Stop the Stigma: Why Do We Look at Addictions Differently?

We have all done it. We see someone battling addiction and we ignore them, shake our heads, or maybe even glare with disgust. We judge. It can be easy to do, especially when the addiction is so severe, it can be hard to see the person inside of the “junkie” — or any number of any names we call them — drunk, druggie, pothead, burnout, stoner, crackhead, etc. These terms are proof that addiction stigma exists, as none of them convey compassion or empathy. Yet, compassion and empathy are precisely what those living with addiction need and deserve. Read More

How Much Is Too Much: OTC Meds?

Over-the-counter medications are so commonplace in our lives, using them seems as natural as wearing socks or brushing teeth. But each one requires responsible, informed consumption to avoid serious health risks.  Read More

How Much Shopping is Too Much?

If shopping gets to a point where it starts taking over your life, it can evolve into an actual condition called oniomania, more commonly known as shopping addiction or compulsive shopping disorder. This behavioral addiction causes an uncontrollable urge to buy things as a way to feel good and manage (or avoid) negative emotions. If this sounds like your experience, it’s important to recognize the symptoms and take steps to overcome this consequential addiction so that it doesn’t get worse.  Read More

Celebrities Sharing Their Struggles to Help Others

If you’ve ever flipped through a copy of US Weekly, there’s a rather comical section called “Stars — They’re Just Like Us!” There you may find Brad Pitt pumping his own gas, or a Kardashian smiling as she exits the dentist’s office. While stardom seems to come with many irresistible and enviable perks, it turns out that people with lives in the spotlight are very much “just like us” in ways we may not have considered. Read More

Why Are Co-Occurring Disorders So Common?

“Co-occurring disorders,” sometimes referred to as “dual diagnosis,” or “comorbidity,” is a term used to identify when a person has both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition. The incidence of co-occurring disorders is fairly common because of the way that a person’s physical condition and their mental and emotional state affect each other. Addiction and mental health disorders often perpetuate each other; people may seek out substances to self-medicate mental health symptoms, or they may develop a mental health condition due to the effect of substances on the body. Both conditions need to be treated so that a person can live a fulfilling life in recovery. Read More

The New Workaholism

By Anna McKenzie The nature of work has changed in recent years, but workaholism is still as prevalent as ever. Why is this the case? Advances in technology promised us the ability to work less; but now that we can work from anywhere — and more people are working… Read More

The Growing Trend of Sports Betting

By Melissa Riddle Chalos When the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, it was as if Pandora’s box opened, giving millions of American sports fans instant and legal access to gambling. By 2021, 25 states would give it the green light. No wonder… Read More

Spring Forward But Kick Back: Putting the “Break” Back In Spring Break

By Anna McKenzie How do you know if you’re getting enough sleep? Sometimes a lack of sleep comes from a busy schedule, overconsumption of caffeine or alcohol, or an anxious mind. But sleep problems can have many contributing factors and no single solution. According to the Centers for Disease Control… Read More

Can Life Transitions Lead to Addiction or Mental Health Issues?

By Anna McKenzie Young adulthood may seem like the peak time for addiction and mental health struggles, but statistics show that older adults are becoming increasingly more susceptible to these conditions. In fact, according to The New England Journal of Medicine, up to 8 million… Read More

9/11 20 Years Later: Dealing with Grief

By Melissa Riddle Chalos Every year since the tragic events of 9/11, we pause to remember and mourn the unfathomable loss of life that we as a country sustained in those terrible days. An entire generation has been born in the 20 years that have passed, but grief does not… Read More