What is Xanax? Xanax is a prescription, brand-name drug used primarily for the short-term treatment of acute symptoms and anxiety and panic disorders. Xanax is classified as a benzodiazepine. Xanax is not an opioid. Opioids are central nervous system depressant, and Xanax is as well, but the two drugs affect brain receptor sites and neurotransmitters…
Aside from addicts and alcoholics themselves, nobody suffers more than those forced to watch a loved one suffer. They sometimes blame themselves for their loved one’s disease, especially if they can identify past enabling behaviors. Such people experience constant fear, depression, self-pity, and quite often resentments. They lie on behalf of their beloved addict or…
Many children grow up in alcoholic households, and this sometimes causes them harm later in life. We refer to these people as adult children of alcoholics. This term isn’t meant to sound derogatory. It doesn’t imply that these individuals are childish or that they haven’t matured in their adulthood. The term simply refers to adults…
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often seems to go hand-in-hand with addiction. This is especially true of addicts in the military, but PTSD is not exclusive to such individuals. Some addicts suffer traumatic abuse during childhood. Others suffer near-fatal injuries as a result of alcohol-induced car accidents. These experiences change people. Occasionally this is enough to…
Both addicts and codependents often find a need to do some serious soul-searching upon entering recovery. In doing so, we often learn that our problems started long before we initially thought they did. Quite often, some of our behavior patterns first presented themselves years before we identified them. And in some cases, they might…
TRIGGER WARNING: As you may have guessed from the title, this article and some of its imagery may be difficult for some people to digest. Use your discretion in determining if this applies to you. If you are currently suffering abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-3224) for more info on…
Everyone is guilty of self-medicating at one time or another. After all, to self-medicate is simply to take one’s problems into one’s own hands. If you are feeling down and you decide to eat a few pints of ice cream, you are self-medicating. If you are in pain and you decide to numb yourself with…
With so many treatment centers out there promising quality care, addicts and alcoholics in need of help may sometimes have a bit of difficulty making the right choice. There are a lot of fears that may influence the decision, from the fear of encountering scam artists with no real desire to help or the fear…