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Substance Abuse and the Brain

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substance abuse

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Substance Abuse According to the American Psychological Association (APA), substance abuse is defined as “a pattern of compulsive substance use marked by recurrent significant social, occupational, legal, or interpersonal adverse consequences, such as repeated absences from work or school, arrests, and marital difficulties” (2022). Addiction describes the “state of psychological or physical dependence (or both) on the use of alcohol or other drugs” (APA, 2022). Substance abuse goes hand in hand with addiction, as substance abuse can lead to addiction.  Substance Use Disorder Symptoms The following are symptoms of substance use disorders as outlined by The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine: Using/drinking larger amounts or over longer periods of time than planned. Continually wanting or unsuccessfully trying to cut down or control use of drugs or alcohol. Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of drugs or alcohol. Craving, or a strong …

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5 Tips on Navigating Caregiving

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substance abuse

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Caregivers Rosalind Carter, former First Lady of the United States once said that “there are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers. Caregiving is universal.” A caregiver is a paid or unpaid member of a person’s social network who looks after a sick, elderly, or disabled person. Oftentimes, caregivers are family members. Caregivers assist a person with tasks of daily living such as grocery shopping and cooking, housework, transportation, medical care, bathing, managing personal services (like talking to doctors or paying bills), and much more. Caregiving can be mentally, emotionally, and physically taking for caregivers which can then impact the quality of caregiving. The following are tips on how to better navigate caregiving in a way that is beneficial to both the caregiver and …

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The Link Between Depression and Insomnia

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Mark Hrymoc, M.D.
man experiencing symptoms of depression and insomnia

There is a clear link between depression and insomnia. The Sleep Foundation reports that 80% of people with depression experience insomnia. At the same time, 40% of those with insomnia report having depressive symptoms. The connection between sleep and mental health is undeniable. For example, sleep disturbances are a symptom of depression, or sleep deprivation can trigger the onset of depression.  Other reports on mental health and sleep claim that people with depression who improve their sleep quality also improve their mental health. Information like this makes you question which comes first, depression or insomnia. The answer varies depending on individual risk factors. To learn more about the link between your depression and insomnia, learn as much as possible about each separately. What is Depression? The American Psychiatric Association defines depression as a mood disorder that makes people have persistent sad feelings. Sadness sticks around for two weeks or longer …

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Anger Management Therapy

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substance abuse

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. What is anger? Anger is, at its core, a very normal and human emotion. It is important to distinguish that we all experience anger and that it is okay. Anger can serve as data that something is making us uncomfortable, crossing our boundaries, or impeding on our sense of wellbeing.  Anger can be warranted, but sometimes it clouds our judgment. When we get angry, our nervous system is sent into fight mode as a result of perceived threat. Perceived threat could be an insult thrown our way or a wrongdoing directed towards us. When our nervous system is in fight mode, our amygdala is activated more than our prefrontal cortex; the prefrontal cortex is responsible for calculated decision making, understanding of long term consequences, and judgment (American Addiction Centers, 2022).  When angry, you may “see red” or get “tunnel vision.” You may experience rapid heart rate …

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The Helpful Benefits of Therapy for Addiction Treatment

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therapy for addiction treatment

Medically reviewed by Mark Hrymoc MD Are you struggling to maintain sobriety? If so, you may be interested in exploring the benefits of exploring therapy for addiction treatment. Addiction is a brain disorder for which a person has overwhelming urges to repeat specific actions, even though doing so leads to negative consequences personally, professionally, academically, or socially. Having an addiction means your brain has been altered by alcohol or drug misuse to the point that it cannot function appropriately. Your brain is convinced it needs substances to survive, which keeps you in the cycle of seeking, misusing, and recovering. Currently, over 21 million Americans have a substance use disorder. Unfortunately, less than 15% seek treatment. Therapy is one of the most effective forms of therapy for addiction treatment. What is Therapy for Addiction Treatment? Psychotherapy or therapy for addiction helps you stop misusing alcohol or drugs. It teaches you how …

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