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Personality disorders alter the way a person think, acts, perceives, and relates to others – between 1% and 3% of the U.S. population is said to experience histrionic personality disorder (HPD) throughout their lifetime. Psych Central states that HPD is characterized by “a long-standing pattern of attention seeking behavior and extreme emotionality”. Individuals with this disorder often desire to be the center of attention in any event, and they may feel uncomfortable when not in the spotlight. People with this disorder may be considered “shallow”, “dramatic” and sometimes “provocative”, as some will engage in sexually promiscuous behaviors to gain attention. Individuals with HPD are often hyper-focused on their physical appearance and believe that relationships with others are closer than they truly are. It is only when symptoms of HPD cause significant distress in a person’s life that it is considered a personality disorder. The following celebrities have been assumed to have HPD, based on their symptoms from health resources:

A terrible stereotype that many hold about those with addiction is that they have a character flaw, are weak-willed or are immoral. What many don’t realize is that many, if not all, of those with an addiction don’t want to be addicted – they developed a harmful habit that eventually got out of control. Just as someone who eats too much sugar each day may eventually develop diabetes or another condition, someone with an addiction has slipped into it without even realizing it, and it’s often not that simple to quit. USA Today claims that nearly 21 million Americans struggle with substance addictions, equating to 1 in 7 people. As a person begins taking drugs, the “feel good” chemical in the brain, dopamine, is released, connecting feelings of pleasure to the drug and memories are stored of this interaction in the brain’s hippocampus. This causes a person to associate the drug with good feelings, and thus cues a person to want to take the drug again. Individuals who have not yet developed a physical dependence on a drug may consider themselves to use recreationally – this can easily and subtly turn into addiction when the person begins to constantly crave the drug, which leads them to think and act differently than they did before. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that as a person continues using drugs, the brain becomes accustomed to the overflow of dopamine and begins to believe it needs that much to feel happy and relaxed. This is the point at which a person’s recreational use has become out of control, because now their brain chemicals are altered. Long-term use changes brain chemicals that interact with a person’s learning, judgment, decision-making, stress, memory, and behavior. With this change occurring in the brain, a person may begin lying, stealing, experiencing trouble at work or home, become financially unstable, may borrow money from others, and more to fuel the habit their body now requires. This is the point at which the person needs professional help at a treatment center to detox, enter therapy, and join support groups. Time Magazine notes that many drugs are illegal and prohibited because of their propensity for abuse and addiction, yet there are still many Americans who struggle with addiction.

Here is an excerpt of her story as told by Leigh Stein, author of her book titled “Land of Enchantment”, published on the Washington Post: “I struggled with depression and anxiety since the age of 13, but I was off antidepressants when I met Jason, at an audition for a community college production of ‘Medea’…But over time, my mental health became a weapon in his arsenal. If I cried because he wanted to sleep with other women, it was because I needed to be medicated. If I had anxiety over him losing yet another job, he told me to pop a benzo. When I tried to curb my drinking, he told me he missed how ‘fun’ I used to be.” American society often places so much emphasis on physical abuse that when one encounters emotional abuse, it can be a little more difficult to identity. Nonetheless, emotional abuse is just as damaging as physical abuse – except for the scars of mental games, meanness and manipulation are left on the person’s mindset, often leaving many with a mangled sense of self-esteem and self-confidence. Emotional abuse isn’t breaking up with someone, it is not arguing with someone, it is not being blunt or honest about hurting, and it is not reacting to someone’s wrongdoings by hurting. Reach Out, Australia’s leading mental health organization, has noted the following types of emotional abuse:

Whether you’re about to enter treatment for a mental illness or addiction, many, if not all, aspects of your life will change. Don’t be frightened by this – change is what treatment is for, after all. You may have struggled in the past and those struggles were negatively impacting your daily life. Treatment is supposed to help you change the way you dealt with your struggles – most often through medication, support groups, therapy, and more. Over time, your perspective towards your challenges and yourself will likely change, as will your perception towards others. Eventually you will begin to evaluate your social life and determine who supports and benefits your journey to recovery, and who does not. This is an important process, because the people whom we spend our time with says a lot about who we are and what we stand for. First, how do we, as people in recovery, change our identity over time while in recovery? In 2015, researchers from Australia and the UK completed a study titled, “Social Identities as Pathways into and out of Addiction” and found that those with addiction change their perceived identities from a “substance abuser” identity to a “recovery” identity. Some participants felt a loss of valued identities when their addiction began, but were later able to renew those identities after treatment. Participants who felt socially isolated before treatment were able to develop new, aspirational identities involving roles in study, work, or family. This shows that the way we view ourselves before treatment is often different from the way we view ourselves afterwards. It would make sense, then, that our social circle reflects and/or honors the identities that we hold of ourselves. The U.S. News confirms that “many relationships formed prior to rehabilitation can be considered toxic” – these may have included a person that sold drugs or even “friends” that abused substances with a person before they entered treatment. These friendships were likely based on convenience – without buying/selling the drugs or using substances, these connections likely wouldn’t exist. Once you’ve formed a newer, healthier identity for yourself, you will want to re-evaluate your friend circle, and some may not “make the cut”. This is normal and even safe – after all, you want to be surrounded by people who uplift and support all the challenging work you are doing in recovery. You deserve that much; you’ve earned it. Form a support team that admires you for the work you’re doing towards living a happier, healthier life.

