Serotonin Syndrome: Too Much of a Good Thing

By |2019-10-03T19:41:17+00:00November 26th, 2017|

Did you know that certain drug interactions can increase your chances of developing a potentially-lethal set of symptoms known as serotonin syndrome?  Knowing which medications, over-the-counter remedies, supplements, and drugs of abuse put you at risk may just save your life. First Things First—What is Serotonin? Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, which means it helps relay messages between different regions of the brain. It is closely associated with many different areas of physical and mental health, including: Mood Memory Sleep Sexual Desire/Function Learning Appetite Social Behavior Temperature Regulation Cardiovascular Function Muscle [...]

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How I Dropped My Two Best Friends: Shame & Guilt

By |2019-10-09T15:30:35+00:00October 27th, 2017|

You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging. ― Brené Brown, Shame Researcher Shame and guilt are natural. These emotions can help us reflect on and evaluate our past choices, and give us the drive to change our future ones. But rather than giving us the motivation to change, shame and guilt can also hold us back from growing as well. Sometimes the intensity of these feelings can seem so overwhelming, so insurmountable, that the emotions which are supposed to push us forward actually render us [...]

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7 Smart Ways to Overcome Social Fear and Performance Anxiety

By |2019-10-09T15:26:07+00:00October 19th, 2017|

Social anxiety is an umbrella term that performance anxiety sites under. It represents the anticipation of a social situation either during or after the situation itself. It is based on fear of evaluation. Positive or negative evaluation, depending on the person. If you experience social anxiety, you’ll perceive negative consequences regardless of how well or poorly you do. If you do too well, you may show up your coworkers or friends. The last thing you want is to stick out and be noticed. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses in [...]

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What it Means to Really Take a Personal Inventory and Admit Our Shortcomings

By |2019-10-09T15:22:08+00:00October 17th, 2017|

The process for completing any Twelve Step program for addiction or alcoholism is full of many challenges. One of these is determining what it means to really take a personal inventory and admit our shortcomings. Difficult or not, self-inventory is a crucial element of addiction recovery. But what does it actually look like? Step 4 of AA as an Important Part of the Recovery Process Step Four of Alcoholics Anonymous may be just one of the Twelve Steps – but it is simultaneously one of the most crucial and most [...]

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10 Tips to Deal with Mood Swings and Feelings Now that You’re Sober

By |2019-10-09T15:17:53+00:00October 13th, 2017|

I didn’t realize that mood swings and alcohol abuse were so closely connected. The effects that alcoholism had on me lasted even through recovery. I became very aware of the damage my substance abuse had done to my mind. It turns out that all the mental symptoms I was trying to fix with my drinking only became worse. I just didn’t know it because I was always under the influence. I knew that if I didn’t learn to control my mood swings, I wouldn’t successfully recover. I wasn’t able to do it alone. [...]

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If I Have an Addictive Personality , Am I Doomed Forever?

By |2019-10-09T15:13:59+00:00September 13th, 2017|

Having a family history of heart problems does not necessarily mean that you will immediately enter cardiac arrest. In the same way, having an addictive personality is not the same thing as being an addict. Of course, those with a family history of addiction and with an addictive personality may need to be more careful than others. You have most likely heard of an addictive personality, and may have even been told in the past that your behavior fits the bill. More than anything, we want you to know this: showing the signs of an [...]

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Why Eating Disorders Are More Common Than You Think

By |2019-10-03T23:03:02+00:00August 22nd, 2017|

Addiction is a vast and complex disorder that we are still learning much about. For example, addiction used to be confined solely to being physically and psychologically dependent on an actual substance, like heroin or alcohol. But after decades of research and discovery, we now know that there are many different types of addictions that don’t necessarily have to involve a physical dependency on an actual drug. Eating disorders, for example, are one type of behavioral addiction that many people suffer from. In fact, it’s probably even more common than you think. What Is the [...]

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The Reason Almost All Addicts Probably have a Co-occurring Disorder

By |2019-09-05T15:57:26+00:00August 7th, 2017|

Co-occurring disorders were once called dual diagnosis. The combine a mental health disorder with a substance abuse disorder. In a 2014 report by SAMHSA, there were nearly 8 million adult in the U.S. with co-occurring disorders. The reasons that people abuse substances can often be attributed to emotional reasons. Substances have the ability to numb pain from events in life that haven’t been dealt with. A co-occurring disorder can be defined by two disorders such as: Alcoholism and depression. Cocaine addiction and anorexia. Post-traumatic stress disorder and heroin abuse. Studies show that people who have [...]

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Why Schizophrenia and Addiction Are Linked

By |2019-06-27T22:44:38+00:00July 21st, 2017|

What is the relationship between schizophrenia and the various forms of addiction? Substance abuse disorders often co-occur with mental illnesses. Although they are separate medical conditions, the relationship between addiction and mental disorders is closer – and more complicated – than most people realize. In fact, a person with a substance abuse disorder is more likely than not to also struggle with a comorbid psychiatric condition, and vice versa. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association: Among people with a mental illness, roughly half have a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). 53% of people [...]

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Sober and Depressed: How to deal with depression once you’re in recovery

By |2019-09-03T23:36:40+00:00July 8th, 2017|

Getting sober doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to live happily ever after sadly. It’s a difficult battle to stay sober as your brain copes with a life without drugs. Most addicts will face depression to some degree because the brain’s chemistry has been changed. Many times, a person becomes addicted to harmful substances due to their symptoms of depression. Stopping the substance allows those repressed feelings to come back. Physically, drugs and alcohol sucked the vital nutrients from your body. No matter what substance you used, you likely neglected yourself in many ways, including your [...]

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