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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.

The American Psychological Association claims that 44% of Americans have reported their stress levels going up over the past 5 years, with many in fear of their job, the economy, the political climate, violence and terrorist attacks, and more. These fears are rational, but how are people handling their stress? With the opioid epidemic, it seems many are relying on pain relievers and substances to self-medicate. There are more natural, holistic ways to manage stress, with one effective tool right at the tip of your pen – literally. Writing therapy is an excellent way to jot down thoughts and concerns to give your brain a “clean slate”. In doing this, you are likely to feel more relaxed, and less stressed. A study published in the journal, Psychotherapy Research, found that participants who were told to engage in writing therapy and express their emotions experienced greater reductions in their anxiety and stress compared to participants who did not. There are many benefits of writing therapy:

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:

Anger is a powerful emotion, and, when used inappropriately, it can damage relationships in significant ways. Whether you are currently single or in a relationship, understanding the impact that anger can have on you and others may give you insight to educating yourself on effective coping strategies and ways to express anger. When it comes to your love life, Psych Central claims that even mundane instances that occur throughout the day can lead up to resentment, which further harbors anger. Here are the following steps that you should try to follow when feeling angry:

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.

Many of us have become familiar with the causes of mental disorders – genetics, environmental factors, traumatic events, substance abuse problems and individual tendencies are a few of the most common ways to develop a mental disorder. Time Magazine has recently uncovered a rather unexpected, but understandable, concern for developing psychosis: mountain climbing. If you love adventure and plan to go hiking this spring, be weary of just how high you go. At an altitude of 27,000 feet, Jeremy Windsor was climbing Mt. Everest in 2008, and he began to experience some strange things. As stated on Time Magazine’s website, a man named Jimmy was providing Jeremy with words of encouragement and would then disappear amongst the snow. Also known as “third-man factor”, these hallucinations are found in high-altitude Alpine settings, and can quickly become dangerous if it causes a trekker to go off-route or engage in risky behaviors due to the hallucinations. Research is unclear exactly what leads to the development of psychosis during these higher altitudes; some believe it’s faith or religious-based, some believe it’s caused by biochemical reactions, yet others believe it to be “misfiring brain activity”. The discussion surrounding “third-man factor” hasn’t just been in relation to high altitudes, however. Stories exhibiting this have been shown in contexts such as war or terrorist attacks – this hallucination has been said to provide added comfort, guidance, and strength to a person in times of significant stress or life-threatening circumstances, according to the National Public Radio. Schizophrenia is often associated with delusions and hallucinations, but with “third-man factor”, the hallucinations disappear once the person has reached a lower altitude. Additionally, the psychosis experienced with mountain hiking and other extreme events have proven to aid, or provide support, to the person undergoing extreme stress – individuals with schizophrenia may become paranoid or may hallucinate that induce more stress and anxiety. Seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing hallucinations in your daily life and you have not been diagnosed. For mental disorders such as schizophrenia, there are medications that can help you better manage daily 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:

As stated by Jessi Lepine, a woman with bipolar disorder who was pregnant and shared her story on the International Bipolar Foundation’s official website, “Before I was pregnant someone said to me that I shouldn’t have kids because I have bipolar [disorder]. This person said I might not be a good mom because I could possibly go manic or depressed at some point. This person said I would not be able to handle the hormones, stress and lack of sleep and might hurt my baby if I had a manic or depressive episode post-partum. What this person said was an obvious example of the stigma people with mental illness face in every aspect of their lives. I am a believer that people who have bipolar [disorder] can do anything a mentally well person can do with the right meds, right support and dedication to a wellness plan that is tailored to their needs. Don’t let anyone tell you not to follow your dreams of having a family just because you have a mental illness!” If you have (or believe you may have) bipolar disorder (BPD) and are expecting, there are many steps that you can take to ensure a successful pregnancy and family life. First, if you haven’t already, obtain a diagnosis from a licensed physician. This will help you understand what your risks and needs are to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Oftentimes, psychotherapy and medication are discussed to help you understand your disorder and get a firm grasp on starting a family. Be prepared to educate yourself on the risks involved with having BPD while being pregnant; Tommy’s, a UK-based organization that provides pregnancy information, states that individuals with BPD are more likely to relapse during pregnancy and may be at higher risk for post-partum psychosis. However, although these risks are present, this doesn’t mean there aren’t steps for precaution. Keep your doctor informed about the medication you are prescribed and do not discontinue the medication unless your doctor tells you to. If you recognize any concerning symptoms or feelings, contact your doctor right away for help. Mental illness does not have to prevent you from creating a family, but educating yourself and following your wellness plan are critical for the mental and physical health of both yourself and your baby.

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:

The opioid crisis is taking over, with approximately 90 Americans dying each day from opioid overdose. This number is staggering; many are abusing their prescription medications, but many are also abusing medications they found/retrieved from a family member, friend, etc. The cost is too high for us and our loved ones to abuse and overdose on these medications, which is why it’s incredibly important for us to dispose of them properly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has noted several effective ways to do this:

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.

As someone stated on The Guardian when sharing their story of addiction and sobriety, “Ten years ago I wrote, ‘I can’t believe I’m writing this but being controlled by alcohol is so awful that even giving up drinking forever still feels better.’ Still is, still does.” For many people all over the world, and especially in the UK, “Dry January” was a month to kick off the New Year with sobriety and healthy habits. Some people considered it a way to drink less, while others consider it a way to begin detoxing from NYE celebrations. Fox News claims that taking a month of sobriety won’t necessary “undo” damage from excessive alcohol drinking in the past, nor should it be an excuse to drink excessively any other time of the year. Whether you participated in “Dry January” or not, why not make a commitment to sobriety each day? There are many benefits that sobriety can provide you with: