QA

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. Suicide prevention starts with recognizing the symptoms and taking them very seriously. Too many times, we see the warning signs but overlook them – thinking that somebody else is helping our loved one, that we are inaccurate about our assumptions, or that we can’t make that much of a difference in our loved one’s life. If you suspect that your loved one is having suicidal thoughts, it’s time to speak up. Act now. Provide support. Share the love. Doing this could save your loved one’s life. First, you may want to let your loved one know that you’ve noticed signs that something is wrong or that they’ve been acting differently; then, you will want to ask your loved one questions to understand what they are going through a little better. This may include asking questions such as:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 828,000 people reported using heroin in the United States in 2015, and the numbers have likely increased from there. Heroin is a synthetic but highly addictive opioid that produces feelings of euphoria; individuals may smoke, inject intravenously, or snort this drug in order to achieve varying levels of intensity and at different rates of speed. Individuals who abuse heroin often exhibit a number of symptoms, including: drowsiness, slowed breathing, slowed heart rate, flushing of the skin, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting. If you or someone you know has taken a lot of this drug, overdose is a grave concern. As emphasized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), users who experience overdose cannot survive without medical attention, which is why you need to dial 911 immediately if you or a loved one has overdosed. Signs of this include:

Growing up in a family where addiction is ever present can feel like a never-ending cycle that you’re destined to repeat. For many, addiction is all they’ve ever known – whether you’ve had to take on additional roles as a child or you’ve witnessed or experienced abuse, neglect, violence, or general family dysfunction due to addiction, you’ve likely been weary that this, too, could become your future. Previous research has shown that children who grow up in dysfunctional families are prone to mental illnesses and addiction later on down the line – there are, however, steps that you can take to ensure this doesn’t become part of your storyline. A 2014 study published in the journal Child & Family Social Work sought to explore recent mothers who were substance dependent and were navigating their way to achieving stability and breaking their family’s cycle of addiction as they worked through motherhood. Six mothers who had been diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD) and were enrolled in an inpatient treatment program were interviewed; researchers asked the participants questions relating to their understanding of their child, their own childhood experiences, the reason behind their substance abuse, and the changes they believe they need to make. Three themes emerged relating to changes they needed to make:

There are many factors involved in mood disorders, so it’s important to speak with a licensed healthcare professional in order to receive an accurate diagnosis. However, recent studies are showing that if we are experiencing disruptive sleep-wake cycles, this could be indicative of major mood disorders such as bipolar disorder (BD) or depression. Consider your current sleeping habits. Do you find yourself resting peacefully all throughout the night? Would you even consider yourself to go into a deep sleep? Or is it on the opposite end of the spectrum – you feel constantly awake and toss and turn all throughout the night. Your sleeping habits could be signs of a serious medical condition, including a mood disorder. A 2015 study published in the journal The Psychiatric Clinics of North America emphasized that residual sleep disturbance is common for those with mood disorders, particularly depression, BD, and others. A 2018 study conducted by researchers in the UK and published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal sought to explore subjective well-being, cognitive function, and mood disorder associations with disrupted sleep cycles. Individuals aged 37-73 years old participated in the study, wearing an accelerometer on their wrist for 7 days to analyze their activity levels and circadian rhythmicity (the body’s internal clock) of rest as well. A total of 91,105 participants were involved in the study, and researchers found that the lower the amplitude of circadian rhythm, the greater the risk of having lifetime major depressive disorder, lifetime bipolar disorder, mood instability, neuroticism, lower health satisfaction, and slower reaction times. Needless to say, your sleeping patterns say a lot about you. According to the National Sleep Foundation, your circadian rhythm is your body’s internal clock that works on 24-hours; people typically experience dips in their rhythm (fatigue) around 2-4 a.m. (when they’re already asleep) and around 1-3 p.m. (shortly after lunch). If you’ve experienced events that could keep you from sleeping throughout the night and staying away during the day, you could off-set your circadian rhythm. If you’ve ruled out sleep disorders from a reputable sleep research center, you may want to speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center about being diagnosed for a mental illness or substance use disorder (SUD).

