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Xanax first appeared in the market in 1981, and was a follow-up medication to Valium, which also helped with anxiety and was very common during the 1970’s. What made Xanax so popular is it’s marketing of helping people with panic attacks – something that Valium didn’t claim to do. Many people in the 80’s began using this drug as a form of relaxation and a way to ease their fear and panic – and has continued to rise up the charts for usage even today.   Xanax is the number one prescription drug in the United States, and provides a calm and relaxing state of feeling to those who take it. Many enjoy the effects of Xanax because it helps calm their central nervous system and acts very quickly in the body once taken. When people begin taking Xanax, they often to sleep better and have overall less anxiety. The drug boosts a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the neurotransmitter responsible for sending calming and relaxing signals throughout our body. When prescribed, individuals are often set a certain timeline to take it – but once they experience the pleasurable feelings the drug produces, they often feel they need the drug to continue feeling relaxed and calm. From there, people may continue taking the drug even though their prescription is outdated to try and achieve the same results they felt at the beginning. This leads to a dangerous path though – as the body becomes used to taking the drug, it replaces its natural ability to produce GABA with the drug itself. This then means that the person must increase their dosage to achieve the same relaxing feeling that they felt when they first started taking the drug. As a person continues doing this, their body build more and more tolerance and the vicious cycle continues. Xanax is an incredibly addictive drug and has really become popular over the past 35 years. Even small dosages of Xanax can become addicting – the best way to prevent addiction is to take the medication only as prescribed by your doctor and to stay in touch with your doctor regularly regarding any unusual behaviors or symptoms that you experience. Rely on a loving friend or partner to monitor your usage and to check in with you. Staying informed and aware are the best tools for combating addiction – there are many other resources available to help people with preventative care and to help those who are already suffering from addiction.

Whether as a child or during adulthood, traumatic events in our lives can make the present and future seem distant, hopeless, frightening, and more. These events sometimes define who we are for the rest of our lives, or at least change the way we perceive ourselves and the world. Understanding the effects of trauma can help us feel more at ease with knowing how we are feeling, and could give us the potential to help someone else by knowing what they are going through. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network explains that when a child goes through a traumatic event, their body may experience rapid breathing or heart pounding, chronic physical complaints such as stomach aches or headaches, sensitivity to light, touch or sound, and more. Traumatic events or extreme stress can even cause a child’s body to shut down when presented with stressful situations. Emotionally, a child may have difficulty identifying, expressing, or understanding emotions, and may experience significant anger, depression, or anxiety. Dissociation is another response safety mechanism, in which the child may mentally separate themselves from a stressful situation. Adults can experience damaging effects of trauma as well – the American Psychological Association notes that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm was threatened. Physical assaults, natural or human-caused disasters such as terrorist attacks, motor vehicle accidents, rape, physical and sexual abuse, military combat and more are all cases that may induce PTSD. Dr. Lynn Margolies, psychologist and former Harvard Medical School fellow, describes for Psych Central that hyperarousal, intrusive memories or flashbacks, feeling numb or detached and being easily startled are just a few symptoms of PTSD. Help Guide provides several ways to help overcome the effects of trauma:

According to Better Health, herbal medicine is the use of plants to treat disease and enhance general health and well-being. Medicine Plus, a government website, notes that herbal remedies can be sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants. Herbal remedies can be a great natural source of healing, but should still be taken with precaution. Many of the herbal medicines used today have been used for centuries to treat symptoms of depression, allergies, asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and more. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ancient Chinese and Egyptian writings describe herbal medicine dating back to 3000 B.C. Indigenous cultures have also used herbs as part of healing rituals, while others have developed more traditional medical systems. Unlike medicine prescribed today, herbal remedies can typically be bought in common grocery stores and online. Some of the following are common herbs used to treat various maladies:

For those of us who have taken the courageous route to overcoming our problems and obtaining skills to help us better manage our lives, therapy is likely a plausible component to our success. Many of us seek therapy in hopes that we can at least resolve our most distressing issues – once we have found a therapist that we feel we can truly trust, the recovery process becomes much easier to manage. In our sessions, our therapists may use a variety of techniques. This is mostly since we are all different in our perceptions and ways of learning skills, as well as our tactics for coping. Many therapists are specialized in a certain “area of expertise” – but most can implement a variety of techniques to see which ones “stick” with us and which ones don’t. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - the goal of this technique is to help the client recognize negative thought and behavior patterns, and to help them construct more positive, productive thoughts in its place. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – like CBT, dialectical behavioral therapy aims to help individuals with negative thought and behavioral patterns, but integrates the use of mindfulness. With this, the client can become more present in the moment and can learn to better cope with stress and other negative emotions. Sand Tray Therapy – with this technique, clients (children through adult years) select small objects or figures to create their own little world on the sand tray. This allows the client to visualize their world and explore their problems and feelings more effectively. This also enables the client to explore potential solutions on the sand tray. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – this technique is often used to help people who suffer from addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, panic attacks, and more. By recalling a triggering, negative memory, clients relearn healthier ways to respond through sets of eye movements that their therapist guides them through. These are only a few of the many successful techniques that your therapist may use. What’s most important is not the technique used, but the effect that it has on you and your ability to overcome obstacles. If you feel that a certain technique isn’t working well for you, express those concerns to your therapist. Open communication and trust are crucial elements to success in therapy and could greatly improve your chances of recovery.

“Friends with benefits: on the positive consequences of pet ownership” published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology posits that pet owners fare better on self-esteem, exercise, greater conscientiousness, less fear, and feel less isolated. For someone who suffers from a mental illness, having a pet can greatly increase their chances of happiness and improve their overall well-being. Another study conducted by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) found that animal-assistance intervention (AAI), has even been shown to help people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you’re considering getting a pet, there are several reasons why having a pet is beneficial for your mental health:

The similarity between these names suggests that there is a base chemical incorporated into both drugs. What exactly are the similarities and differences, though? While both drugs do have something in common, they each create different results in the body and mind. Drug Rehab notes a few distinct differences:

According to Foundations Recovery Network, narcotics are also known as opiates or painkillers, both of which are commonly abused in the United States. Narcotics work in the body by attaching themselves to receptors in the central nervous system so that a person’s pain signals are blocked. Due to this, narcotics are often prescribed for serious injuries and surgeries. The most common types of narcotics are codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, and more. Illegal drugs that are considered narcotics are heroin, opium, and taking the previously mentioned medications outside of a doctor’s recommendation. Side of effects of narcotics include a decreased sense of pain, dizziness, euphoria, decreased respiration, sedation, upset stomach, and developing a tolerance to the drug. Medline Plus, a government website, states that narcotics should typically not be taken for more than 3-4 months unless stated otherwise by a trusted doctor. Narcotics are very addictive, which is why there is an opiate crisis in America today. When someone takes their medication in higher doses and more frequently than their prescription states, they may easily become dependent. When this happens, the body begins to crave the drug to feel relaxed. Dependency can lead to addiction when a person continues to take increasing amount of medication to achieve the same desired effect they felt when they first started. WebMD notes several signs of opioid use disorder:

We all experience moments of doubt, worry, disappointment, grief, and low self-esteem. While many of us may feel that these feelings are not of concern, learning tools to cope with these feelings is always beneficial. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral treatment often used for a variety of mental health illnesses, but virtually anyone can gain many wonderful tools developed from using this therapy. DBT provides skills for mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a form of treatment in which bilateral eye movement reduces the emotional stress of negative memories. This type of therapy is often used to treat addiction, self-esteem issues, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and more. When a person undergoes this form of therapy, they will be asked to recall a traumatic memory – for someone who suffers from an addiction, they may recall triggers that causes them to feel anxiety and a craving to “use” again. When the therapist incorporates eye movement desensitization, the person typically feels less anxious about the triggers, ameliorating the effects of their trigger on them.

Trading addictions happens often. Many individuals attempt to “get rid” of their negative habits, but wind up picking up another unhealthy habit instead. Why does this happen? Many people who recently quit an addiction and are recovering experience heightened stress, pain, or anxiety because the vice that they originally used to fill in an emotional or psychological gap is now “gone”. When someone perceives a lack of control over their “loss” they may pick up a new addiction on many things: binge eating, overworking, gambling, cigarettes, benzodiazepines, sex, pornography, shopping, exercising and more. When someone is recovering from an addiction, they may experience lower dopamine levels in their brain – the area that produces feelings of happiness and reward. When this happens, a person may latch on to something else to try and fulfill that craving.  There are many signs that someone has left one addiction for another: constantly thinking about the new addiction, losing sleep to engage in the addiction, difficulty at school, work, or home, relationship issues, neglecting self-care or personal hygiene, experiencing stress and/or anxiety if unable to engage in new addiction. The key to overcoming this new addiction is to find the root of the compulsion through therapy. Talking with a therapist can help a person address any subconscious emotions that haven’t reached the surface. By working through these hidden emotions, we can explore the direct root cause of our emotional and psychological distress – meaning that over time, we will be working directly with our issues instead of filling them with something else. If you feel that you have exchanged one addiction for another, call a doctor and therapist right away. There are many resources available to help people overcome this: in-patient or out-patient treatment facilities, psychotherapy, support groups, and more. By getting help, you can work on the core issue that you are having trouble working through and can be on your way to a happier, healthier life.

Dr. Lisa Firestone, Dr. Robert Firestone and Joyce Catlett, authors of The Self under Seige state: There is an important difference between introspection and rumination. Time spent alone in thought can be positive – a rich environment for personal growth and creativity, but it can also be dangerous when we are negatively turned against ourselves. Introspection can be a process of healthy self-reflection, examination, and exploration, which is good for your well-being and your brain. Introspection allows us to learn from our past, understand who we are, and develop a closer sense of self. If we can look into ourselves for exploration and clarification, we can become wiser and more self-aware. According to Elite Daily in 2015, introspection can help us to notice negative patterns in our lives, keep us focused on the bigger picture, prevent us from worry about things outside of our control, face our fears, define happiness in our own terms, make decisions based on our conscious, and make changes that will finally lead us to the results that we want.   The Right Way(s) To Do Introspection has some great insight that can be used. Here are some investigative strategies that you can use to get the most out of introspection:

For people beginning their recovery journey, relapse seems like a scary, haunted force that should be avoided at all costs. Although it may seem like a contradiction to recovery, there are some valuable lessons that can be learned if you relapse. Addiction.org, a website aimed at provided rehabilitation information, has provided several important lessons to be gained from relapse: