Blog

Sedatives have been widely prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety, pain, insomnia, and panic attacks. They are central nervous system depressants, meaning they slow normal brain function by affecting the neurotransmitter GABA – responsible for reducing neuronal excitability. Sedatives such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates have become more controlled due to their potential for abuse or misuse, but even those with prescriptions are at risk. Those who use sedatives recreationally often do so alongside mixtures of other substances, increasing their chances for dangerous side effects. Prescription medications can easily become abused if a patient is not closely monitoring how often, how much, or how long they are supposed to be taking the drug. A 2015 study conducted by researchers from Texas and published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine noted self-medication as a major cause of sedative abuse; for those with anxiety, increases in emotional stress can lead to increased vulnerability towards anxiety, causing a person to attempt to self-medicate. Examples of emotional stress include:

Recovery can be challenging because it involves building a new lifestyle for a better future. If you’ve recently begun a treatment program, you may feel apprehensive about your capabilities; many people who begin recovery have identified with a label – “addict”, for example – that holds them back from their true potential. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET), may help you discover the self-confidence that you need to push through the barriers that addiction tries to enforce on you. MET is designed to help people find new labels of their lives – ones that incorporate happiness, health, recovery, and much more. In the first session, your therapist will conduct an initial assessment to learn more about your history with substance abuse and your thoughts on recovery. Your therapist may work with you to come up with an action plan, as well as discuss with you some useful coping strategies that could help you in times of need. MET therapists are trained to listen to you rather than tell you what to do – this places the decision-making process in your hands. Your therapist won’t argue with you regarding any thoughts or decisions you plan to make about recovery; rather, they will explore with you all of the possibilities that you could take and help you make an informed decision. Ambivalence is completely normal when considering a major change. Often a key method for deciding if treatment would be best is to conduct a cost/benefit analysis; talk to your therapist about the benefits of attending treatment and what it could do for your life, as well as some potential challenges you may run into and some hesitancies you are having. On some occasions, addressing these issues may allow you to reconsider if the risks are all that bad – or more, what you may do in situations where these risks arise. If you’re unsure of whether treatment is the best option with you, schedule an appointment with a professional at a reputable treatment center. Get more information and speak with a therapist regarding your thoughts. Sometimes all it takes is talking to another person out loud so that you can process everything in front of someone who truly cares about your happiness and health.

If you have anxiety, you’ve probably noticed at one point or another your heartbeat escalating, your thoughts racing, and feelings of nausea, fatigue, dizziness, etc. Anxiety is caused by worry, nervousness, or unease typically surrounding an event or something with an unpredictable outcome. Thankfully, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to help many people with anxiety; in fact, it’s one of the most effective, widely-used therapies for this issue. If you’re ready to incorporate CBT into your daily life, begin taking control over your anxiety by following these steps: Step 1: Begin taking note of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in a log. Get a journal and write down every instance that you feel anxiety. What are your thoughts at the time? What situation is this regarding? Did someone say or do something to make you feel this way? How would you describe your feelings? What physical sensations are you feeling (ex. sweaty palms, heart racing, etc.)? Lastly, how did your anxiety influence the situation/interaction? For example – did it cause you to leave an event early? Not go at all? Taking inventory of these can help you become an investigator of your own reactions. Step 2: Recognize patterns that are coming from these notes. Is there a certain time of day you experience anxiety the most? What about a specific person or place that tends to lead you to a lot of anxiety? Highlight commonalities between your experiences – with assorted colors if that makes it easier for you. Step 3: Do a cost-benefit analysis. As you review the notes you’ve taken so far, write another list that weights out the benefits and the consequences to having this anxiety. For example, how has having anxiety helped you? In what situations has it caused more pain or discomfort, when it didn’t really need to? This is your change to get an understanding for how anxiety is affecting your life. Step 4: Create alternative ways to react. What can you think to yourself that will make you more at ease, more confident, and less worried? For example, if you’re nervous about going to a work gathering, write the following thought: “The gathering will go well, and I’m excited to get to know other people.” Even if you don’t necessarily feel that way, stick with these positive thoughts. Step 5: Practice daily, no matter how you’re feeling. This is a great start to CBT – towards changing your thought processes towards something more positive and productive. Practice this every day, no matter how you’re feeling.

The opioid epidemic has led to opioid drug overdose as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Opioids are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors in the brain, sending signals to block pain, slow breathing, and provide a calming effect. For those in opiate addiction recovery, withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, depression, drug cravings, and more. Many people who become dependent on these drugs do so in an attempt to further medicate themselves of chronic pain they are experiencing; unfortunately, as their body becomes used to the dosage, it begins to require more and more in order for the individual to achieve the desired effect. As a person recovers from opiate addiction, that pain may become more pronounced as their body begins to feel again. A 2015 study published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork sought to find out if Swedish massage could assist in reducing the pain experienced by opioid-dependent patients. Massage therapy has been shown in previous research studies to not only significantly reduce pain levels, but to also enhance relaxation, sleep, emotions, recovery, and the overall healing process. Eighty participants were chosen for a randomized treatment program, to receive either treatment as usual or to engage in Swedish massage therapy for 12 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 50 minutes. Participants from the study reported their chronic pain as an outcome of a car/motorcycle accident, a sports injury, a work-related injury, a fall/accident, partner abuse, a medical condition, pregnancy, or an unknown cause. All participants had tried various remedies for treating their chronic pain. Overall, the researchers found that those in the massage group reported significant improvements regarding their pain. If you’ve been struggling with opiate addiction, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn of how massage therapy can be incorporated into your treatment.

There are times when we see changes in our loved ones – changes they may not directly be able to see. When it comes to mental illness, stigma often causes people to either fear to have one or to fear others who have one. If your loved one does not believe they have a mental illness, but you are certain there are obvious signs of this, they may be in denial. This can be particularly challenging, especially if you want your loved one to seek help. A 2015 study titled “Assessing and Improving Clinical Insight Among Patients in ‘Denial’”, emphasized the difference between denial and lack of insight – does your loved one reject the notion that they have a mental illness or have symptoms of one, or have they simply not recognized the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and experiences and how they relate to mental illness? Denial is often considered a psychological defense mechanism, while lack of insight could be due to symptoms being perceived as a sign of something else, having neurocognitive deficits that make it challenging to form connections between instances such as these, or having a unique way of thinking about symptoms, mental illness, etc. If your loved one has been open to talking about mental illness with you, you may want to consider having them speak to a therapist. Motivational interviewing is a technique that helps those with apprehension come to their own realizations about their mental health and recovery options. Rather than push the client towards choosing recovery, the therapist may gently probe them with questions and will remain supportive and neutral during the entire process. Some people with a lack of insight into their mental illness don’t seek treatment because they don’t know they need to – this could be a wonderful time to help them gain insight into their experiences. If your loved one doesn’t believe they show signs of a mental illness, but you can see it’s potential for significantly reducing their quality of life, you may want to speak with a professional about staging a family mental health intervention. Untreated mental illnesses often get worse over time and could lead to the development of either another mental illness or an addiction, as a person tries to self-medicate to cope with their symptoms. Getting several friends or family members together with clear examples could help your loved one understand the truth.

In 2015, poet Sue Wallingford wrote a poem titled, “Life Goes On”. She wrote it as a form of art therapy, in remembrance of her addiction, as she was in recovery. Here is a small excerpt from her poem: “Your power to make me feel stronger slipped away gradually, almost Without notice. But in your wake you left your mark of betrayal and heartache. You tried to take everything away. But life goes on you see, New generations are on the horizon, And we’ll be ok.” Recovery means leaving behind destructive patterns of the past. It means growing, changing, and transforming into a better version of yourself; a version that places health, self-care, vitality and life fulfillment at the top of the priority list. Of course, necessary changes take lots of time and dedication. As humans, we’re not always excited about these steps because, well, it’s change – and change can be quite devastating. If you’re at a moment in your journey to recovery where you’re really missing aspects of your addiction, it’s okay to mourn this loss. Doing so can help you move on and embrace this journey that’s for the better. A 2017 study published by The American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry emphasized that addiction has many overlapping qualities to falling in love; both entail arousal, euphoria, and increasing preoccupation with the person or drug. When these have progressed into more serious stages, “leaving” the person or drug can lead to a sense of loss, dysphoria, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and more. Additionally, as with falling in love, addiction can involve social attachment, as many people who abuse substances due so around others. Recovery essentially involves not only quitting the object of your addiction but cutting out those in your life whom you have used with as well. Allow yourself to genuinely feel the pain of letting your past go. Utilize your tools from therapy and acknowledge the pain it’s caused you in life. Once you’ve allowed yourself to grieve you can begin focusing on building a social support network in your treatment program; over time, you will develop a new social circle, new ways of living – and you will be much happier and healthier.

Losing a loved one at any age can be devastating. Grief and loss is a part of the human experience; with every beginning comes an end. The 5 stages of grief and loss, proposed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969, have become quite universal: 1) denial and isolation, 2) anger, 3) bargaining, 4) depression, and 5) acceptance. These stages may ebb and flow, and a person may move on to one stage and may then take a few steps back on difficult days. Self-medication is defined as the use of substances in order to cope with any physical or psychological ailments. Someone may abuse substances as a way to cope with unwanted feelings, such as depression, anger, shame, guilt, etc. A 2015 study titled “Dulling the Edges” sought to address this phenomenon by conducting semi-structured interviews on 35 men aged 19 to 25 years old, and 22 men aged 26 to 35 years old. These male participants identified as grieving the accidental death of a male friend; the researchers wanted to focus on ways participants used alcohol in the grieving process. The study identified three themes amongst the participants: Using Alcohol to Dull the Pain – One participant described using alcohol to ease the pain of losing a friend who had such a positive influence on his life. Another participant expressed the pressure of what “being a man” means by staying strong and stoic amidst grief and getting through it one one’s own; several people mentioned that with limited coping mechanisms for dealing with strong emotions, alcohol seemed to be the only option. Using Alcohol to Purge Sadness – Several participants mentioned the fact that being drunk would allow them to express their sadness without fear of being judged because the alcohol influenced their behavior. As a vehicle for free expression, alcohol was used to “let loose feelings of despair and sadness”. Troubled Drinking – Many participants noted that while alcohol helped them all to connect in the face of their friend’s death, their drinking eventually became problematic. Heavy drinking became a normal activity for many, as one or two drinks no longer seemed to make them feel better. There are other ways of coping with the death of a loved one. Surround yourself with those you love. Allow yourself to feel the pain and hurt. Seek out therapy. If you’ve developed a drinking problem, speak to someone from a reputable treatment center today. Recovery is possible.

Willie Nelson once said, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” There’s no question that mental health recovery can be a scary journey – after all, it involves change, growth, and transformation – all of which most of us are nearly terrified of. However, our perception is what guides us through life, and having a positive perception of your recovery can give you the motivation that you need to succeed. When it comes to mental health, a reputable treatment program can provide you with essential tools to help you better manage your symptoms. While you’re working hard in your program by attending individual and group therapy sessions and activities, you want to ensure you’re taking major strides on your own as well. Positive psychology is a great foundation to motivate, inspire, and uplift your spirits during this time of change. As explained by a 2014 study published in the Eastern Asian Archives of Psychiatry, positive psychology is an umbrella term used to describe positive emotions and aspects of being such as creativity, optimism, resiliency, empathy, compassion, humor, life satisfaction, and more. How can you incorporate positive psychology into your recovery? The following are a few excellent exercises:

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has identified drug overdose as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with 20,101 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin use in 2015. People all over the United States have been attempting to find an alternative, holistic solutions to chronic pain due to the epidemic. Acupuncture is considered a form of complementary medicine used to alleviate pain and to treat various mental, physical, and emotional conditions – as such, it is becoming a more popular tool for both those who want to avoid taking opioids and for those detoxing from them. Many people detoxing from opioids are turning to holistic treatment methods such as acupuncture to assist them in their recovery. A 2016 study published in the Eastern Asian Archives of Psychiatry found that acupuncture accelerates a person’s endorphins and encephalin productions in addition to up-regulating the dynorphin level, suppressing withdrawal at the spinal level. Overall, it was found that acupuncture could assist in depressive and anxiety-related withdrawal symptoms. In general, acupuncture has been known to treat musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain, as well as issues such as nausea, migraines, insomnia, and more. For those seeking a route other than opioid medication for their pain, acupuncture shows promising results; this treatment method has been shown to increase the levels of various chemicals in the body, such as epinephrine, endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. An increase in these levels is what contributes to the pain and stress relief that many people report. Although many people are advocating for these benefits, research is still being conducted on the efficacy of this method for the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction. If you are in a reputable treatment program for addiction, however, acupuncture could be an excellent therapy method to complement your treatment regime. If you’re currently struggling with opioid addiction, make the decision to seek help today. By participating in a treatment program, you can develop tools towards living a happier, healthier life.

There are several types of bipolar disorder (BPD), but symptoms most often involve extreme mood swings, with manic and/or depressive phases. Both may last weeks or months, with manic phases including symptoms of high energy, racing thoughts, reduced need for sleep, impulsive actions and loss of touch with reality – some describe this as feeling like a “god” or “on top of the world”. Depressive phases typically consist of feeling sad or hopeless, significant weight loss, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia or getting too much sleep, decreased ability to think or concentrate, and more. According to a 2013 study published in Current Psychiatry Reports, an estimate of up to 45% people with BPD also have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). A 2015 study titled “Bipolar Disorder Comorbid with Alcohol Use Disorder: Focus on Neurocognitive Correlates” denotes that both BPD and addictions such as alcoholism share common mechanisms: high impulsivity, executive dysfunction, increased the likelihood of sensitivity to stressors, and more. There are several reasons why an alcohol disorder may take place alongside BPD:

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is often characterized by a sense of grandiosity, lack of empathy, and a need for admiration. It is estimated that nearly 1 in 16 Americans has NPD at some point in their lives, leading many people to believe that their opinions and interests should taken precedence over others’. Those with NPD may have a tough time forming close relationships because of their exaggerated sense of self-importance. As noted in a review of NPD published by EBSCO Information Services, there are two subtypes of NPD: overt and covert. Those with overt NPD display entitlement, denial of weakness and exploitive behavior, whereas those with covert NPD display hypersensitivity to insult, feelings of shame, helplessness or inadequacy, and social withdrawal. There is no known cure for NPD, but it is possible for those with the disorder to seek treatment and develop tools to better relate to others in a more positive way. Treatment may include medication, but should first and foremost involve psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy”. It may take quite some time for those with NPD to find breakthrough in therapy because it is focused more on their personality traits, but those who are willing to learn more about their disorder and how they come to view themselves and the world, as well as how these perceptions dominate their behaviors are likely to see improvement. The following are likely going to be some key focal points of therapy:

They both sound similar – codependency and dependent personality disorder (DPD) – but are they the same? What level of dependency constitutes as having a mental disorder versus an unhealthy view of relationships? Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed or are concerned about a loved one, there are some distinct differences between the two. Both can be very distressing and there are ways to treat each – but DPD is classified as a mental disorder whereas codependency is not. The following is a brief breakdown of what each means: