Alcoholism

Is alcohol a drug? Very few people would say that alcohol is a drug, but it comfortably fits the definition of a drug. A drug is any substance that has a physiological effect when consumed. Although alcohol might be a socially accepted substance in moderation, we should still treat it like a drug. Because alcohol…

Addiction affects the lives of millions of people every year. Everyone’s addiction develops differently. However, doctors have done research on common causes of addiction. Addiction specialists recognize that about half of addiction cases have a genetic or hereditary component. However, the other half has to do with poor coping skills. As a person going through…

Depression Treatment and Recovery During a Pandemic Each day is filled with new developments with COVID-19. If you’re like many other people, you’re watching every news report to learn more about this illness. There’s plenty of worry about your friends and family members, especially if they’re at-risk of getting the disease. It’s enough to make…

Continuing our series on the 12 Steps. with Step Two of the 12 Steps Step Two of the 12 Steps: We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Although Alcoholics Anonymous first popularized the term “Higher Power” in the 1930s, few people then could have foreseen the exponential multiplication…

Binge drinking is one of the most common patterns of excessive alcohol use. Unlike heavy drinking, which entails consuming a large amount of alcohol regularly over time, binge drinking is consuming high amounts of alcohol within two hours or less. There are many dangers of binge drinking, including the risk of developing alcohol abuse disorder….

There’s nothing worse than having friends or family who recognize substance abuse nagging you to change… except for having a little voice in your own head suggesting that the “nags” may have a point. When it seems that everyone you were close to is changing for the worse—because so many people are hinting or saying…

You, or a family member, may be among the millions of people with “dual diagnosis”—simultaneous substance-abuse problems and mental illness. People with post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia are particularly vulnerable to falling into addiction via the attempted-self-medication route. What do treatment professionals and mental-health experts say that can help dual-diagnosis patients…

Last week, we discussed overconfidence and entitlement as factors in relapse. Today, we’ll explore other things that commonly function as “triggers” in tempting someone to return to the familiar bottle, needle, or other sources of chemical comfort. First, though, a couple of facts about relapse triggers that everyone should remember: Relapsers are in particular danger…

Today, we’ll explore stress management techniques to overcome the perfectionism habit and live a lower-stress, more fulfilling, and higher-achieving life. First, though, there are a few things to understand about stress and how to deal with it. Perfectionism may be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is not merely a bad habit but a mental…

Many drug addictions begin from a prescription to painkillers. They develop an addiction while taking doctor-prescribed opiates trying to treat their pain from medical procedures. Pain takes many people into the darkness of opiate addiction. If you or someone you love suffer chronic pain and painkiller addiction, you need the right help for both of…

Each year, tens of thousands of people die due to the opioid epidemic. For each person who dies from an overdose, there are hundreds more who survive because of the lifesaving medication Narcan. Although most first responders now carry this overdose-reversal medication, we need solutions to help people who are struggling with an opioid addiction….

Far too often, addiction problems become intertwined with psychological issues. This poses some unique challenges for the addict who decides to reach out for help. It also creates problems for the people who stand ready to offer that help. We direct your focus towards dual diagnosis treatment centers in Texas and the process of treating…