Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is depression brought on by a change in seasons. It most commonly affects people during the fall and winter, although some people, especially people with bipolar disorder, may experience symptoms of anxiety or mania in the spring. SAD is thought to be caused mainly by a disruption in the circadian…
Much of the media coverage of the opioid crisis in the US calls addiction a “disease of despair” and points to the high levels of unemployment in the areas most heavily affected by opioid addiction. There does seem to be a significant overlap between between addiction and unemployment, but does that mean unemployment causes addiction?…
It’s not easy to quit drinking. Alcohol is difficult to avoid, and you will often end up around people who drink. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. In addition to proven methods like therapy and social support, there are now three medications that can help make staying sober a little easier. Antabuse Antabuse,…
Recovery capital is whatever you have working in your favor to help you stay sober. An easy way to think of is that anything that makes you happier, healthier, and more connected to others is recovery capital. The more recovery capital you have, the easier it will be to stay sober. Recovery capital can be…
Everyone has different needs in addiction treatment. A quality addiction treatment program will help you create an individualized program that takes into account your specific background and issues. Different groups of people tend to share certain needs and risks. Here are some of the problems men are more likely to face in addiction and treatment.…
With the days getting shorter and colder, many people will experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is a form of depression caused by the change of seasons. People who have struggled with depression or bipolar disorder are particularly vulnerable. Symptoms of SAD include feeling depressed most of the time, having little energy or motivation,…
With more than 16 million American adults suffering a depressive episode every year, there’s a good chance you or someone close to you will be affected. Public awareness of depression has spread in recent years, but some misconceptions still persist. Here are some of the most important ones. Depression is just sadness. It’s true that…
Drug and alcohol use in the LGBT community is higher than in the general population. Exactly how much higher is difficult to say, since the exact size of the LGBT community is unknown and studies on substance use rarely ask about sexual identity or orientation. Despite great strides in LGBT rights in recent years, widespread…
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome, or PAWS, is when you experience lingering mental health issues after acute withdrawal at the start of recovery. Most people experience PAWS as depression, lack of motivation, inability to feel pleasure, emotional numbness, insomnia, impaired concentration and memory, irritability, and anxiety. Some people develop panic disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder. There is little scientific…
Depression is the most common mental health issue in the world. It affects more than 16 million American adults every year. Symptoms include sadness, sleeping too much or too little, slow movements, poor concentration, hopelessness, and frequent thoughts of death or suicide. Since depression affects so many people, you probably know someone with depression, but…