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…
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…
Bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by both depressive episodes and manic or hypomanic episodes. The pattern of these symptoms is different for everyone. Some people may feel relatively normal much of the time, occasionally tipping into a manic or depressive episode and some people may cycle more quickly from one to the other. There…
The new year is a time for taking stock of where you are and where you want to go. If you’re recovering from a substance use disorder, the new year might be a good time to renew your commitment to sobriety or challenge yourself to take the next step, whatever that is for you. When…
Every year, about 20 million Americans struggle with some kind of substance use issue. For every one of these, there are many more spouses, siblings, parents, children, and friends whose lives are affected by a loved one’s addiction. All of these people feel a sense of cautious optimism whenever their loved one agrees to treatment…
With the opioid epidemic growing every year, federal, state, and local governments are doing whatever they can to increase access to treatment. A big part of that is making sure addiction treatment is covered by insurance and funding programs to help get more people into treatment. Generally speaking, this is a good thing. Every year,…
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a condition in which people suffer from unwanted, intrusive thoughts. Often, these thoughts have to do with fear of contamination, fear of hurting themselves or others, thoughts of sexual acts, or preoccupation with certain numbers. To assuage these fears, people with OCD develop compulsive behaviors such as hand washing, affinity…
Women with substance use issues may find themselves in a difficult position if they become pregnant. Using drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can have many negative effects on both the mother and the child. Women who use stimulants during pregnancy are at a greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Many drugs can harm a…
Living with mental illness makes everything harder. If you’re depressed, you might not be able to get out of bed. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may be irrationally afraid of necessary things like driving or social interaction. If you have schizophrenia or a personality disorder, it may be very difficult to form stable…
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…
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