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Drug addiction is a chronic disease that impacts the brain of the addict. Much like other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, addiction is preventable. One might have a genetic predisposition to addiction, but that doesn’t mean they are destined to become an addict. Prevention is the single most effective key in curing addiction. Prevention comes in two forms, each attacking a different level of addiction. The first form is preventing drug use in the first place. Anyone who may be prone to addiction can prevent it from developing simply by never using addictive substances. The second form comes in the form of preventing a relapse once an addict has become clean. Both types of prevention are equally important. Someone who has already become addicted will require a certain type of preventative program, while an adolescent or adult who is prone to addiction will require another type of program.

While the way the brain functions dictates behavior, certain behavior will also dictate the development of the brain. This puts drug users and those prone to addiction in a delicate situation. Brain development can be dictated by drug abuse, which will then encourage more drug usage and lead the user to full blown addiction. How exactly does this happen? It’s all due to the very way the brain functions.

Sleep is an essential part of maintaining a healthy mind and body. When you are not sleeping enough or when the quality of your sleep is poor, you have a higher risk of developing cognitive challenges. According to Web MD (1), lack of sleep actually hinders or harms your ability to think clearly and to maintain a healthy state of mind. As a result, it contributes to mental health disorders or worsens certain symptoms associated with a disorder.

Are you concerned that someone you love is becoming dependent on alcohol? Have you spotted the hallmark signs of addiction and don't know what to do next? Alcoholism is a terrible condition that can tear apart an individual's personal, career, physical and emotional functioning. There is effective treatment for alcoholism. Help your loved one get the professional care they need today by changing the way you view and understand this debilitating condition. Learn more about the disease theory of alcoholism below.

Fears and worries impact the lives of men and women each day. It is natural to worry about loved ones, taking a test or giving a speech. An anxiety disorder occurs when fears do not have a clear cause and consistently complicate a personal relationships or a personal lifestyle.  According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) (1), anxiety disorders increase the risk of substance abuse by two to three times when compared to individuals in the general population. When a disorder develops, learning these 6 healthy ways to deal with your anxiety is essential for personal health and well-being.

The complexity of substance abuse stems from the primary causes that contribute to an addiction. Schizophrenia and related mental health disorders often complicate the treatment process because the disorder contributes to addiction. The National Institutes of Health (1) state that nearly half of the men and women with schizophrenia also abuse drugs or alcohol throughout their lifetime. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a dual diagnosis helps identify the right treatment program for a loved one or for personal recovery goals.

“Writing is the only way I have to explain my own life to myself,” says author Pat Conroy. His insight echoes the sentiments of generations of writers through the centuries. Writing has always been a means to understanding oneself and the world, a way to express and clarify hopes and fears, grief, sadness, anxiety, happiness, and joy. Many of the world’s greatest writers didn’t write for others, or to make money, they wrote because it made them feel better and brought them peace of mind. Many writers thought of writing as a way of having a personal conversation with God. Says writer Kristin Armstrong, “I write about the power of trying, because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful - for all of it.” In short, writing has always been a way of securing good mental health. And modern science has proven those intuitive impressions to be factually true.

Chronic pain affects people of all ages and all life situations. However, perhaps the most difficult type of chronic pain to treat is pain experienced by former addicts. After all, in many cases, their chronic pain was the catalyst behind them seeking relief or escape, which resulted in them being addicted to a harmful substance of some kind in the first place. Therefore, when dealing with former addicts, treating chronic pain correctly and effectively is a must. Fortunately, there are many options available to help those who live with chronic pain daily.

There are a number of personality disorders that people suffer from, two of which are Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder. So what are personality disorders exactly? Personality disorders describe ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that contribute to the way a person interacts with the world.  Unlike other psychiatric disorders (e.g. mood disorders & anxiety) that may vary significantly over time, personality characteristics are less flexible.  Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder are two of the ten personality disorder diagnoses listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).  Although people with these diagnoses share several characteristics, there are important differences between these disorders.

Serotonin syndrome occurs when you take medications that cause serotonin to accumulate in your body. Your body produces serotonin naturally. A certain amount of serotonin is essential for proper nerve and brain function but too much of this chemical can cause mild to severe symptoms. Taking certain medications can increase serotonin and cause symptoms that range from barely noticeable to severe. If not treated, serotonin syndrome may even result in death.

Addiction devastates the lives of millions of Americans each year. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, up to 43.7 million Americans suffer from an addiction, yet only a minute portion of them receive any assistance in overcoming their addiction. Unfortunately, many people continue to see non-substance addictions, such as impulsive gambling, shopping, stealing, or failure of sexual impulse control, as theories, and not actual addictions. However, psychological associations, mental health facilities, and researchers have compiled a massive database defining how and why these non-substances, more widely known as process or behavioral addictions, occur. In fact, the results of research studies and findings draw conclusions similar to risk factors for developing substance abuse addictions. Before you embark on a journey to help a loved one or yourself with a process addiction, you need to know how process addictions arise, especially from a genetic standpoint.

Binge eating disorder and bulimia are two of the three eating disorders recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. (1) On the surface, these two disorders may not seem different from each other. But there are significant differences in the warning signs and dangers of each disorder, as well as the demographics of those who suffer from them.