Observed the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is a federal holiday to honor and mourn American military personnel who have died in the line of duty. Memorial Day is also widely observed as the unofficial start of summer, usually celebrated with picnics, barbecues, and parties serving up alcohol and possibly other substances. For those…
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) originally developed in the late 1980s to treat borderline personality disorder better. Since then, it has been adapted to help treat several other mental health disorders and is commonly used to treat substance use disorders. DBT therapy places emphasis on the connection between social…
Stimulants are a class of drugs that impact the central nervous system by speeding up the messages between the brain and the body. Stimulants increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Dopamine is the body’s natural “feel good” drug. Norepinephrine is involved in regulating the body’s cardiovascular system and breathing. There are…
Kratom is a tropical tree that is native to parts of Southeast Asia, where it has been used in herbal medicines since at least the 19th century. The tree leaves contain compounds that can produce pain-relieving, euphoric, or psychotropic effects, depending upon the dosage. Due to its ability to produce an opioid-like high, kratom has…
Drug detox is a process during which all traces of substances are removed from the body. Detox is generally the first step toward recovery from drug addiction and should be followed by comprehensive addiction treatment. The main goal of detox is to address the physical aspects of addiction so that patients can deal with the…
If you have decided to seek mental health treatment, you have already taken the most important step, recognizing the need for help. Mental illness affects millions of Americans from all age groups and walks of life, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. In recent years the health care community has worked hard to…
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, referred to as EMDR therapy, is an interactive therapy used to heal from the psychological distress frequently associated with trauma and other negative life experiences. Originally developed in the 1980s to treat PTSD, EMDR has since gained worldwide recognition for its effectiveness and is now used in a wide…
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that can cause unpredictable and often extreme mood swings, referred to as mania and depression, that can significantly impact a person’s ability to perform day-to-day tasks. Mania is an extremely elevated mood and can last for several days or weeks. Depression caused by bipolar will last for at…
In recent years, the opioid epidemic has swept through Florida and the rest of our nation at an alarming rate. Opioids are a class of drugs that affect the nervous system by blocking pain and creating intense pleasure feelings. They have the potential to become highly addictive and even deadly, especially when improperly used. There…
Founded in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was the first 12 step program. Since then, 12 step programs have been effective at helping millions of people throughout the world manage and maintain their sobriety. Given that AA was designed to help those suffering from alcohol addiction, over time exclusively, the 12 step program philosophy has been…