Category Archives: Treatment

The Future of Babies Exposed to Opioids: Are There Enough Resources to Support This Growing Problem?

The Future of Babies Exposed to Opioids: Are There Enough Resources to Support This Growing Problem?

The opioid epidemic is claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, impacting communities, and changing the face of our nation. In the United States, roughly one baby every 15 minutes, or more than 30,000 babies a year, are born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. What Is NAS? Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is characterized by: […]

Poetry for The Soul: How Does Creative Writing Positively Impact Recovery?

How creative writing positively impacts recovery

Research shows that creative writing positively impacts our physical well-being, and therefore, may help psychologically heal and improve the chances of obtaining long-lasting recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). People who engage in reading and writing tend to maintain sobriety for longer periods. Studies show that consistently journaling improves emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.    […]

How are Substance Use Disorders Categorized?

How are substance use disorders categorized?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes addiction as compulsive drug-seeking regardless of harmful consequences to oneself or others. However, addiction is not a particular diagnosis included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).    What is the DSM-5? The DSM-5 is the classification and diagnostic tool published by the American […]

How Do You Find a Therapist If You are Suicidal?

What Should Partners Watch Out For in a New Mom?

You may have been told that if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, it is important to see a therapist. It can be a difficult journey to find a therapist as there are many therapists that have limited training in suicide. When looking for a therapist, you need to find someone who specializes in suicide so […]

How to Manage Home-Buying Anxiety

It can be an emotional rollercoaster when it is your first time buying a home. You may cry, experience anxiety, have arguments with your spouse, etc. Even though buying your first home may be stressful, it is important to lean on your real estate broker and take a deep breath to help get you through […]

How to Talk to Your Doctor About Chronic Pain to Avoid Developing Opioid Addiction

Chronic pain, a pain that lasts three months or longer, can be hard to accept or understand that their ailment has no cure or clear treatment. Opioids are not the answer to your chronic pain in that if you take too much, you can stop breathing as well as develop a tolerance to them. It […]

How Did Obstacles in Medical Care While on Parole Result in One Man’s Overdose?

Sarah Ziegenhorn was ambitious in doing what she could to help her community in Iowa City towards addiction recovery while she was in medical school. She started a romance with Andrew Beeler who believed in her advocacy works based on personal experience. Because of the obstacles surrounding a person’s parole while in recovery, Beeler lost […]

What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?

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Treatment-resistant depression is when your depression does not respond to antidepressants. There are 10%-15% of people with depression who do not respond to antidepressants and 30%-40% of people who only notice a partial improvement in their symptoms. If you are aware that antidepressants are not working for you, it is important to not give up […]

Higher Doses of Opioids May Not Help with Pain as Expected

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Opioid medications help relieve pain by reducing the intensity of pain signals in the brain and affect the areas of the brain that control emotion. Opioids may help with pain, but they can also provide a feeling of euphoria which leads to addiction. A new study by the University of Arkansas shows that increasing your […]

How Depressive Memes Can Help Others Cope with Mental Illness

Internet memes are jokes people make on the internet by using an image and putting in a funny caption inside it. Many social media sites and forums are sharing depressive memes about death, hopelessness, suicide, isolation, or hopelessness. A new study by Scientific Reports shows that these depressive memes are relatable to those with depression […]