Did you know that 17 million adults in America have both a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health condition? Also known as dual diagnosis, these issues can combine and reinforce each other in the worst ways. And when you’re trying to figure out how to stop drinking, that can create substantial roadblocks on...Read More
Drinking is, for better or worse, a standard part of American culture. Unwinding with a glass of wine or beer after work or weekend drinks are normalized activities. But mixing Prozac and alcohol could lead to more serious issues than you’d expect. Prozac is an antidepressant that must be taken every day. But what many...Read More
Your personality is unique to you—it makes you who you are and illustrates your passions, likes, and dislikes. But did you know that your personality could also leave you at risk for developing addictive qualities? These characteristics are known as addictive personality traits, which we will examine in closer detail below. But how reliable are...Read More
There is a popular misconception that there is a thin line between “casual substance use” and “alcohol or drug addiction.” However, the truth is that there are stages of addiction, and progressing through them is how addiction develops. The good news is that if you can identify that you’re in an early stage of substance...Read More
Having a beer or cocktail with a healthy dinner might give you the illusion that you are doing everything you need to do to keep your body running smoothly. However, frequent alcohol consumption can actually prevent you from receiving the benefits of vitamins and nutrients. This problem is called alcohol vitamin deficiency. Understanding alcohol vitamin...Read More
Did you know that, on average, women face increased risks from drinking alcohol? Some of the factors are biological, but many of the reasons for the difficult relationship between women and alcohol are social. Certain pressures can contribute to stress, which can drive women to drink if they lack healthier coping strategies. And while this...Read More
Sleep quality and addiction recovery have a deeply complex and interwoven relationship. Both using and withdrawing from drugs and alcohol can make getting good sleep harder, and vice versa. So if you’re suffering from a mental illness on top of your addiction, it can be doubly challenging to get the sleep you need to successfully...Read More
Whether you suspect that you have a substance use disorder or you know someone who does, addiction usually brings out complicated feelings. On the one hand, there’s a temptation to blame people with addictions for making poor choices. But on the other hand, there’s a lot of debate about the nature of addiction, and it...Read More
There is a significant difference between helping somebody with addiction and enabling addiction. However, when somebody you love is struggling with addiction and mental health symptoms, it can be extremely challenging to recognize the difference between helping and enabling. Learn more about being an enabler below as well as the ways that you can support...Read More
Many people worry that when you are sober, you can’t have fun anymore. That’s because there’s a popular myth that being sober means never going to a party again or being closed off from socialization. However, this is far from the truth. When you work toward long-term sobriety, your entire life opens up in ways...Read More