Addiction can take many forms—for example, people can become addicted to smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, using drugs, gambling, and shopping. But regardless of the type of addiction in question, many members of the mental health community use the “four Cs” to determine whether someone is an addict: compulsion, craving, control, and consequences. 1. Compulsion As […]
6 Ways that Alcohol Makes Depression Worse
Many individuals that struggle with alcohol- are also suffering from depression. Because alcohol can feed our brain’s serotonin receptors, it can make someone feel good for a short amount of time. But eventually the person crashes and feels even worse than they did before. And this vicious cycle continues and is, unfortunately, very hard to […]
“Do I have a problem?” 5 Signs You May Want to Seek Help
When we speak about addiction, we tend to think of drugs and alcohol. But there are many seemingly benign activities that can become an addiction for some people. For some, watching porn is an activity done once in a while for fun, while others watch for hours every day alone. Some people shop only when […]
Common Excuses People Make to Keep Drinking
For many people, drinking alcohol is something that is done on occasion and in moderation. Having a glass or two of champagne on New Year’s Eve or a cocktail out with friends is nothing to be concerned about. For others, however, alcohol is not something one marks a special occasion with; it is the main event. There […]
What is a Dual Diagnosis?
There are times when a person is diagnosed with a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety. Other times, someone might be diagnosed as having a substance abuse issue. When someone has both a mental health issue and a substance abuse issue, we call it a dual diagnosis. How Does Dual Diagnosis Develop? Often, […]
Drug Abuse in Men: Reasons, Signs, and Treatment
While both men and women suffer from drug addiction, the reality is that men tend to suffer at a rate much higher than women. The result is in this country, we are seeing an epidemic of men with drug addictions. Why are the Numbers So High? To really understand the impact of addiction on men, […]
5 Ways to Recognize Addiction Before it Takes Over
Drug and alcohol use in this country is on the rise, with over 23 million Americans addicted. To put that into clearer perspective, that’s one in every ten people in the United States over the age of 12 that are currently struggling with substance abuse. But what is addiction exactly, and how can we recognize […]
