Eating Disorders Among Women
Eating disorders are not a fad. They’re not a phase or even a lifestyle choice. They are serious and complex illnesses that affect both physical and mental health, and they’re potentially life-threatening. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), 20 million women suffer from an eating disorder, generally stemming from body dissatisfaction.1 NEDA points […]
Does Evidence-Based Therapy Work?
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, evidence-based therapy approaches are treatment programs that have been scholarly or scientifically researched and replicated by more than one study for proven effectiveness.1 These types of therapy approaches are used to help make treatment work more effectively for patients, whether or not it’s used in conjunction with […]
How Alcohol Affects Women
While men drink more than women and are addicted to alcohol at a higher rate, women tend to develop an addiction more quickly than men, and the physical and mental health problems associated with chronic alcohol abuse occur more quickly and intensely in women. Women and men differ in a number of ways when it […]
The 12 Step Program: A Beginner’s Guide
Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the best-known organizations in the world and is the originator of the now-famous and widely used 12-step model of recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous groups and other 12-step fellowships can be found in virtually every corner of the U.S. and in scores of other countries. In many high-quality addiction treatment programs, participating […]
Substance Abuse During Pregnancy
Substance abuse during pregnancy puts the fetus at risk for a wide range of problems that can last a lifetime, including birth defects, behavioral problems and a variety of medical conditions. Different substances cause different problems for fetal development, and understanding how a particular substance can affect a child may be the impetus a mother […]
Alcoholism in Men: What You Need to Know
Men are more likely than women to drink excessively, and they’re more likely to develop alcoholism as well. Of the 16.3 million American adults who had an alcohol use disorder in 2014, 10.6 million were men, accounting for 9.2 percent of all men in that age group, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse […]
The Evolution of Addiction and Treatment Through the Ages
The consumption of alcohol, opioids, cannabis and cocaine have roots in ancient history. The Bible references Noah’s drinking habits and intoxication, and the use of opium in Syria in the 7th century B.C. is well-documented in ancient medical texts. Ancient Incas living in the Andes three thousand years before Christ chewed coca leaves to counter […]
Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Detox
No matter how long you’ve been struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, treatment can help you break free of your addiction and make a fresh start. The process of addiction treatment begins with detox, which allows your body to get rid of the toxins that result from ongoing substance abuse. Detox has many effects and […]
Societal Pressures Contribute to Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are a growing problem in today’s society. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia involve distortions in body image and self-esteem that drive women to use food to express a variety of inner conflicts. These disorders generally occur in women, but some men are affected, as well. A number of societal pressures can be linked to […]
How Societal Pressures Impact Addiction in Women
Several factors are involved when women develop addictions. Physical makeup and psychological reasons related to societal pressures both play a part in substance use and abuse in women. Physically, women are more markedly affected by drugs and alcohol compared to men, so when they use substances for relief from stress, they can become more easily […]