What you eat while recovering from addiction is extremely important. There are now many studies showing the impact your diet has on your mood. So far, all of these studies have found that a diet high in fat, sugar, and processed foods make you more anxious, irritable, and depressed, while a diet rich in whole…
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Addiction is complicated and there are many factors that increase your risk of developing a substance use disorder. Genetics is perhaps the biggest factor. If you have close family members such as parents, grandparents, or siblings with substance use issues, you already have a greater risk. Mental health issues are another major risk factor. Depression,…
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World Bipolar Day is an initiative of the International Bipolar Foundation, the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder, and the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. World Bipolar Day is observed every year on March 30th, the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, who was posthumously diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The purpose of World Bipolar Day is to…
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Relapses are extremely common during addiction recovery. A common base estimate is that 40 to 60 percent of people relapse during the first year. Other estimates suggest that at least 90 percent of people recovering from alcohol use disorder relapse at least once before they can maintain a stable recovery and the same may be…
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Depression affects more than 16 million American adults every year and is the leading cause of disability in the world. Symptoms of depression include sadness, irritability, sleep disturbance, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, slow movements, poor concentration, anxiety, and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression is typically treated with some combination…
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The opioid epidemic gets a lot of media attention, and deservedly so. The rate of fatal overdoses involving opioids has been climbing for nearly 20 years and in 2017 reached nearly 50,000. However, there may be another problem looming the shadow of the opioid epidemic. The rate of fatal overdoses involving benzodiazepines has been climbing…
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For most people, the early days of recovery are an exciting time. In treatment, you often confront old issues, make new friends, and find hope for perhaps the first time in years. After treatment, you have to adjust to the challenges of living on your own again and applying what you learned to real life.…
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In some ways, addiction is all about comfort. Using a substance you’re addicted to relieves pain temporarily and staves off withdrawal. It’s a safe little refuge from uncomfortable feelings. Having your habits and rituals built around addiction is predictable. Unfortunately, comfort is not the same as happiness. In fact, comfort can make you miserable. What’s…
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Finding a job after treatment can be challenging. In addition to the normal challenges of job hunting, people recovering from addiction may have to explain employment gaps, job loss, and possibly jail time. What’s more, since addiction typically begins at a young age, many people will have lost educational opportunities, perhaps dropping out of high…
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Addiction is complicated and only a small part is about the substance itself. A more complete picture of addiction emerges when you consider the biology and psychology of the user. For example, someone with severe anxiety might easily become addicted to Xanax because it relieves her anxiety. Another person might be genetically disposed to get…
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