Addiction

Addiction is an issue that has been around for decades. But since the arrival of COVID-19, substance abuse rates have soared in the U.S., with 13 percent of Americans reporting an increase in drug or alcohol use. This surge has been linked to the stress, fear and uncertainty of the pandemic and shows no signs…

After years of using substances, your emotions can become numbed and imbalanced. Consistent substance use also involves avoiding emotions. Alcohol and drugs used to cope with feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, and depression further perpetuate your emotional numbness. Recovery, however, is all about reconnecting with your emotions and finding balance. As such, you will have…

The stigmas surrounding mental health disorders are damaging and can often hinder one’s motivation to seek help. However, these stigmas often stem from a lack of understanding about various mental health issues, including the language sometimes used when talking about these issues. Stigmatizing language can be deliberately harmful or more subtle, in which people using…

Long-term substance use creates changes in the body and alters the brain, meaning that it also affects a person’s mental health. Since the brain is responsible for all voluntary and involuntary actions, substance use can change how people think, act, and feel. If you have a loved one currently using substances and dealing with behavioral…

Mindfulness is a practice that allows you to look inward and open up to vulnerability. Practicing mindfulness allows the opportunity for better self-awareness and growth in confidence. The best part is, anybody can achieve the benefits. However, the narrative of most stereotypes that men are “not good” at showing emotions or “too strong-willed” negatively influences…

Many stigmas, taboos, and negative beliefs surround substance use and mental health disorders. Such views not only misrepresent and harm those affected by substance use and mental health disorders. They also create fear and isolation and even prevent many from seeking the help they need. The legal ramifications further support these beliefs for those in…

Although there is no definitive path for receiving treatment of an addictive disorder, the recovery process is most effective when patients are actively abstaining from continued substance misuse. Achieving this initial sobriety to begin treating the underlying addictive and mental health disorders feeding into substance misuse often requires help. Many find themselves experiencing serious withdrawal…

The methodology behind treating addictive disorders in the 21st century has evolved immensely over the past 100 years through scientific advancements in the field of psychology. Many of these advancements are due to recontextualizing addiction around the 1930s as a medical condition. The inception of new fields of science studying the thoughts and inner workings…

The origins of group psychotherapy, sessions that have become a cornerstone of addiction recovery treatment, have their roots in psychodrama. Although this name may initially sound more like a late 90s softcore metal band than an effective form of medical treatment, psychodrama has continued to be an effective form of therapy for addiction recovery patients,…