Alcohol Use Disorder & Other Disorders

About Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) & Alcohol and Other Disorders (AOD) A majority of persons affected by alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are also affected by a co-occurring mental health or medical problem, with the prevalence statistically being between 25 and 50 percent.[1] Co-occurrence of more than one mental disorder is also not unusual[2]. According to…

Words from our Staff About Mental Health

Words from our Staff About Mental Health The stigma of having any mental disorder is very much more prevalent than we think. Growing up in Jamaica; disgrace and forlornness were always associated with any individual with mental illness. Without knowing better, I had grown in acceptance of this idea. When I was thirteen years old,…

boy being kissed by a dog

Changing the Stigma on Mental Health

Defining Terms: The Stigma of Mental Health Stigma:  A negative stereotype. Mental Health: Conditions that affect your mood, thinking and behavior Society’s Acceptance: Very Low. Why? Ignorance and a lack of Empathy Being diagnosed with a condition that affects the brain, which one has no control over, leaves so many answered and unanswered questions by the…

Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder

About Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder may be a difficult diagnosis to live with, and finding successful personalized treatments is challenging. Oftentimes, treatment targets shift, patients are non-adherent to medication regimens, and comorbidity rates are extremely high.[1] Unfortunately, bipolar disorder is also associated with high rates of suicide, usually with more lethal means than other mental…

Why Did I Relapse During Addiction Recovery?

Embracing The “Failure” of Relapse Let’s get something straight: Relapse is not part of the process! It does happen often but let’s not get confused. Now if perhaps, you do relapse in recovery there is always something you can learn from this. “It’s failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.” – Ellen DeGeneres.…

Benzodiazepines & The Potential For Addiction

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are a widely prescribed class of drugs that are commonly used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizure disorders.[1] In fact, listed among the top 100 commonly prescribed drugs are alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).[2] Generally, they are known to be safe, producing almost immediate effects and are commonly prescribed…

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

If you or someone you know suffers from bipolar disorder, the condition can often be difficult to understand and even more difficult to manage without effective intervention. The condition can cause extreme emotional volatility and impact energy levels, as well as several other symptoms. To make matters worse, of the roughly 3 percent of Americans…