For many people, holidays can be stressful and chaotic. What’s more, holiday parties and family gatherings often mix family drama with abundant alcohol. If you’re recovering from addiction to drugs or alcohol, the holidays can be a big test. However, the holiday season doesn’t have to derail your recovery. Here are some ways you can…
Depression is the number one cause of disability worldwide. About 16 million American adults suffer a depressive episode every year. Common symptoms of depression include sadness, irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue, lack of motivation, feelings of hopelessness, and thoughts of suicide. Depression obviously has a negative impact on your quality of life, so much so that…
Every kid looks forward to the holidays. It’s a time when you can open presents rather than go to school. However, for adults, holidays often mean stress, anxiety, and sometimes, depression. If holidays are a tough time for you, here are some ways to keep depression from taking over. Manage your commitments. Perhaps the most…
Alcohol can affect your health in many different ways. Most people are aware that excessive drinking can damage your liver and cardiovascular system. It can also damage your digestive system, leading to malnutrition and even increasing your risk of cancer. Many people see these conditions as problems for the distant future. You may be less…
There are several factors that determine how addictive a substance is. These factors include how much the drug affects your brain’s reward system, how fast-acting the substance is, how hard it is to get, how quickly you become dependent, and how hard it is to quit. Intense or protracted withdrawal symptoms are among the biggest…
Many people take opioid painkillers for chronic pain such as back pain, arthritis, or lingering pain from injuries. Fear of experiencing pain is one reason people are reluctant to quit taking opioids, even when it is clear they have become harmful. However, there now better ways to treat chronic pain. Many non-addictive medications have been…
If you’re relatively new to recovery and don’t yet feel quite steady, you may not feel like you’re the best person to be helping others. However, volunteering can be a great way to strengthen your recovery. 12-step groups like AA have always recognized this and made volunteering an integral part of their program. Of course,…
Making the transition from residential treatment to regular life is a tricky time for many people. After living in a safe, supportive environment for perhaps months, you have to go back to dealing with the stress and temptations of everyday life. Most people leave treatment feeling much better–healthier, happier, and more confident. However, making the…
Recreational marijuana is now legal in nine states, including Colorado and Nevada, and medical marijuana is now legal in 31 states, including New Mexico. The stigma attached to marijuana is fading and it is becoming more socially acceptable. While preliminary studies have not found significantly more people are using marijuana after it becomes legal, that…
One major risk factor for depression is chronic illness, especially illnesses that involve pain. Studies have found that depression is common among people who suffer from arthritis, both rheumatoid arthritis and age-related osteoarthritis. The connection between these conditions is not yet clear, and is likely complex. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects people…
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