Recovery is a critical time to ground yourself and develop tools towards reaching your goals. Many people in recovery look towards others whom have been successful in recovery to propel them on their journey. They may look at a leader that guides their group sessions, or they may connect with an alumnus of a treatment program they are attending to gain tips and information related to their success. Support is crucial during recovery; previous research has shown that support from friends and family has been consistently found to predict positive outcomes for a person’s recovery. Finding a role model is a wonderful way to build your support system and further strengthen your recovery goals and determination. Role models can provide us with:

With today’s technology, we have access to practically any information we seek, right at our fingertips. We can easily access bank statements, make purchases, communicate with others across the world, and complete work any time we are connected. There is a plethora of benefits this yields – convenience, a variety of sources, instant gratification, security and more. While technology can benefit our lives in many ways, it can also hinder it. Applications such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have taken over our phone use, as most of us spend our time updating statuses, posting pictures, connecting with friends, and viewing others’ accounts. Many of us don’t even realize the extend to our use, and social media addiction is more rampant than you think. In fact, BBC claims that we are spending, on average, at least 2 hours of every day using platforms such as Facebook. The Huffington Post has noted 5 types of digital age addiction:

This is an excerpt from a person’s story with depression while traveling, as posted on Sheswanderful.com: “…And believe me, I thought about how lucky I was to be there every minute. But I had plenty of down moments, too. I felt guilty about not enjoying the ‘landmark’ experiences like the Top of the Rock observation deck and absolutely loving the quirky, non-iconic ones. I worried frequently that I wasn’t enjoying myself enough in proportion to the amount of money that I was spending on the trip. And I felt ashamed to share these feelings with my family and my boyfriend back home…” More than 15 million Americans have major depressive disorder each year, all of whom are likely experiencing feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, apathy, loss of interest, lack of concentration, weight gain, and much more. Many people with depression try to self-medicate through drinking and drugs. However, there is a common belief that travel can help cure symptoms of depression – the beautiful scenery and sense of adventure is thought to help the person appreciate what is around them and recognize the beauty that is life. As romantic as this sounds, it’s not always the case. Your reasons for traveling should be very clear. If you’re wanting to travel so that you can run away from your problems, they will still be there when you come back. If you’re going because you believe it will cure your depression, you will be disappointed to find that it’s still there. Depression is something that you must work on every day – it’s not something that you can run away from. When traveling is done impulsively and for the wrong reasons, it can have devastating effects. If you’re considering traveling, ask yourself what your true motivations are. Why do you want to leave? Understand all the preparation and uncertainties that can arrive with traveling. Will you be able to effectively handle these instances on your own? If your reasons are to run away from your depression, perhaps you should make a trip to a treatment center instead – it could help you develop the tools you need to live happier and healthier.

Marijuana has become legal in several states for medical purposes, and states like California have taken the side of recreational use as well. This change in policy surrounding the topic of marijuana has many implications, both socially and economically. There is much debate over when and where recreational use of marijuana should take place – is it responsible for someone to be smoking while in their car, or driving? Questions of intoxication come into effect as the government tries to determine the most effective way of ensuring safety on the road. Popular societal opinion is that alcohol is much more dangerous than marijuana when it comes to driving. However, the effects of being high don’t go unnoticed – currently police in various states can only test for marijuana by taking them to the police station and administering a blood test, because there is currently no breathalyzer tool that can be used. The Washington Post states that policemen are gauging the intensity of marijuana in a person’s system by judging a legal standard – 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood. This can still present issues, however. Unlike alcohol, marijuana can be consumed in a variety of ways, each effecting the body differently. Users can consume marijuana through drinks, candies, cookies, or by smoking it, and each affects a person’s body differently. New research is showing that if a person consumes marijuana in edible form, they may not show up as intoxicated by legal standards. Researcher Ryan Vandrey from John Hopkins University conducted a study where participants consumed marijuana brownies of varying strength that matched the THC levels that would classify someone as intoxicated. Over several days, blood tests were conducted and although the brownies caused a decrease in attentiveness, physical coordination and ability to concentrate, only 11% of participants had blood levels above the level of intoxication. This means that 89% of them would have been classified by law enforcement as unimpaired. Does this mean that eating forms of marijuana is safer than smoking it? When it comes to driving, possibly, but the results aren’t conclusive yet. More research is being conducted regarding the amount of marijuana and type of consumption that could impair someone’s driving. However, it is always safer to drive sober.