Most often used for anxiety, epilepsy and alcohol dependence, benzodiazepines are man-made drugs that help treat symptoms such as the reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, unusual talkativeness, agitation, and more. By increasing GABA (a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system) a person is likely to experience more relaxation; however, they can be very addictive. Xanax, Librium, Valium and Ativan are all examples of benzodiazepines, and the type of detoxification you experience greatly depends on you sex, age, medical and drug history, family history, and more. Detoxification isn’t always the most pleasant, comfortable experience, but it’s always worth it because it sends you on the road to recovery. Detoxification often involves the process of removing toxins that were acquired from the body either naturally or with the assistance of medication. There are a lot of side effects associated with detox, including: anxiety, clouded vision, difficulty concentrating, hallucinations, short-term memory impairment, twitching, drug cravings, and more. A 2017 study published by the University of Westminster in the UK sought to explore patients’ perceptions of detox from benzodiazepines by analyzing posts via online chat sites; the study’s findings indicated several themes: Hell and isolation – many people didn’t realize the pain of detox, causing them to feel regret that they took the drugs in the first place Anxiety and depression – individuals stated feeling completely flat emotions during detox Alienation – dissociation occurred for several people, where individuals felt they were in a “dream” or a “nightmare” Physical distress – feeling weak, chills, body pains, and heightened sensitivity were expressed Anger and remorse – many individuals expressed anger towards physicians who do not warn against addiction to the drugs, as well as anger to themselves for taking them Waves and windows – people stated the detox phase as a “rollercoaster” between hope and hopelessness Healing and renewal – individuals reported using mindfulness techniques such as meditation and yoga to help get through detox. People also reported the importance of believing that healing does and will happen, which brought intense feelings of triumph for individuals. Detox may not necessarily be easy, but it will be worth it. The most promising, safe option you can choose is to seek out a reputable treatment center because then you will have an entire healthcare team who can work with you through this. You’re not alone.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) affects nearly 4 million people in the United States alone, according to Very Well Mind. Characterized by unstable moods, self-perception, and behaviors, BPD may cause individuals to dissociate – disconnect from thoughts or sense of identity – which can be very distressing. If you’ve been diagnosed with the disorder, you may experience impulsive behaviors, self-harm, suicidal ideation, inappropriate and intense anger, and/or chronic feelings of boredom or emptiness. A variety of treatments are used to help treat BPD, including dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medications. Technology has become more widespread in the world of addiction and mental illness recovery. An example of this includes neurofeedback therapy, which measures brain waves (clients can typically see these displayed on a computer like a video game) to produce a signal that can help individuals learn how to regulate certain chemicals and internal body functions. Virtual reality is now being considered for research in the realm of recovery – which could potentially help those with BPD. With virtual reality therapy, a client would essentially focus their attention on mindfulness skills presented – previous research has shown that it has helped distract burn patients during their burn care as well as helped people apply tools they’ve learned in therapy to real-life scenarios. A 2016 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology sought to explore the effects of virtual reality on a 32-year-old female diagnosed with BPD. The individual was experiencing difficulty concentrating, intense emotional reactivity, and more. The virtual reality headset gave her the illusion of “floating down” the river while listening to mindfulness training audio tools. Results from this case study showed that the client experienced less urges for suicide and self-harm, less urges to use substances and reduced negative emotions after using virtual reality therapy. Thus, it seems that virtual reality could possibly become a beneficial factor to addiction and mental illness recovery treatment centers. If you have been diagnosed with a mental disorder or substance use disorder (SUD), it’s important that you seek help from a reputable treatment center. There are a variety of reputable, research-proven methods that can help you move forward towards living a happier, healthier life.

