Fear of the painful, uncomfortable, and sometimes risky symptoms of withdrawal can keep some people from seeking treatment for drug and alcohol use disorders. While it’s possible to stop using drugs and alcohol without a drug and alcohol treatment center, the DIY method can make withdrawal riskier and more complicated than it is with help. A…
When one or both parents drink too much, their behavior negatively affects everyone in the family. Not only does drinking too much alcohol cause severe health problems, but it can also create financial, legal, professional, and relationship problems, too. In addition, it burdens children with tremendous worry. If you have parents who drink too much,…
We leap for joy when we hear of someone’s remission from cancer. However, we keep a quiet and judgmental countenance when it comes to alcohol remission. Why is there such discrimination against those struggling with alcohol and not against those coping with heart disease? Do we fail to understand that alcoholism is indeed a disease?…
If you are like many people who struggle with substance abuse, you may feel confident that beating a dependence on alcohol or drugs is something you can do alone. Unfortunately, many people who become addicted suffer from overconfidence and denial. If it is their first time trying to quit, they may not understand how challenging…
You have undoubtedly heard the different things people say about addicts. It is possible that before you or a family member developed an addiction, you may have thought them yourself: “People with addictions are lazy.” “People with addictions are weak.” “People with addictions are hopeless.” Unsurprisingly, almost all the stereotypes you hear about addicts are…
Alcohol and college students seem to go together like a horse and carriage. Unfortunately, drinking too much alcohol in college can lead to a lifetime of addictive and dangerous behaviors. It can also cause you to form habits that are difficult to break. Alcohol and drugs negatively affect the brain and affect how we process…
Are you facing alcohol addiction? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 9.2 million men and 5.3 million women suffered from alcohol use disorder in 2018 in the United States. When you consider just how many people are facing similar challenges like you are, you can see that now is the time…
A loved one approaches you and tells you it’s time to get help. Your first reaction is, “why do I need alcohol abuse counseling?” Alcohol addiction, or alcohol use disorder, is not uncommon. Yet, many people who need it have no idea that they can benefit from it. If you are like many others, you…
What a first responder sees and does is nothing short of intense. The work you do is difficult. While you don’t falter from those responsibilities, indeed, this is mentally and physically challenging work. That is why there is a link between first responders and substance abuse. If you or someone you love is struggling with…
Signs of a functioning alcoholic are not always easy to identify. One reason for this is that some people are good at hiding their addiction. Another reason may stem from our preconceived stereotypes of how an alcoholic looks/acts. Still, another reason is that most people do not know what to look for. The classic personification…