Narcotic pain relievers are opioids that work by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain, while also inducing a sense of relaxation and even euphoria. On the surface, these drugs would appear to be a gift for individuals recovering from surgery or a serious injury. No one wants to experience pain, right? Prescription analgesics, such […]
As much damage as alcohol inflicts on our mental and physical health, the amazing resilience of the body is on full display soon after someone stops their drinking habit. Since alcoholism can sneak up on a person, swooping in from behind and overtaking our ability to control consumption, the effects of alcohol abuse may not […]
Alcohol abuse may have gotten out of hand. Before you knew what was happening on a neurological or physiological level, your body was making adaptations to the substance. Like a thief, alcohol has begun to rob you of your own power, your choices, leading you by the nose deeper and deeper into disease. Like Alice […]
As humans we may fancy ourselves as beacons of self-control, fully in charge of our lives and our destinies. The reality, however, reveals the limits that we actually have over certain weaknesses, although pride rarely allows us to confront these head on. But when the negative consequences associated with an area of weakness, such as […]
It isn’t hard to comprehend at all. Life is stressful, complicated, and often discouraging—no wonder alcohol consumption is on the increase. In fact, according to a report in JAMA Psychiatry, alcohol use, high-risk drinking, and alcohol use disorder prevalence has increased for the U.S. population. Americans increasingly turn to booze to soothe their nerves. Those […]
Although addiction does not discriminate between the sexes, when it comes to women definite nuances regarding barriers to treatment as well as addiction-related issues do exist. Professional women have additional concerns around a substance abuse disorder, especially involving stigma. A female executive with a drug or alcohol problem may be viewed more harshly than their […]
You have a malady—chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety or some such medical issue—you go to the doctor and you come out with a prescription in hand. This is the usual routine we have all become accustomed to. We go to the doctor and he or she will provide us with some type of prescription medication that […]
When battling the dual diagnosis of alcoholism and depression it is helpful to employ all possible tools available. Each of the disorders on their own are difficult and complex, but together they form a very challenging diagnosis that requires some thinking outside the box. While traditional treatment measures can ease symptoms somewhat, eastern medicine, in […]
As maligned as prescription painkillers are in recent years, using these opioids is still the most effective method for managing acute, short-term pain following an injury or surgery. The pain medications are also useful for treating patients with chronic pain when other drugs haven’t been successful, although the risk of developing dependence to them is […]
Alcoholism is, indeed, a family disease. Anyone caught up in the immediate orbit of the alcoholic will be drawn into the chaos and pain, as there is no way to separate from the overall effects of the alcoholism. These effects run far and deep, impacting family members in all aspects of life. For this reason, […]
