A man takes off his glasses and hangs his head as he wonders what the difference is between depression and dysthymia

What’s the Difference Between Depression and Dysthymia?

Depression affects about 16 million Americans every year. The World Health Organization calls depression the number one cause of disability worldwide. Symptoms typically include prolonged feelings of sadness, fatigue, irritability, aggression, lack of motivation, disturbed sleep, poor memory and concentration, feelings of hopelessness, physical aches, and thoughts of suicide or death. The symptoms of depression…

A doctor tells a woman 3 reasons why MAT isn't just replacing one addiction with another

3 Reasons Why MAT Isn’t Just Replacing One Addiction with Another

Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, means using FDA-approved medications as part of an integrated treatment plan. For people with opioid addictions, this typically means taking methadone or buprenorphine, a strategy called opioid replacement therapy. Among people who study opioid addiction, MAT, along with therapy or counselling is considered the gold standard of opioid addiction treatment.…

A woman sits on a park bench and tries to remember 4 ways to cope with social anxiety disorder

4 Ways to Cope with Social Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders are common co-occurring conditions with addiction because people who suffer from them desperately want relief from their symptoms, which sometimes include intense panic attacks. Often, people who suffer from anxiety disorders will be prescribed benzodiazepines such as Xanax that relieve anxiety in the short term, but are highly addictive. They may also self-medicate…

A woman sits curled up in a chair and wonders can mental illness shorten your life

Can Mental Illness Shorten Your Life?

No one wants to live with mental illness. Mental illnesses can make your life harder in many ways. Depending on what you have, you may be depressed, anxious, impulsive, angry, combative, confused, or paranoid. Now it appears mental illness has another big drawback: it can shorten your life. Depending on what mental health issue you…