Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is within the anxiety spectrum of disorders. Individuals with OCD experience recurring and irrational obsessive thoughts that produce feelings of distress and anxiety. To alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts, the individual engages in repetitive, compulsive behaviors. This cycle repeats throughout the day, keeping the individual captive in the disordered […]
Alcohol is a perennial favorite among individuals who suffer from depression, including women. The substance provides a respite from the symptoms of depression, such as feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or despair, replacing these emotions, at least initially, with a sense of relaxation and escape. A woman struggling with depression may rely on alcohol as a […]
Like a peanut butter and jelly, alcoholism and depression often coexist together. On their own, either depression or alcoholism is a devastating disorder. Together, these comorbid disorders seem to feast off each other, each worsening the symptoms of the other. This makes the dual diagnosis of alcoholism and depression inherently dangerous, as about 90% of […]
About four years ago there was a sudden surge in overdose deaths, at the time attributed to heroin. It wasn’t clear why the drastic uptick in heroin overdoses were happening at first. Eventually, the answer came: Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is at least fifty times more potent than morphine, used in the […]
One of the most tragic outcomes of active addiction is the damage it does to your primary relationships, especially the one with your partner or spouse. Addiction can take a serious toll on a couple, leaving a long trail of broken promises, broken trust, anger, and frustration behind. Whether a relationship can mend following detox […]
The connection between drug use and mental health disorders is a powerful one. Drug and alcohol addiction is itself included in the list of mental health disorders as defined in the DSM-5. The presence of a co-occurring mental health disorder, also known as a dual diagnosis, only complicates an already complex problem. Approximately 43 million […]