There are many different forms of treatment available, and both patients and therapists can work together to determine the best method, depending on the individual’s needs and learning style. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) has proven to be very effective for individuals who are resistant to the idea of engaging in treatment and stopping substance use. The stages of change are directly related to MET due to the very nature of why it is needed; individuals who need someone to help them develop their own realizations and personal motivations for seeking help are encouraged to utilize this form of treatment, along with others such as cognitive behavioral therapy. There are 5 stages of change:

With McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, KFC and more, fast food is becoming easier to obtain than ever before. Dollar menus capture our attention by pleasing to the more frugal aspect of ourselves, and tasty sandwiches and French fries lend themselves to our stomachs freely on a long drive home from work or after a stressful day. Eating these processed foods may seem harmless on occasion or even a few times a week, but the damage may be bigger than you realize. The American Psychological Association has highlighted several studies that have shown that eating fast food, sugar, and soft drinks can contribute to depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a host of other psychological problems. The documentary “Supersize Me” provides an extreme depiction of how fast food can affect someone’s mental and physical health; Morgan Spurlock consumes McDonald’s 3 times per day for 30 days and experiences weight gain, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, massive headaches, low energy and severe depression. What makes these foods so damaging to our holistic health? Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep and appetite, mediates our moods, and inhibits pain, is produced in our gastrointestinal tract. Our gastrointestinal tract is lined with a hundred million nerve cells, which explains why the food we place in our bodies impacts our sleep, eating, mood, and pain. Processed foods are high in unhealthy fats that are often hydrogenated, turning them into trans fats. When you typically consume food from fast food restaurants, the high fructose corn syrup and sugar serve as “empty calories” that have devastating effects on metabolism. Studies have shown that individuals who take probiotics, the bacteria that is good for your health, experience improved anxiety, perceptions of stress, and overall mental outlook. Speak with your doctor regarding the best diet for your health and what vitamins you can take to increase your chances of mood, sleep, and eating stabilization. Become more mindful of what you are eating and how it makes you feel. Doing this may help you to lead a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

It is common knowledge that substances affect men and women differently; while both men and women are just as likely to become addicted, women require less alcohol to become intoxicated than men do. This is caused by the absorption of alcohol and the rate at which the body metabolizes it. However, can certain types of alcohol affect a person differently? Understanding the ways in which various forms of alcohol can affect your body may give you an upper hand on preventing serious side effects, excessive consumption, and development of addiction. Dark liquors such as whiskey, tequila, and dark rum can give you the most intense hangovers. This is because these types of liquor contain more congeners, which are by-products of alcohol fermentation – also responsible for giving these drinks their dark color. Damaris Rohsenow, a professor at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University, stated, “While the alcohol alone is enough to make people feel sick the next day, these natural toxic substances can add to the ill effects as our body reacts to them.” Lighter liquors such as vodka, gin, and light rum can cause just as intense hangovers as darker liquors, but the symptoms will not be as harsh. Many people feel that wine is a safe option, but it can easily take you to intoxication if not approached with caution. For example, red wine – just like dark liquors – has a high number of congeners which can give you the worst hangover. Drinking 1 small glass of wine a day can help lower the rate of heart disease, but drinking a lot of wine can increase the risk of heart disease drastically. Champagne can cause you to become intoxicated quicker due to the elevated levels of carbon dioxide absorbing the alcohol into your bloodstream more efficiently.  What about beer? Beer can make you extra bloated and gassy, as beer is highly carbonated and builds up gas in your intestines, giving you that uncomfortable, bloated feeling. Beer can also give you the common phrase “beer belly”, as when you drink beer, your body’s liver burns the alcohol instead of burning any fat from eating, so you are left with a few extra pounds gained. Always be cautious to the amount of alcohol you consume, as you can see, each type can host different effects on your body.

With many different methods of treatment available, you are sure to find something that will best suit your needs. For some, holistic massage therapy provides a non-intrusive way of healing that is derived from the direct needs of their body. Holistic massage therapy is “an individual treatment that is specifically tailored to each client” and considers their mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, according to the Massage Training Institute in the UK. The National Holistic Institute claims that holistic modalities of massage can include shiatsu, traditional Chinese medicine, hand and foot reflexology, acupressure, energy work, rocking and shaking, and Thai massage. As you can see, these forms of massage take a more Eastern approach as compared to Western approaches, which include hot stone massage, aromatherapy, prenatal massage, deep tissue massage, and more. Massage therapy has been known to alleviate pain, such as lower back pain, neck and joint pain, headaches, and more. Sore muscles, increased circulation, increased nerve flow, lower blood pressure, improved immune system, ease of depression and anxiety, increased flexibility and mobility, and reduced inflammation are a few other benefits that holistic massage therapy can provide. The following go into more detail about each type of holistic massage therapy: