Tag: Addiction

Treating Addiction in Medical Professionals

Treating Addiction in Medical Professionals Treating Addiction in Medical Professionals

The medical field is a high-stress and high-risk profession. Likewise, the medical field involves difficult hours as well as experiencing traumatic events. Due to this, many medical professionals develop substance use disorders (SUDs), and the statistics of professionals turning to substance use seem to be on the incline. It is important to recognize triggers, survey […]

Addiction Is Not a Solitary Illness

Addiction Is Not a Solitary Illness Addiction Is Not a Solitary Illness

Although a person who struggles with addiction often feels alone, in reality, they are not. Their debilitating illness splinters out through their family and friends and continues to cause havoc. Their loved ones gradually find themselves caught up in a never-ending cycle of trying to help and ultimately failing. This onerous paradox can ultimately destroy […]

Understanding Sex Addiction

Understanding Sex Addiction Understanding Sex Addiction

How can someone be addicted to sex? That’s a good question. Even mentioning the term “sex addiction” can elicit snickers. That’s completely understandable. Sex is still difficult to discuss; it’s private and embarrassing.  A common belief is that a person can only get addicted to drugs, tobacco, or alcohol. The opioid addiction crisis has taken […]

Coping With Shame in Addiction

Coping With Shame in Addiction Coping With Shame in Addiction

Internalized stigmas can cause some people to refuse help for their substance use disorder (SUD). Family or social expectations can cause individuals to feel shame, regret, or fear when they consider reaching out for help. Unfortunately, this shame can prevent people from seeking treatment, which may be necessary to help them recover from substance misuse […]

The Differences Between Compulsion and Addiction

The Differences Between Compulsion and Addiction the-differences-between-compulsion-and-addiction

Substance use disorder (SUD) is caused by physiological changes in the brain that limit a person’s ability to make healthy choices. Although compulsions are a symptom of SUD and other conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), they do not necessarily indicate a disorder. A mental health professional can help families determine if an individual’s compulsions need […]

How to Recognize Addiction in a Loved One

How to Recognize Addiction in a Loved One How to Recognize Addiction in a Loved One

Recognizing addiction in a loved one can be painful. Often we do not want to acknowledge the warning signs. Regardless, addiction is a serious condition that needs to be taken seriously, or it will continue to get worse. In the book Addicted?: Recognizing Destructive Behaviors Before It’s Too Late, author Marilyn Freimuth discusses addiction in […]

How You May Be Indirectly Enabling Your Loved One’s Addiction

How You May Be Indirectly Enabling Your Loved One’s Addiction How You May Be Indirectly Enabling Your Loved One’s Addiction

Individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), a disease more colloquially known as “addiction,” often have family members who unintentionally enable their behavior. If a family member struggles with substance misuse, your response to their behaviors will directly affect their disease. You might enable maladaptive behaviors without intending to cause harm or out of a misplaced […]

The Different Ways Addiction Affects Family

The Different Ways Addiction Affects Family The Different Ways Addiction Affects Family

It is well known that addiction affects the whole family, but what does this mean – what does it look like? Addiction diminishes not only the life of the individual addicted but also their loved ones. Addiction can affect families emotionally, financially, legally, and medically. Due to the extent of repercussions families face as a […]