Category: Dual Diagnosis

Treating Addiction as a Symptom of Trauma

Treating Addiction as a Symptom of Trauma

Substance abuse and addiction are still widely misunderstood, both culturally and by many medical providers.  Because of this misunderstanding, we have created a legal process and healthcare system that often punish those with addictions, exacerbating their already poor circumstances.  Many people who find their way into a courtroom or a

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5 Anger Management Techniques Everyone Can Use

5 Anger Management Techniques Everyone Can Use

Anger is a natural and normal emotion that can help us identify underlying issues and indicate an opportunity for problem resolution.  Just like pain, anger is a signal to take better care of yourself. While becoming angry in response to a confrontational person or unfair situation every once in a

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Finding Purpose May Be the Key to Happiness

Finding Purpose May Be the Key to Happiness

We all dedicate a large majority of our lives striving towards happiness.  We may try to find it through money and material wealth, service to others, love and companionship, or professional success and power.  We sometimes turn to artificial means to generate something close to the experience of happiness by

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Working Out Your Mind

Working Out Your Mind

Experts are beginning to postulate that the concept of working out your mind may soon be considered as important and commonplace as working out your body.  Most people already know the benefits of physical exercise for health and wellbeing, and there are entire industries built around physical fitness. While the

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Willpower and the Brain

Willpower and the Brain

If you have ever tried to quit a behavior that was negatively impacting your life, or create a positive new behavior that changes your routine, only to slip back into old habits within weeks, days, or even hours, you may have blamed your failure on a lack of willpower.  Willpower

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The Neuroscience of Spirituality

The Neuroscience of Spirituality

If there comes a time in your life when you are facing mental illness or addiction, you may be prompted by loved ones, as well as professionals, to seek solace in spirituality.  The definition of a spiritual experience varies greatly for different individuals and may include spending time in nature,

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hopeless

What to Do When You Are Feeling Hopeless

Everyone has bad days, as well as moments when it feels like no matter what you do, things will never change.  While the occasional loss of motivation is normal, dwelling in a dark place where it seems like nothing good will ever happen to you again, or that you don’t

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When Addicts Charm Their Way Through Treatment

When Addicts Charm Their Way Through Treatment

Although addiction can happen to anyone, and there is no single personality type that accompanies addiction, there are certain traits and attributes that commonly occur alongside addiction.  One personality profile that seems to show up often in treatment centers is the charming intellect. These are the people that charm the

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5 Common Dual Diagnoses

5 Common Dual Diagnoses

Most people who struggle with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health issue, or a dual diagnosis. According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 3.3 percent of all American adults had a dual diagnosis of addiction and another mental health issue. [https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FRR1-2014/NSDUH-FRR1-2014.pdf]

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7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Psychotherapy

7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is one of the most important parts of addiction treatment. At least half of people with substance use disorders have a co-occurring mental health issue, and many believe the figure is closer to 80 percent. Issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, and

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