decrease anxiety and promote general well being.

Seasonal affective disorder is a condition that commonly begins in the autumn and lasts throughout the winter. This condition is also referred to as SAD because it makes an individual feel mentally depressed and physically unenergetic for several months. The condition of SAD primarily occurs in geographic regions where there is less daily sunlight as winter approaches. SAD is diagnosed in children, teenagers and adults of both genders, leading to more than 3 million cases of the condition each year in the United States.

Alcohol is legal in the United States for those 21 and older, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people between the ages of 12 and 20 drink about 11 percent of the alcoholic drinks the country consumes. A 2016 study in the journal Pediatrics shows that 11.5 percent of those in that age group reported a major depressive episode in 2014, up from 8.7 in 2005 — a 37 percent increase. One recent American Addiction Centers (AAC) report suggesting that the connection between the alcohol and depression is particularly tricky. The report explains that it’s logical those who suffer from depression would seek the temporary relief that a drink can provide; but it is quick to point out that abuse invariably feeds the depression. Meanwhile, it asserts, the connection between abuse and depression is “undeniable” in all age groups.

According to the American Psychiatric Association our personalities are the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors we have that are what make us different from others. Personalities are shaped over time by a variety of factors from both environment and experiences. Also according to the APA, a personality disorder occurs when a person’s thoughts, behaviors and interactions with others deviates from cultural norms and causes distress or problems with functioning, and lasts over time. There are many types of personality disorders and doctors have organized them into different groups, or cluster, to help with diagnosis and identification. The good news is that most personality disorders can be treated.