Seeing or hearing things can be quite distressing. If you’ve recently been told that some of the things you are claiming to hear or see aren’t really there, it’s natural to feel confused and even panicked. You may be thinking to yourself, “What’s real and what isn’t?” The good news is that you aren’t alone – there are a few different mental illnesses and conditions that involve hallucinations and delusions, both of which can be treated. In order to get a better understanding of what you’re experiencing, let’s identify the differences between delusions and hallucinations:

Social media is more pervasive than ever – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and more all serve as tools to connect with others – to share moments of our lives, see what others are doing in their lives, and keep in touch with loved ones who may be at a distance from us. No matter how you utilize social media, it certainly plays a major factor in perceived social support. As human beings, we’re social creatures, and we rely on support to make us feel loved, wanted, and needed in the world. Dr. Drew Ramsey, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University stated on U.S. News,  “At its worst, depression is a disease of social isolation. People generally tend to be social creatures. We feel best when we are connected to others and to our community.” Since social media is a such a major part of our communication, it’s no wonder that many of us rely on social media to provide us with the social support that we need; even further, it makes sense that if we don’t feel we’re getting adequate support through social media, we’re bound to experience depression and/or anxiety. A 2016 study conducted by researchers from Australia sought to explore just how connected social media is with perceived social support and depression; researchers analyzed many studies that had been done between 2005 and 2016 to see if any major themes arose. Results from the analysis of these studies indicated that positive interactions, social support and social connectedness on social networking sites were consistently related to lower levels of depression and anxiety, whereas negative interaction and social comparison resulted in higher levels of depression and anxiety. Ultimately, it depends on how you use social media and what you’re getting from it that’s contributing to your mental health. Depression is common, and it can be treated. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about programs that could assist you on your journey to recovery. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

If we don’t have the proper support and tools to safely manage our emotions, they can affect our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors – including what we eat. If you experience this, think about times you feel very depressed, anxious, angry, etc. What do your eating patterns look like during these times? If you’re gravely depressed, do you feel like eating a lot or nothing at all? If you’re angry at someone, do you feel like eating, or is your adrenaline pumping so hard that you would not be able to get a single bite in? Our emotions can certainly affect the way we eat, and this can cause further psychological or physical health concerns if our eating patterns are not healthy for us. A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science sought to explore how emotions such as anger and disgust influenced food intake amongst people. Eighty participants participated in the dissection of several types of fish, and were then provided diverse types of foods to eat afterwards while also assessed with measures of disgust and anxiety. Results from the study showed that individuals who felt higher levels of disgust and anxiety were significantly more likely to avoid eating food compared to their counterparts who didn’t experience such elevated levels of anxiety or disgust. While this type of exploration is quite aberrant compared to daily behavior, it does show that when we’re approached with feelings of disgust, anger, and other negative emotions, we’re not always able to carry on with daily acts as simple as eating. When it comes to mental illness and/or addiction recovery, there’s no doubt that our emotions may act like a rollercoaster. Previous studies have shown that recovery can cause many people to feel a variety of emotions – from pain to joy, sadness to happiness, calm to anxious. These changes can certainly have an affect on your eating habits while in recovery, which is why it’s so important to have a nutrition counselor who can help you ensure that you’re receiving the proper vitamins and nutrients needed to get your mind, body, and spirit back on track. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about programs that could assist you on your journey to recovery. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

Emotions are central to human existence. Happiness, sadness, pain, joy, fear, jealousy, shame, guilt, love, anger and more are all very real, very raw emotional experiences. Many times, however, we don’t always know the safest way to express these emotions – this is what may lead to the development of a mental illness or to an addiction, as some people try to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. Whether you’re currently in a treatment program or not, music can serve as a tool to help you express your emotions or even to bring about an emotion that could support a better mindset for your well-being. A 2018 study sought to explore sadness and music – in particular, how people experience crying when listening to music. Eight hundred and ninety-two participants were involved in the study, with two underlying themes: a “sad” class and an “awe” class. Individuals who classified as the “sad” class tended to feel sad, upset, and depressed when listening to music; people in the “awe” class tended to feel euphoric, happy, amazed, and inspired. The research indicated that people more open to experiences found themselves in the “awe” class, while those with high neuroticism (tendency to lean towards negative thoughts and emotions) found themselves in the “sad” class. While it’s true that the way you think has an affect on the way you listen to music, you can use this to your advantage in your recovery. When it comes to mental illness and/or addiction recovery, music therapy can serve two functions: 1) as a tool to help you understand and make sense of what you’re feeling and 2) as a tool to help motivate you and keep you uplifted as you work towards your recovery journey. For example, the next time you’re feeling distressed, play music that calms you and gives you positive emotions. What do you experience? Did you feel that this type of music reduced your distress? If not, try diverse types of music to see what works best for you. Music can be a very healthy form of self-expression and self-exploration – you may even use music as a coping mechanism during tough times. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about music therapy and treatment programs that could assist you on your journey to recovery. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

