THE BRAIN DISEASE CALLED ADDICTION
Those who suffer from substance addiction are typically viewed as weak or as having behavioral problems. These labels of addiction can imbed feelings of shame and hopelessness in the addict. Recent studies in neuroscience have shown that addiction has been found to be a disease that affects the brain and behavior. Therefore addiction is a […]
THE BENEFITS OF ADDICTION THERAPY
It is common for many addicts who are just beginning their recovery process to be averse to the idea of therapy. Talking to someone about problems and anxieties can feel less effective compared to the instant relief that drugs provided. Even if the addict is hesitant about therapy, they should be encouraged to try. Here […]
METHADONE VS BUPRENORPHINE
Individuals who have developed an addiction to heroin, a dangerous opioid derivative, will eventually require rigorous treatment and rehabilitation. As part of pharmacotherapy (e.g. medication treatment), doctors often prescribe equally potent drugs to counteract the effects of heroin and alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal and detoxification. Two widely known prescriptions are methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone […]
WHAT ARE SOBER COACHES?
A sober coach is certified treatment professional that is akin to a personal trainer, but who, instead of focusing on getting clients into shape, focuses on helping them maintain their sobriety. Sober coaches are often used after the completion of a residential treatment program, where a patient is in need of more oversight and guidance than […]
DICTIONARY OF ILLEGAL DRUGS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
There are thousands of drugs out there, and some still undiscovered, but only a select variety of those drugs are deemed illegal in the United States. This is a brief dictionary guide to what drugs are illegal, why they are illegal, the categories of drugs, and the effects of each drug on the body. Knowing […]
IS YOUR PARENT AN ALCOHOLIC?
No matter what stage in life you are, and no matter what age you are, knowing that a loved one is in emotional and/or physical pain is heart-wrenching. It is particularly bad when there is a feeling that you cannot help them or you do not even know how to help them. This is particularly […]
HYPNOTHERAPY
While often mistaken as a “new age” type of therapy, hypnotherapy, also known as hypnosis, has actually been around since the 1700s and was officially recognized as an effective treatment technique by the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association in 1950. Hypnotherapy essentially refers to the process of inducing a patient into an […]
UNDERSTANDING BIOFEEDBACK
Biofeedback, also known as applied psychophysiological feedback, is a form of behavioral medicine that teaches patients how to control and regulate their physiological symptoms. The term stems from the use of electronic monitoring devices to provide feedback on one’s biological functioning. Biofeedback has been a tool used by both medical and mental health practitioners for decades now. The […]
WHEN IS TOO MUCH TO DRINK ALCOHOL POISONING?
While most people have had a little too much to drink, causing them to get sick, some people go even farther. In some cases, those who binge drink to excess can suffer from alcohol poisoning, a serious condition that should not be taken lightly. In some cases, alcohol poisoning can lead to death if someone […]
LET’S TALK ABOUT BRENDA
BRENDA is the acronym used to describe a psychosocial approach to addiction treatment that was specifically designed to be used by a wide variety of healthcare providers, including primary care physicians, in conjunction with a pharmacotherapy regimen. The six components of BRENDA are: B: Biopsychosocial evaluation R: Report the findings from the evaluation to the […]