People with avoidant personality disorder have low self-esteem and consequently have an intense fear of being judged or criticized by others. This fear makes them extremely uncomfortable in social situations and therefore they avoid social situations whenever possible. Avoidant personality disorder affects about two and a half percent of the population and it affects men…
People with high-functioning depression are typically able to get through the day, often performing well at work or other areas of life despite feeling the constant drag of low mood, fatigue, poor concentration, and other symptoms of depression. While major depression can be completely debilitating, preventing someone from so much as getting out of bed,…
Family therapy is an important part of addiction treatment. A major aspect of family therapy is learning to respect boundaries in family relationships. Boundaries essentially mean respecting someone else’s needs and desires while at the same time asserting your own. It means neither trying to control someone else nor being too distant. Dysfunctional relationships often…
Social anxiety disorder, or SAD, is an intense fear of social interaction. It can interfere with life in many ways, making dating, school, and work much more difficult. People with SAD typically avoid social situations. When they can’t, they often rely on drugs or alcohol in order to relieve their anxiety and be more “themselves”…
Substance use among college students is surprisingly high. One study found that about 40 percent of college students qualify as binge drinkers, compared to less than 20 percent in the general population. College students also use other substances heavily. The study found that 37 percent used at least one illicit drug and about 7 percent…
Despite all the media attention the opioid crisis has gotten in recent years, many myths about addiction still persist. One of the more dangerous myths is that someone struggling with a substance use disorder has to hit “rock bottom” before she can have a successful recovery. While many people do have a last-straw moment when…
Impulse control has a lot to do with addiction. It’s no coincidence that many mental health issues that involve impulse control also increase your risk of addiction. ADHD, OCD, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder all have a significant impulse control component and higher risk of addiction. What’s more, the longer you live with addiction,…
Congress recently passed the Substance Use-disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities, or SUPPORT, Act as a multifaceted way of addressing the opioid crisis. The bill passed both houses with overwhelming bipartisan support, an alarming indication of how bad the opioid crisis has become in recent years. In fact, the…
You are probably familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. This is when you have a traumatic experience, but instead of recovering over the following weeks and months, you are plagued by symptoms related to the trauma. These symptoms typically include avoiding anything associated with the trauma, re-experiencing the trauma in the form of flashbacks…
12-step programs can be a valuable resource for addiction recovery. There are several advantages of attending 12-step meetings as a way of managing addiction. First, meetings are easy to find. Unless you live in a remote area, there are probably several meetings nearby. They are also an easy way to start building a sober network.…
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