Time and time again, research has shown that depression causes behavioral and physical symptoms. These often include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, self-esteem, and more. Other physical signs of depression may include migraines, joint pain such as fibromyalgia, digestive problems such as constipation and bloating, chest pain, back pain with tension in the neck, and more – all of which can deeply affect daily life. According to a study published in the journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, approximately 69% of people who meet the criteria for depression also experience aches and pains. If you’ve been struggling with symptoms of depression, the right treatment center can help you heal – mentally, physically, and spiritually. A 2015 study published in the Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences sought to explore the effects of massage therapy on students; 30 student volunteers with depression were randomly selected to either massage therapy or regular therapy as a comparison group. Swedish massage therapy – a relaxing, full-body massage involving massage oil and lotions – was conducted on the massage group 3 times a week for 8 weeks, 30 minutes each session. Both the massage and non-massage group were then given depression inventory surveys. Results from the study found that for depressed participants, massage therapy showed significant improvements to their depressive symptoms. As stated by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), massage therapy can relieve stress, reduce anxiety, manage lower back pain, reduce muscle tension, relieve tension headaches, improve balance, lower blood pressure, and much more. Many reputable treatment programs offer massage therapy that can be completed alongside traditional treatment programs activities. As previous research has shown, massage therapy benefits the mind, body, and spirit. In a relaxing setting, you will be able to release all of the pent up stress, energy, and tension acquired from life’s obstacles. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about massage therapy and treatment programs that could assist you on your journey to recovery. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a manic-depressive illness, and involves unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out daily tasks, as defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). There are several diverse types of BPD with the following being the main three: Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder. Each disorder is characterized by varying levels of intensity and duration of symptoms, with either manic, depressive, or both being the main focus. If a person with BPD experiences a manic episode, they may have racing thoughts, a sense of “being on top of the world” or invincibility, difficulty concentrating, impulsive behavior, and more. Manic episodes with BPD can be dangerous if a person is not taking prescription medication. Psychotic symptoms can be experienced with bipolar psychosis, which involves hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or touching things that aren’t there) or delusions (believing in things that aren’t there) as well as irrational thoughts/speech and an overall lack of awareness. If a person with BPD is experiencing mania and is angry or irritable, they may become aggressive and violent – mania can give individuals a feeling of “superhuman” power, which can become dangerous if not de-escalated quickly. While having BPD alone doesn’t increase the chances of a person becoming violent, there’s primarily a risk if BPD mixes with alcohol or drug use and high emotional stress. Some situations can trigger intense mood swings which, if not medicated, can cause a person to act more dangerously. Manic episodes can significantly affect various aspects of a person’s life, however. A 2014 study published in the journal European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience found that manic episodes account for poor work adjustment for those with BPD; racing thoughts and impaired functioning in attention and organization can make it particularly difficult for a person to complete projects and stay on task. In addition to work life, those with BPD may have difficulty in romantic relationships as their partner attempts to understand their mood swings and motivations. For all of these reasons it is essential that a person with BPD seek effective treatment. BPD in and of itself is not a dangerous disorder – it can, however, get out of hand if combined with the wrong circumstances. If you have been diagnosed, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about various treatment programs and which one may be the right fit for you.