What is Self-Medicating?
In recent decades, there’s been more of a consensus that addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders should be treated together. This is in part because people who have an untreated mental health disorder may self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. Self-medicating is using substances to cope with the symptoms of a mental health disorder. For instance, […]
It’s Never Too Late to Change
Sometimes our brains lie to us. We can be at a low point and think we’re stuck there forever or change is impossible. This is far from true. No matter where you are in life, there is always hope for growth. I’ve seen this mode of thinking keep people in a relapse; they believe that […]
Addiction and Wanting to Be Elsewhere
I’ve heard addiction described as (in part) the desire to be somewhere else—whether that’s literally a different place or a different emotional state. This passage from the book Boundaries and Protection by Pixie Lighthouse really stuck with me: “The desire to be somewhere else is the phenomenon of craving that addicts report feeling beholden to…Perhaps […]
Comparing Addiction and Obsession
Obsession and addiction share a lot of similarities, but they are not the same thing. Obsessions are intrusive and persistent thoughts. In addiction, the brain learns to crave the addictive substance or behavior. The two are closely linked, because in substance use disorders, drugs or alcohol become like an obsession. It starts to feel difficult […]
What are Reputable Sources About Addiction and Mental Health?
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or mental health disorders, you probably want to learn more about these topics. Doing so can help you figure out the next steps for yourself, or better support your friend or family member. There is so much content available online, but not all of it […]
National Stress Awareness Day
Today is National Stress Awareness Day. As we approach another winter in COVID and the holidays, stress levels might be high. This day is a reminder of the ways stress impacts us physically, mentally, and emotionally—and what we can do to reduce it. When we’re stressed, we often feel powerless. We can’t control whether lots […]
Having Hope in Recovery
When you are diagnosed with an addiction or mental health disorder, it can feel discouraging. You know you are stuck with this for life. But to me, active addiction is the hopeless part of this journey. Chronic substance use changes your brain so that you seek a substance that no longer gives you pleasure; it’s […]
Jada Pinkett Smith’s Show Red Table Talk Helps Break Stigma About Addiction and Mental Health
Jada Pinkett Smith’s show Red Table Talk—which she hosts along with her mom Adrienne Banfield-Norris and daughter Willow Smith—continually works to destigmatize mental health and addiction. Pinkett Smith and Banfield-Norris are both in recovery themselves and have been candid about their struggles. Red Table Talk looks at complicated topics in a nuanced way that we […]
Amatus Health’s Avi Burstein featured in Authority Magazine
Amatus Health’s Avi Burstein was featured in Authority Magazine. He sat down with them for their “Heroes of the Addiction Crisis” series. Burstein is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Maryland and the VP of Clinical Services. He talks about how he wants to make a difference when it comes to addiction. “I wish someone […]
Amatus Health’s Avi Burstein featured in Thrive Global
Amatus Health’s Avi Burstein was featured in an article by Thrive Global, as part of a series about “Heroes of the Addiction Crisis.” Burstein is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Maryland and the VP of Clinical Services. He talks about how he wants to make a difference when it comes to addiction. “I wish […]