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Archive for the ‘Dual Diagnosis’ Category

Lessons From Lindsay Lohan’s Addiction Troubles

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Lessons From Lindsay Lohan’s Addiction TroublesMedical issues, not bad behavior, are more telling when it comes to addressing addiction and getting to the root of the problem.

No, we’re not just using the troubled celeb as a cautionary tale. We believe that Lindsay Lohan’s life – beyond just her tabloid-worthy bad behavior – have something to teach us about the origins of addiction. By focusing on her medical conditions and symptoms we can gain insight into the bigger problem of substance abuse. As Lohan prepares for her Playboy spread, it’s easy to get caught up in debating her current decisions, but let’s look at the medical issues she has to overcome instead.

What we’re after is the type of information an intake counselor gathers when someone is entering a treatment program in order to put together a medical history that doctors and treatment specialists use to formulate a treatment plan. In doing an intake exam, Lohan should certainly mention ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. While she doesn’t actually suffer from this condition, she did receive a diagnosis at one time, and that diagnosis probably came with a hefty supply of Adderall. Use and abuse of this drug in those who don’t need it can have severe negative effects, including (ironically) hyperactivity and manic behavior. Could ADHD drugs be to blame for some of Lohan’s more outlandish behavior? Could a dependence on these drugs have led her to move on to “bigger and better” drugs? They are questions that treatment staff would certainly want to explore. (more…)


Charlie Sheen: No Laughing Matter

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Charlie Sheen: No Laughing MatterThe media and comedians are having a field day with the Sheen’s antics, but the situation isn’t a joke.

Charlie Sheen is everywhere. Networks tout the latest interview or a new exclusive, as the sitcom star talks (often nonsensically) about having tiger blood and winning at everything he attempts. His grandiose statements, new live-in porn star and model girlfriends he calls “the goddesses” and rejection of any formal recovery methods have made him the punch line of too many jokes to count. We may find it uncomfortable to laugh along, but it’s also hard to look away.

Are we turning a very sad and public meltdown into entertainment? Some experts (none of whom are treating Sheen personally) suggest Sheen is manic, possibly pointing to bipolar disorder. Sheen refutes this, instead insisting he’s “bi-winning,” and seems to have no interest in medication or treatment for that disorder. But the pros know that mental health issues like depression, bipolar and trauma often go hand in hand with substance abuse issues. These co-occurring disorders feed off each other and should be treated together at a dual diagnosis center like La Paloma for the best results when it comes to long-term sobriety. (more…)


SAD and Addiction

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Seasonal Affective DisorderSeasonal depression can be dangerous, especially for those with addiction issues.

Who knew there was a most depressing day of the year? Dr. Cliff Arnall, a British researcher from Cardiff University, did. He recently pinpointed Jan. 18 as 2010’s most depressing day. To arrive at this, he factored in everything from post-holiday blahs and debt to failed New Year’s resolutions and the weather.

On the bright side, that means the worst is over because if you’re reading this, you survived that dreaded day. For those suffering from the winter blahs, though, that offers little comfort. (more…)


Mental Health & Addiction

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Mental health and addictionMore people are suffering with mental issues than previously thought, and those issues, especially when untreated, can contribute to addiction problems.

There may be twice as many people struggling with mental health issues than previously thought, according to a new study completed by two Duke University psychologists in partnership with colleagues from the U.K. and New Zealand and published in the journal Psychological Medicine. Anxiety, depression and substance dependency were all found to be much more common than health professionals thought, according to data from a long-term study of more than 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to age 32.

Part of the reason for the discrepancy may be the fact that mental illness is vastly underreported because of the stigma attached to psychological disorders. Studies to track the incidence of anxiety, depression, alcohol dependence and marijuana dependence are costly, which means they are very rare.
(more…)


From Hurting to Healing

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

man-with-hands-on-face-w200

Some experiences are so painful that you’d do anything to avoid reliving them. Unfortunately, that’s just what needs to be done to get to the root of a substance abuse problem or process addiction.

No one willingly chooses to go through pain. In fact, many addictions are born out of a desire to avoid pain in other areas of your life. But that very thing that eases your pain initially can cause even greater pain soon enough. Often, by the time you’re ready to get help, the substance abuse has become the main issue and any past pain is pushed aside. Treat just that chemical dependency, though, and that initial pain is sure to bubble to the surface.
(more…)


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