Signs You Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment
More than 7 million people have a dual diagnosis of a substance abuse disorder and another mental health condition. But the substance abuse disorder can cloud the signs of the dual diagnosis. When you’re in the throes of addiction, the substance abuse problem can seem like the most pressing issue to address. While it’s important […]
Bipolar Disorder and Addiction
Approximately 38% of people with substance abuse disorder have a concurrent mental health disorder. People with bipolar disorder are more likely to have a co-occurring substance abuse disorder than individuals with other anxiety, mood or psychotic disorders. Therefore, it’s important to understand the link between bipolar disorder and addiction. How are Bipolar Disorder and Addiction […]
The Relationship Between Depression and Substance Abuse
When two or more mental illnesses occur together, it’s known as a dual diagnosis. It’s not uncommon for people with substance use disorder to be diagnosed with depression, and vice versa. Substance use disorder can worsen symptoms of depression, and signs of depression can make a substance use disorder worse. Getting out of the cycle […]
5 Physical Symptoms of Depression
Depression Affects Recovery Depression is a condition where low levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin can lead to feelings of anxiety and hopelessness. Understanding the physical symptoms of depression can help you or a family member see the signs early. While there are many manifestations of this condition, it is often a contributing factor in […]
How Weather Affects Your Mood
Is the weather affecting your mood? Everyone is familiar with the way the weather can influence wellbeing. This can vary from person to person depending on preference and associations. For example, one person might feel happier on sunny days because they love to go the beach, while another may enjoy the nostalgia of snow during […]
Alcohol & Drug Addiction | Mental Health Services
Mental health and drug and alcohol addiction are sometimes so intertwined it is difficult to determine which one is the leading cause of problems. Other times, our clients don’t have mental health problems, instead, they have undiagnosed alcoholism. Uncovering what issues our clients really face can be a long process. That’s why our program at […]
Anxiety: What to Do When Panic Sets In
Feeling nervous about an experience or upcoming event is normal. Nervousness is the fire inside pushing us to try new things and enact new experiences. Our nerves tell us something is new, exciting, and a little scary because it’s unknown. But what happens when that feeling of nervousness extends beyond “normal” nervousness and enters into […]
Why Getting to the Root of Your Mental Health Issues Can Heal Addiction
When it comes to substance use, the number one question to ask yourself is why? Why are you having that drink? Why do you need that pill? Why are you harming your body to feel a temporary sense of relief? If you take a good look at the answers, you may start to realize your […]
Don’t Be so Hard on Yourself: How Self-Criticism Fuels Addiction and Mental Illness
If you are someone who has battled mental health issues and or addiction for a significant portion of your life, you understand the processes, routines, check-ins, and self-criticism involved in getting clean, sober, and healthy — and staying that way. But sometimes, the checklists can feel like too much to bear. Even when we are […]
I Got 99 Problems and They Weigh a Ton
When we are struggling with mental health issues and addiction, we typically mask our feelings and experiences that we may have been repressing for years. This type of behavior, whether it is conscious or unconscious, creates a cycle of avoidance to ensure we don’t feel pain. When we get in this cycle, it can feel like […]