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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration notes that approximately 1,084,000 people in the United States have used anabolic steroids. These steroids are primarily used by bodybuilders and athletes, and are used to increase lean body mass, strength, and aggressiveness towards lifting. Another form of steroids has reached the market and are selling as “legal steroids” – but these steroids may be very dangerous and should be approached with caution. “Selective androgen receptor modulators, also known as SARMs, are pharmaceutical drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone”, according to CNN. They are not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but they are sold to bodybuilders online and are marketed to help them look more lean and muscular. Many of these products contain substances that aren’t approved or are in doses higher than stated on the labels. A study conducted in November 2017 examined 44 products sold online as selective androgen receptor modulators and found that only 52% contained that exact product while 39% of them contained another unapproved drug. This breeds caution to any who are contemplating buying these products online, as many unwanted and dangerous side effects could occur. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions that steroids or steroid-like substances have been linked to serious health risks including liver injury, kidney damage, heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs), deep vein thrombosis (blood clots that occur deep within the veins), severe acne, hair loss, altered mood, irritability, increased aggression, and depression. Other bodybuilding products are labeled as “dietary” supplements but are not truly dietary. Many supplement manufacturers can sell their products without first having to ensure their safety and effectiveness; without approval from the FDA, these supplements are likely to cause harm. There are several steps that you can take to ensure your safety in taking bodybuilding supplements; 1) Consult your doctor or physician regarding products and/or side effects; 2) Be aware of problematic categories such as weight loss, bodybuilding and sexual enhancement, because these often contain steroids and other prescription drugs that could harm your health; 3) Look for the USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) Verified mark – this indicates that the manufacturer has voluntarily asked this trusted non-profit to verify the quality, purity and potency of the ingredients; 4) Report problems to the FDA or ask your doctor to report them.

One of the most challenging aspects of recovery involves learning to forgive and love ourselves unconditionally. Perhaps you grew up with family that didn’t make you feel loved unconditionally, or maybe you’ve made some choices that makes you feel like you don’t deserve love, not even from yourself. Recovery is a wonderful time to work on this, because it’s a time for you to solely work on getting better and making healthier choices that reflect a loving, balanced, happy inner soul. Deepak Chopra, author of more than 75 books, including 22 New York Times best-sellers, has provided the Huffington Post with some wonderful steps towards unconditional love towards the self:

The International OCD Foundation defines obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as “a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and all walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions or compulsions”. Obsessions, which often take the form of intrusive thoughts, can cause extreme distress in individuals. The symptoms of OCD can cause much anxiety and panic over real or imagined events, but thankfully there are forms of treatment that have proved to help many people with this disorder. There are several evidence-based treatments for those with OCD:

Jacob Levy Moreno is the founder of psychodrama, a type of therapy that can be used both in groups or in individual psychotherapy. Psychodrama utilizes deep action and movement to work through pressing issues and to develop our understanding of ourselves and others. The Birmingham Institute for Psychodrama states that psychodrama is practiced in more than 100 countries, and was developed alongside Dr. Moreno’s wife, Zerka Moreno. Psychodrama was first recognized as a form of group therapy and then later extended itself into other forms of psychotherapy. In Moreno and Moreno’s book titled, “Psychodrama: Vol 3: Action therapy and principles of practice”, they stated, “Psychodrama enables the protagonist to build a bridge beyond the roles he plays in his daily existence, to surpass and transcend the reality of life as he lives it, to get into a deeper relationship with his existence, to come as close as possible to the highest form of encounter of which he is capable”. Psychodrama therapy allows the person to reenact the past to improve the future. When roles are assigned, the person is encouraged to announce the truth out in the open. This transforms the actor into a truth-speaker who can confront issues with confidence rather than someone who may have viewed themselves as voiceless and unheard before. The feelings that one experiences during role play allows them to transform and gain a unique perspective, whether it be on their own actions and thoughts or the potential actions and thoughts of others that were involved in the situation. Some group therapists may also incorporate group phrases, such as everyone inviting one person back into the circle or the group explaining to a person why they should be a part of the group rather than sit in the corner. Additionally, the therapist may ask the individual to finish sentences related to why they may be sitting in a corner and/or why they should leave the corner and join the group. This allows for the individual to make new connections and to break old patterns of behavior and thought.

Throughout the day, we may experience many phone calls, emails to check, errands to run, deadlines to meet, and more. The day is filled with so many activities, and in between each one we are driving from one place to another, attempting to get it all done. Most of us tend to get into “automatic” or “zombie” mode – simply rushing through the motions without putting much thought into each movement we make. Is this hurting our mental health? What else are we doing throughout the day that’s discreetly damaging our mental health?

Therapy provides a great mechanism for individuals to work through their problems, learn more about themselves and others, gain perspective, develop tools to cope, and more. For people who suffer from borderline personality disorder BPD), several techniques may be used. There are a variety of holistic approaches that help people to work through a variety of symptoms that may be present in borderline personality disorder – mentalization-based therapy is one of them. Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is a psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy designed specifically to help individuals specifically with borderline personality disorder. Researchers Bateman and Fonagy, in their 2010 study titled “Mentalization based treatment for Borderline personality disorder,” found that mentalization-based therapy has been an effective treatment tool for BPD. Mentalizing is a process by which individuals make sense of each other and themselves, both implicitly and explicitly, and in terms of subjective and mental processes. Founder and CEO of Psych Central, Dr. John Grohol stated in 2016 that mentalization is a learned skill and that, by working with a therapist, people with BPD can learn to better understand behavior and feelings and how they are associated with different mental states. In 2011, MD Louis Choi-Kain from Harvard Medical School described mentalization as being comprised of two parties: the self, and other. Both parties have their own thoughts, feelings, motives, intentions, beliefs, desires, and needs. A person who suffers from BPD often has difficulty between imagined and real interaction with their own thoughts beliefs, etc. and understanding other’s thoughts, beliefs, etc. By partaking in MBT, a patient can work with a therapist to discover their own thoughts and reasons behind those thoughts and their behaviors. People with BPD often have difficulty empathizing with others, have a history of unstable relationships, have strong feelings of anxiety and depression, have a dysfunctional self-image, and more. MBT can help people explore their symptoms further so that they can recover from negative self-talk and mental scripts. This approach to therapy is slightly different from therapeutic approaches such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) because it is psychodynamic – the patient and therapist interact more often with each other and work together more to help the person learn more about themselves and others. If you suffer from borderline personality disorder, engaging in mentalization-based therapy could be very beneficial to you. The best way to know is to speak with your therapist about this approach. Seeking a therapist’s help is a great first step to your recovery, and could lead you to a happier, more productive life. Take action towards your overall health and well-being today by calling a therapist.

You may have done it at least once in your life. You went out, had a bit too much to drink, and you ended up contacting someone with slurred speech and an unsound mind. For some who party hard, this behavior becomes a repeated ritual. Although it sounds like a common mistake to commit while intoxicated, people need to realize what drunk dialing or texting really represents: a lapse in control.

Many people who suffer from anxiety and depression may benefit from writing. In a way, writing can serve as a tool that provides insight into thought patterns, and may help us explore why we are feeling a certain way. Writer Christopher Bergland from Psychology Today explained expressive writing as, “writing freely about your deepest thoughts and innermost feelings with the understanding that it will never be read by anyone else”. In doing this, we can learn more about ourselves and relinquish some of those most worrisome thoughts. A study conducted earlier this year by Schroder, Moran and Moser explored the therapeutic benefits of expressive writing in individuals who suffered from severe anxiety. The researchers held two groups, one which was asked to practice expressive writing and the other group which did not. They explained that error-related negativity (ERN) often occurs most in people with anxiety. The group that completed expressive writing found a reduction in ERN, meaning that expressive writing may serve to offset worries from active memory, helping those who suffer from anxiety. Harvard Health expressed in 2011 the benefits of expressive writing as a flexible approach that may help people organize thoughts, express and regulate their emotions, relax, and more. Expressive writing is very popular because of its low cost – all you need is a pencil and paper. Engaging in this exercise means that it can be done practically at anytime, anywhere – and individuals can partake in it whenever they feel it will be helpful to them. Researchers Baikie and Wilhelm from The Royal College of Psychiatrists identified in 2015 several long-term benefits of expressive writing: fewer stress-related visits to the hospital, improved immune-system functioning, improved lung functioning, fewer days in the hospital, improved mood, feeling of greater psychological well-being, reduced depressive symptoms, and more. Other long-term impacts could be fewer absenteeism from work, improved working memory, improve sport and grade performance, and more. Expressive writing can transform our patterns of thought and help us to learn more about ourselves. Whether you suffer from anxiety or not, expressive writing could be very beneficial to you. The best way to know is to try it for several months. Get a piece of paper and a pen, and begin writing. Write about whatever you want – whatever is on your mind, and know that you are the only one reading this. Who knows – you may be able to work through some issues that you didn’t even realize were affecting you.

All forms of substance abuse and addiction are clouded with stigma. For alcohol specifically, many people assume that compulsive drinking is a lesser condition. It is important not to lose focus from the true issue of the behavior. It does not matter what the psychoactive agent is, the craving, withdrawal, and tolerance is what deteriorates health, relationships, and entire lives.

“Avoidants themselves, unaware that they have a problem, continue to annoy, frustrate, and hurt themselves and the others in their lives. Some avoidants are isolated individuals who, unmindful of the pathological nature of their avoidance, cite, and live by, its presumed advantages, and eventually even come to believe that their isolation from family, friends, and potential intimates is a good thing.” This is a direct quote from author Martin Kantor’s book titled Distancing: Avoidant Personality Disorder (revised and expanded). This quote provides a compelling glance into the common misconceptions that many people have about avoidant personality disorder. For people who are undiagnosed, their isolation and shyness may be “normal” to them, causing them to feel as though their symptoms do not require any treatment or help. While many people may feel shy, those who suffer from avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) feel shyness at more extreme levels. Psychology Today estimates that 2% of the population suffers from this disorder – making it difficult for them to interact socially and professionally. Avoidant personality disorder involves feelings of extreme inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and sensitivity to rejection. Those who have AVPD may only form relationships with people who they are certain will not reject them – they will often choose loneliness over risking connection with someone whom they are not certain will like them. WebMD explains that a person with AVPD may fear speaking up in fear of criticism and may anxiously study those around them for signs of approval or rejection. Furthermore, writer and editor Caitlyn Flynn from Bustle has listed self-loathing as a common theme in people in AVPD. If a person is spending a lot of time believing they are inferior to others, afraid of being embarrassed, and isolating oneself due to fear of being around others, they likely suffer from AVPD. If untreated, AVPD can limit someone’s potential for happiness and success. Treatment for AVPD typically involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a therapeutic approach that helps people restructure their thoughts to more positive, productive thoughts. If you suffer from avoidant personality disorder, you should speak with a doctor and/or therapist to receive help. Speaking with someone about your problems may help you to learn more about yourself and your disorder – you will also be able to develop tools to help you in everyday life. There are many people out there who want to help you and see you succeed. Take the first step and call a healthcare professional today.

Unfortunately, relapse is common in recovery. The latest statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) show that rate of remission when dealing with drug addiction ranges between 40 and 60 percent. Due to this extensive problem, an ideology still featured in various substance treatment programs is that relapse is a natural part of the recovery process. Despite NIDA’s data, the underlying cause of relapse is actually preventable.

Shrooms are a type of fungus also known more formally as psilocybe cubensis. Shrooms have been used for over 9 thousand years, but are used more recreationally today. They are known to produce “magical” effects on one’s brain. When taken, the hallucinogenic and euphoric effects start taking place within approximately 30 minutes, and the effects last for about 4-6 hours. For some people, the effects can last up to a few days after consuming them. Shrooms that produce these effects are small brown and tan mushrooms, but could easily be mistaken for other poisonous mushrooms. Typically consumed as a brewed tea or prepared with food, however dried mushrooms can be grinded into a powder and put in capsule form. Dried shrooms contain 10 times higher of active ingredients than fresh shrooms. Psilocybin is the main psychoactive ingredient in shrooms and once consumed, the body breaks this down into a mind-altering substance called psilocin. From there, the chemicals interact with the brain’s neurotransmitters, increasing the amount of serotonin produced. This stimulation causes a variety of psychedelic effects, such as hallucinations, euphoria, altered thinking, synesthesia (when one sense is simultaneously perceived as being one more other senses), and spiritual awakening. Physical effects may include numbness and an increased heart rate. Shrooms have been prescribed to treat anxiety, depression, and addiction. This is because they cause a person to feel happy and laugh more, feel an intense flow of creativity, enhanced insightfulness, uplifting sensations and more. Awareness, memory retrieval, energy, and dilation of pupils are among the more neutral side effects of shrooms. Some negative side effects that one may experience are headaches, intense fear or phobia, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, disrupt attention, blood pressure problems and more. The Guardian noted last year that shrooms are one of the “safest” drugs that people can take recreationally. This was concluded from the 2017 Global Drug Survey that compared magic mushrooms to methamphetamine, synthetic cannabis, alcohol, MDMA/ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine, LSD, and cannabis in regard to emergency medical treatment and found that shrooms caused less than 10,000 emergency visits among the 119,846 people surveyed. However, some people have experienced “bad trips” with shrooms, causing them to recall traumatic events in their lives or feel extreme fear or panic.