Depression After Quitting Alcohol: A Recovery Roadmap
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depressive disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and co-occur more often than expected by chance [1]. According to The National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), recovery from AUD is a long-term change process that may be characterized by occasional returns to heavy drinking. Especially in the bumpy […]
Trauma and Addiction Recovery: Understanding the Healing Process
Traumatic experiences overwhelm an individual’s sense of safety and capacity to cope. These may be from early life experiences or later in life. In many people who are struggling with substance abuse, there is trauma in their background and substance abuse in the present. In this article I describe what trauma and trauma-informed care are, […]
Ketamine vs SSRI: A Holistic Approach to Depression
Understanding Depression Understanding depression is essential when comparing treatment options like ketamine and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Depression is not just a transient feeling of sadness; it’s a complex persistent mental health disorder that significantly impacts a person’s mood, thoughts, physical health, and daily functioning. What Are the Types and Symptoms of Depression? Depression […]
The Coverage Divide: Advocating for Expanded Insurance in Addiction Treatment in Utah
Mental Health Parity Law (MHPA) ensures equal insurance coverage for mental health & substance abuse treatment as medical/surgical care.
The Benefits of a Holistic Experience During Mental Health Treatment
Mental health concerns have become all too frequent in today’s hectic and demanding society, prompting individuals to search for effective treatments. A holistic experience has proven to be highly transformative as individuals search for lasting solutions for their mental well-being. Holistic mental health treatment recognizes this interconnection between mind, body, and spirit.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Addiction: How This Year Is Different
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a form of recurrent depression that impacts approximately 10 million Americans per year. An additional 10 to 20 percent experience mild symptoms. SAD is sometimes called the “winter blues,” as it most commonly appears in the fall or winter and subsides in the spring — and this year, things […]
COVID-19 and Depression: How You Can Seek Help
The world wide pandemic we are currently experiencing has created depression and anxiety and sometimes addiction to unhealthy habits for many people, as well as added more for those who already struggle with these kinds of concerns. The many months of additional stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taxed even mentally healthy individuals who have good […]
The Effects Of Addiction On The Body And Brain
Updated on May 2024 by: Cheryl Kehl, LCSW Years of research have shown the hefty damage drugs can cause to the body and brain. While all drugs have short-term effects, with feelings such as euphoria or pleasure—unfortunately they also can lead to addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a complex […]
Risk Factors that Contribute Substance Abuse and Addiction
Addiction can happen to anyone from any background, social status, race, or gender. However, it is scientifically proven that many people have higher risk factors for substance abuse and addiction than others. There are certain factors that increase the risk of a person developing an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Genetics, family history, mental health, […]
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder And Addiction Therapy
“We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).” Those of us living with addiction are also often struggling with mental health issues such as […]
Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug to Harder Substances?
For years there has been debate regarding the short and long term effects of marijuana. Many argue that marijuana is safe due to the fact that marijuana withdrawals are not as intense as harder drugs. A common conception is that marijuana is not addictive. This conception is false. According to the Centers for Disease Control […]
What Are Some Behavioral Addictions?
We commonly associate addiction with dependence on drugs and alcohol, but as addicts we know that any substance or behavior can become addictive for us. We can use anything to try and self-medicate our mental health issues, to numb our pain and cope with the demands of our lives. When we are trying to escape […]
What Are Some Warning Signs of Addiction in Children?
Alcohol and drug use are rampant in our culture, and overusing and abusing them are popularized and glamorized every day by our mainstream media and entertainment outlets. Young people are brainwashed into thinking that substance abuse represents coolness, popularity and likeability. Young people are experimenting at younger and younger ages, being pressured and influenced by […]
How Does Self-Judgment Impact Relapse?
Through our recovery work, we learn that being judgmental with ourselves and down on ourselves only makes us feel worse about ourselves and more insecure, causing us to be more likely to turn to our addictions to make ourselves feel better. Our feelings of security, stability, groundedness and centeredness are all fragile when we’re working […]
What Purpose Did Our Addictions Serve?
A powerful way of healing from our addictions is to examine what purposes our drugs of choice were serving so that we can find healthy replacements for them. Very often we use our addictive substances, behaviors and relationships as coping mechanisms for our mental and emotional pain. It is possible to discover other ways to […]
Why Do Mental Illnesses Co-Occur Alongside Addiction?
When we’re living with addiction and mental illness, we’re often not conscious of the deeply rooted issues at the core of our mental and emotional challenges. We know we’re in pain, we know we’re suffering, but we’re not sure why. We haven’t yet traced our difficulties back to the traumatic experiences we endured. We haven’t […]
Starting Over After Addiction
Making the commitment to get treatment for addiction is a huge step in the recovery process. It can be very difficult to acknowledge you have a problem with drugs and alcohol. The stigma surrounding addiction makes it hard to ask for help. Starting over after addiction can seem overwhelming, but there is hope in recovery. […]
What Do I Do To Support Veterans Suffering with PTSD and Addiction?
“We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-8255.” Veterans who sacrifice their lives to defend our country often come back home from combat with post-traumatic […]
Why Get Sober?
Addiction is complicated and recovery can seem out of reach for a person struggling with it. Recovery is a life-long process and you will face many challenges and obstacles in your journey to sobriety. When a person is addicted, personal relationships with loved ones are compromised and fall apart. Addiction can result in job loss […]
Holistic Addiction Therapy
Treatment for addiction can be tailored to your individual needs. The length and type of treatment depend on the severity and duration of the drug or alcohol addiction, the type of drug used, and mental health. Holistic addiction therapy is effective in treating addiction and focuses on healing the mind, body, and spirit. Holistic therapy […]
Staying Sober During The Holidays
Tips from the staff at Corner Canyon Health Centers 1) Be proactive: make plans, don’t sit around and wait; take control of your schedule and fill your time and find people to connect with and activities to fill your schedule that are pleasurable and life affirming. 2) Go to 12 Step Meetings: Many of us […]
Parents With Teens In Drug And Alcohol Treatment
As a trauma-informed addiction treatment center in Utah, approaching anxious parents with empathy and compassion is essential to the work we do at Corner Canyon Health Centers. Heather R. Hayes, M.Ed., LPC, CAI, CIP, has provided this style of support in the intervention and clinical care she’s provided to addicted adolescents and young adults and their […]