As we all know, Adverse Childhood Experiences , or ACEs, can cause a rise in a number of different mental health disorders. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, ACEs are common problems and the effects of which can add up over time. For instance, 61 percent of adults had at least one ACE while 16 percent had four or more types of ACEs. Preventing ACEs can help children thrive and can even lower the risk of conditions such as depression, asthma, cancer, and more in...

When it comes to understanding drug abuse, it is important to realize that many people who regularly abuse drugs or are addicted to substances are also diagnosed with mental health disorders, and vice versa. This is a well-documented phenomenon that has been tracked since the 1980s. In order to better understand treatment methods for those who are dealing with either or both of these issues, it is important to know how these two issues interact with one another and how one can exacerbate the...

It is easy to be pessimistic about ACEs and just accept the fact that they will occur, but this isn’t how we will effectively progress as a society. We need to understand that there are things we can do in our own communities to encourage positive changes and prevent these issues from occurring. What Can Be Done? It should be noted that ACEs and the associated problems with them are preventable. Essentially, by creating an environment that is safe, stable, and nurturing, it will go a long...

There have been numerous studies that have demonstrated that there is a high comorbidity between PTSD and substance abuse. Specifically, adolescent PTSD has an incredibly strong correlation with substance abuse. According to one source, almost 60 percent of young people with PTSD problems subsequently develop substance abuse problems. Before we take a look at how PTSD can affect someone’s behavior and lifestyle. What Is PTSD? PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a disorder that...

Alcohol is one of the most used substances in the country. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention , about 25% of adults 18 and older had at least one heavy drinking day in the past year. Unfortunately, this type of substance use can lead to a number of different problems for those who have problems with alcohol. One of the most affected areas of the body when it comes to alcohol is the liver. There were nearly 22,250 alcohol liver disease deaths in 2017. Alcohol...

Addiction and substance abuse is a widespread issue that generally has many underlying causes. This problem can come from a number of reasons including environmental factors, emotional behavior, genetics, family history, and mental health. While mental health has become more and more talked about in recent years, many people still don’t realize the full impact that your mental health can have on your body and your behavior. Unfortunately, oftentimes with people who have certain mental health...

We all know that addiction is an incredibly complex disease, however, some people still wonder what causes this problem. This is a valid question but it is also one with a complex answer. There are a number of different factors that can cause and trigger someone’s addiction, everything from biological changes, family history, environmental factors, and more can all contribute to this problem. As we know from ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, there are many environmental factors that...

When it comes to addiction recovery, there are no silver bullets. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to help people with substance abuse. It is important to understand that every patient should get their own individualized treatment plan to help them achieve long-term sobriety. These treatment programs should be based on multiple aspects of the patient's life including substances being used, medical history, and more. With that said, there are still a few consistent portions of the...

Addiction is an incredibly complex problem that affects nearly every part of the body. However, the brain is one of the most affected areas and unfortunately, drug use can become a cyclical problem due to the way that it affects the brain. Substance abuse affects multiple parts of the brain. Three of the most affected parts of the brain include the basal ganglia, the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex. Basal Ganglia The basal ganglia are one part of the brain that is involved in controlling...

Your mood is tied to your mental and physical health and if you’ve been having some bad days recently you may want to make a few lifestyle changes to improve your overall mood and health. While it may seem difficult to make some of these changes in your life, doing them will have a huge, almost immediate effect on you. Improving your mood and overall mental health will have a huge impact on your mind and body and can make your situation better overall. Doing a few simple things like...

Addiction is a disease. Like many diseases, there is a chance that some people may relapse during addiction. This is something that should be considered an accepted part of recovery, including long-term sobriety. While we by no means encourage relapses, those who relapse shouldn’t be ostracized. Someone trying to stop using drugs or alcohol can make mistakes, feel bad, and start using it again. This return to drug use is called a relapse and it is something that is common among those who are...

Mental health disorders and stress is something that affects countless working Americans each year. In fact, nearly one in five U.S. adults 18 or older reported some type of mental illness in 2016. Also, over 70 percent of adults reported at least one symptom of stress according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention . Unfortunately, when people deal with mental health issues at work, it can affect business and lead to problems with job performance. Poor mental health and stress...