Hallucinogens distort one’s perception of reality by changing the way the brain’s prefrontal cortex processes information. This critical area of the brain control conscious thought, perception and cognition. Even short term abuse of hallucinogens may result in temporary psychosis. The long term effects of hallucinogens include a host of unpleasant possibilities. These include persistent psychosis…
Substance Abuse vs Addiction: Understanding the Differences Substance abuse and substance addiction are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. The truth is that people who are addicted to substances and people who abuse substances are quite different. While both actions can have consequences in an individual’s life, understanding the difference between substance abuse vs addiction…
When alcoholism has taken hold of a loved one, their addiction can be overwhelming. Knowing how to help an alcoholic requires a bit of homework and research. At first, families struggle to cope with the lies and self-destructive behaviors, not to mention the denial. Their actions or inaction may challenge your sanity and the consequences…
How Group Therapy Helps In Recovery During recovery, patients go through several types of therapy. Some of it is done in individual counseling sessions where a single client meets with a therapist or counselor. During these sessions, the counselor can start to get a better understanding of how the client’s background and tendencies have been…
Confessing anything to a loved one is never easy. It takes a sense of dedication, honesty and coming to grips with the fact that you’re not perfect. Knowing how to tell someone you’re an addict requires some careful consideration. Substance abuse problems bring with them a whole host of problems not the least of which…
Understanding how to raise your dopamine levels helps to treat depression, one of the core contributors to addiction. Controlling the release of dopamine is and making those dopamine receptors happy is important to maintain a healthy balance in one’s life. Treating a dopamine deficiency can provide you with more energy and greater happiness. In fact, one…
Dating Someone In Recovery Dating isn’t easy at any stage of life. Dating during recovery brings with it a set of challenges on both sides of the relationship. Imagine this scenario: you’ve been dating for awhile when one day, you find someone who seems to have all the qualities you seek in a partner –…
Many years ago, in the 1930s cult classic Reefer Madness, marijuana users were portrayed as violent hooligans. More recent (and more scientific) examination of marijuana and brain damage suggests that for young people, there are concerns. Studies suggest that marijuana could cause significant and irreparable damage. In some cases, the symptoms resemble schizophrenia,. This, according to…
Some of the most common co-occurring disorders found in chemically dependent people include mood and anxiety disorders. An even higher percentage of people with severe mental illness also have co-occurring disorders that are substance abuse related. Called severe because of the severity and length of episodes of illness, these mental health disorders include schizophrenia and…
It’s been said that most people are predisposed to certain traits or activities. Some people might have bouts with depression, some might have anger issues or some people might be temperamental. Others may have difficulty with anxiety. Still others might have a predisposition to addiction in one form or another. Addiction risk factors include far…