Some people escape life’s challenges through the use of drugs and alcohol. This method of dealing with problems only avoids addressing the root causes. As a result, bodies and minds can become reliant on and addicted to drugs and alcohol. Addiction is a severe problem that many people face today. The treatment process can seem …
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can often be so debilitating that those living with it turn to drugs and alcohol to try and cope. This unhealthy coping mechanism often leads to substance abuse and subsequent addiction. Because of this relationship, OCD and addiction are common co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders are identified when someone has a substance use …
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can make survivors feel trapped inside the damaging events they endured in the past. Because of its relationship to the nervous system, PTSD may have a broad impact and be challenging to deal with alone. Fortunately, there are effective therapeutic interventions for PTSD, and getting help is only a phone call …
Millions of people struggle with depression every day, and some do not know that help is available. Depression can affect all parts of life, from a job or scholastic performance to relationships with loved ones and even strangers. If you or someone you care about is experiencing signs of depression, know that compassionate support is …
Work to understand the effects of repressed trauma began with Sigmund Freud and remains important today. Because of the body’s instinct for self-preservation, deeply harmful events are sometimes partly or fully removed from conscious memory. This allows a traumatized person temporary relief from cognitively dealing with their past. Sadly, repressed trauma can have many negative …
Living with anxiety can be incredibly challenging, and individuals cope quite differently. For some, it’s a debilitating condition that severely impairs function in major areas such as employment or relationships. For others, anxiety wreaks havoc on their internal landscape while outside observers have no idea that they are struggling. In these latter cases, high-functioning anxiety …
Have you ever felt so hopeless that you did not know how to manage your way out of feeling distressed? Or, have you ever had thoughts of suicide that were so great that you felt like timing through to action? Chances are, you displayed the signs of a mental health crisis. When you are in …
Trauma and substance abuse are intricately connected. Many people with substance use disorders have trauma in their past or are dealing with trauma in their present lives. For them, a trauma therapy program is a crucial aspect of recovery from substance abuse. A skilled trauma therapist works with clients to unpack the root causes behind …
Many people struggling with substance use or mental health disorders ask, “What are co-occurring disorders?” Co-occurring disorders occur when both of these conditions manifest at the same time. There is no distinct pattern to which of the two conditions develops first. An individual can develop a mental disorder first, then a substance use disorder, or …