April is both Stress Awareness Month and Alcohol Awareness Month--and it’s no accident. The connection between stress and alcoholism has long been recognized by scientists and medical experts although discoveries continue to be made. In this article, we’ll explore how...
Mental Health
Recognizing The 3 Stages of Relapse
There are many things that might cause someone to relapse: stress, cravings, peer pressure, etc. When it does occur, however, it’s rarely out of the blue. Relapse is a gradual process that first takes root in the mind before it manifests itself physically as drug use....
A Guide to Depressants & Addiction
What Do Depressants Do? A group of drugs that reduce arousal and brain stimulation, depressants may not actually be what you think. They do not directly induce what we all know as depression, rather they have an effect on the central nervous system that produces...
Alternatives To Benzodiazepines For Anxiety
Anxiety is something that we, as human beings, occasionally feel in our lives. In fact, a little bit of anxiety here and there can be a good source of motivation. It can also be a natural warning system telling you when not to do something dangerous. Unfortunately,...
Dependence vs. Addiction
To many individuals, addiction and dependence may seem interchangeable; this, however, is far from the truth. The difference is somewhat tricky to comprehend because some define the two differently or completely disregard them concerning substance use disorder....
Depression and Alcoholism: A Common Dual Diagnosis
Before discussing the link between alcoholism and depression, it is important to understand the concept of depression itself first, since psychology is behind both conditions. There is still a lot of misinformation regarding the subject, as people suffering from...
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Many substance abusers also struggle with a co-occurring mental health disorder. This is known as a dual diagnosis and will require specialized treatment. Dual diagnosis is a common term that you’ll often hear in the addiction industry. According to the National...
Signs and Risk Factors of Suicide
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in our Country. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide but it is often undiagnosed. Though suicidal thoughts aren’t always easy to detect, learning how to identify the signs of suicide may save a...
Our Favorite Books About Codependency
Codependency and drug addiction are closely correlated to one another. Codependence is defined as a physical, psychological, or emotional reliance on a dysfunctional relationship, usually involving the care of a person with an illness or addiction. At its root,...