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Trading addictions happens often. Many individuals attempt to “get rid” of their negative habits, but wind up picking up another unhealthy habit instead. Why does this happen? Many people who recently quit an addiction and are recovering experience heightened stress, pain, or anxiety because the vice that they originally used to fill in an emotional or psychological gap is now “gone”. When someone perceives a lack of control over their “loss” they may pick up a new addiction on many things: binge eating, overworking, gambling, cigarettes, benzodiazepines, sex, pornography, shopping, exercising and more. When someone is recovering from an addiction, they may experience lower dopamine levels in their brain – the area that produces feelings of happiness and reward. When this happens, a person may latch on to something else to try and fulfill that craving.  There are many signs that someone has left one addiction for another: constantly thinking about the new addiction, losing sleep to engage in the addiction, difficulty at school, work, or home, relationship issues, neglecting self-care or personal hygiene, experiencing stress and/or anxiety if unable to engage in new addiction. The key to overcoming this new addiction is to find the root of the compulsion through therapy. Talking with a therapist can help a person address any subconscious emotions that haven’t reached the surface. By working through these hidden emotions, we can explore the direct root cause of our emotional and psychological distress – meaning that over time, we will be working directly with our issues instead of filling them with something else. If you feel that you have exchanged one addiction for another, call a doctor and therapist right away. There are many resources available to help people overcome this: in-patient or out-patient treatment facilities, psychotherapy, support groups, and more. By getting help, you can work on the core issue that you are having trouble working through and can be on your way to a happier, healthier life.

Speed, more formally known as methamphetamine, is a stimulant drug that directly affects the central nervous system and is typically used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and obesity. Speed is also known as crystal meth, crank, meth, ice, glass, and crypto. It is white, odorless, and is often taken through smoking it, snorting it, swallowing it as a pill, or through intravenous injection. Speed is very dangerous and can be very addictive. The National Institute on Drug Abuse noted earlier this year that speed both starts and fades quickly, which causes people to take this drug more often and in higher doses to try and achieve the same “high” they initially felt when they first took it. People who use speed long-term are at elevated risk for contracting infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C. Use of needles for intravenous injection and sharing of needles allows these diseases to transfer via blood or other body fluids from one person to another. Many people who abuse this drug wear out their body by taking it consistently; this may cause them to not sleep or eat for up to a week. Once ingested, the drug’s effects can appear within 3-5 if injected or within 15-20 minutes if taken orally. Common side effects of speed are increased body temperature, euphoria, increased blood pressure, dry mouth, faster heartbeat, dilated pupils, increased energy and alertness, decreased fatigue and decreased appetite. Some unwanted side effects of the drug are hostility, paranoia, aggressiveness, cardiovascular system failure, convulsions, malnutrition, skin disorders, and more. Treatment for methamphetamine addiction first involves detoxification, in which the body dispels toxins from length and severity of addiction. It is important that the person detoxes from this drug in the presence of a health care team. Recovery can be challenging in the beginning, especially since it may seem daunting. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles confirmed in their 2015 study the importance of individualized interventions and multiple, simultaneous approaches and resources to promote abstinence in addiction recovery for users of methamphetamine. In some cases, medication may be provided to assist you with the unwanted symptoms of withdrawal. Nonetheless, you will have a dedicated health care team ready to support you through your recovery.

Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine, is a medication used to treat motion sickness and post-operative nausea and vomiting. E-Medicine Health states that scopolamine helps decrease the secretion of fluids, slowing the stomach and intestines, and dilates the pupils. This drug has also been called “devil’s breath” and has been used to reduce a person’s free will and coerce someone into doing something. Scopolamine has been used recreationally; it creates feelings of euphoria and produces hallucinations. Above It All Treatment Center identifies the following side effects associated with scopolamine: dry mouth, blurry vision, dizziness, flushing, lightheadedness, urination issues, confusion, rapid or irregular heartbeat, disorientation, extreme drowsiness, and more. Due to the damaging effects that scopolamine can cause, it is not intended for long-term or recreational use. Scopolamine has been used in the past as a tablet to be taken orally, but is now in the form of a patch (also known as the transdermal route) that one can place behind their ear. With this, the medicine soaks into the skin. Everyday Health notes that scopolamine blocks the activity of the neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) which stimulates the part of the brain that triggers nausea and vomiting, as well as involuntary muscle movement and more. This drug can also cause a serious allergic reaction such as constriction of the throat and difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, and hives. Before taking this medication, consult with your doctor to ensure that you are not allergic to it. Long-term use of scopolamine may cause a person to develop a dependency to it. If you feel as though you cannot feel happy and relaxed without taking this drug, you may be addicted to it. The first step in treatment for scopolamine addiction is detoxification, in which the body dispels of the toxins placed in it through excessive drug consumption. From there, you will begin treatment towards your recovery.

There are many reasons for why someone may develop a personality disorder, with some of those reasons perpetuating stigma. For example, many people believe personality disorders are a sign of evil or a ploy used to help people manipulate others. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Personality disorders are developed not by choice, and can cause significant distress to one’s daily life. The American Psychological Association (APA) has identified the following causes of personality disorders:

Watching a loved one take paths that damage their overall health and well-being is tricky – we love them and want them to be safe and happy, yet we do not want to overstep our boundaries. Sometimes our loved ones cross the line and we feel compelled to do something about it – to let them know that we care about them and to explain to them they need help. When this time comes, planning an intervention can seem daunting, but a direct, focused approach may just save their life. Mayo Clinic defines an intervention as a carefully planned process that may be done by family and friends, in consultation with a doctor of licensed health care professional or directed by an interventionist. During an intervention, family and friends confront the loved one about their addiction and ask them to accept treatment. They may provide specific destructive examples and its impact, offer a prearranged treatment plan with goals and guidelines, and clearly explain what each family member or friend will do if the loved one refuses to seek treatment. Addiction Center identifies the following steps that need to take place for a successful intervention to occur:

Many people confused spirituality with religion, but there is a major difference. Religion is defined by the dictionary as the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Spirituality, on the other hand, is defined as being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. The New Hope Recovery Center provides a compelling look at the difference between the two. Some people find religion through their recovery, such as the 12 steps, to be beneficial in connecting them with a higher power to help them find more meaning for their lives. Spirituality, no matter if there is a religion involved or not, helps people discover themselves and their impact on the world. Lance Dodes, M.D., the Training and Supervising Analyst Emeritus for the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute and a retired assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School noted in a 2015 article for Psychology Today that spirituality focuses on oneness and being in touch with one’s inner self, and has a focus on well-being, to be put simply. Spirituality can have a positive impact on a person’s life and recovery. Dr. Greg Jantz in 2014 for The Center, a place in Washington aimed at helping those with addictions or mental illness, listed several benefits of incorporating spirituality into recovery:

Anxiety can be debilitating, and can make a person question everything, from relationships to future events. When someone suffers from anxiety, they often feel unsure of the cause for it. This can cause the person to build on another layer of anxiety just because they do not know why they are feeling that way! There are several powerful ways for a person to manage their anxiety without the use of drugs. These may include therapy, support groups, meditation, yoga, and self-care activities, just to name a few. Therapy can be very beneficial because it allows the person to work through any deep-rooted fears with their therapist. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a common technique the therapists will use to assist the individual with finding healthy ways to manage their anxiety and relax more, as well as to help the person change their thought patterns. One example of a CBT exercise would be for the person to rewrite their fear in a more rational way when they are feeling anxious. This helps the person break down their worry into a more realistic point of view. Support groups can help an individual relax if they have anxiety, primarily because they can share their worries and concerns with others who understand what they are going through. By voicing one’s fear out loud, oftentimes individuals recognize that their worries are not as “big” as their anxiety makes them seem. Meditation provides yet another way for an individual to relax. Meditation can be practiced formally or informally, and allows the person to ground themselves. By staying grounded, the person can more clearly see what is happening and can watch the anxious thoughts come and go, without giving special attention to any one thought. Yoga strengthens and relaxes the body, and its primary use it to harmonize the body with the mind and breath through breathing exercises, yoga poses, and meditation.

Yoga essentially means, “that which brings you to reality”. According to a study conducted in 2016, approximately 37 million Americans practice yoga. Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that promotes health and relaxation through controlled breathing, meditation, and the implementation of certain postures. Thus, yoga can benefit mental health in several wonderful ways:

We live in a world with people of different shapes and sizes as well as society telling us to look a certain way. When we feel pressures from family, friends, and the media, we feel the need to change our bodies so that we do not face bullying or being different for looking the way we do. This causes us to take drastic measures to change our bodies the way we think society wants us to look which can cause body dysmorphia or eating disorders if we are not careful. There are a number of reasons as to why we feel the need to change the way we look and they are all around us. According to a study in Peer, Parent, and Media Influences (p.54-60), in youth from ages 9-14, the media plays a strong role as an influence to change your body. Your favorite model or actress can be skinny with no flab, acne, or blemishes to show. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders says 69% of female youth from grades 5th-12th grade feel images in magazines can affect their perception of what they wished their bodies looked like. According to a study done in Teens, Social Media, and Body Image, 47% of them want to lose weight because of those images. Boys want to have a muscular, toned look and girls want low body weight. Magazines that encourage a healthy lifestyle like yoga or natural living use models that have a ‘perfect’ physique and are unnaturally thin. In other careers such as law, medical, and the military, use models for their ads who all look flawless and skinny. The best ways to help accept yourself for who you are is to change the way you look at these influencers. When you are at the grocery store and you see all of these magazines of "beautiful people," you can either choose to ignore them or go to a checkout lane with no magazines. Remember that not everything you see in the magazines are even real. Many magazine publishing companies use Photoshop to retouch photos to make these women look skinnier with shiny skin. It also helps to make a list of all of the great things about yourself that make you beautiful as we all have a list of qualities that make us stand out from the rest. It is also important to tell yourself that we were all created differently and that looking like a model is not what the general population looks like.

Panic attacks can be very debilitating, with symptoms of racing heart, feeling weak or faint, tingling or numbness in hands/fingers, sense of terror, feeling sweaty/having chills, chest pains, breathing difficulty, and more. For a person amid a panic attack, perceptions or worries of dying are likely a common thought. The good news, is that a person cannot simply die from solely having a panic attack. Although panic attacks alone are not deadly, they can be dangerous if paired with an illness such as a heart condition, for example, because the stress may make the condition worse. However, heart conditions develop over time, and those who suffer from a heart condition can be evaluated by a doctor for symptoms of stress and to rule out any problems they may have. Hyperventilation, a condition in which the person breathes very fast, upsetting the balance of their breath, may happen during a panic attack. While not deadly, this condition may make the person feel like fainting or passing out because hyperventilation blocks blood flow to the brain. If someone experiences this, they can recover quickly by belly-breathing. Belly-breathing is when the individual places their hand on their stomach, just below their ribs. They place the other hand on their chest, taking a deep breath in through the nose, and out through pursed lips, moving their hand down with each breath. After the individual does this 3-10 times they should feel their breath resuming normal breathing patterns. Another technique is for the person to breathe into a brown paper bag – this causes the person to re-inhale the carbon dioxide that they exhaled, restoring that lost gas. If someone is suffering from a panic attack, there are several effective ways to work through this:

As media is becoming more and more invasive, individuals see and hear messages within popular culture that promote drinking and drugs. As individuals receive these messages, they may feel that excessive amounts of drinking or abusing drugs is “normal” or “not too dangerous”. Especially for younger people who may not understand the consequences of partaking in these dangerous activities, peer pressure and the need to seem “cool” may make these messages more influential. Here are several examples of how popular culture plays a part in the addiction crisis:

Oftentimes, individuals may feel or have been told that they exhibit signs of either a mental illness or addiction, but do not know where to begin. Discovering a mental illness or uncovering an addiction is best when consulted with a healthcare professional for official diagnosis. Here are several effective ways to determine if someone may need professional help: