As an addiction treatment professional, it goes with the territory that we lose people, good people who maybe needed a little more help or time or who simply made a regrettable choice. Veterans are often among those lost to substance abuse and suicide. My first and most devastating loss was of a young Marine, […]
We have come a long way in our efforts to treat PTSD and other psychological disorders. Some of the best information has come from veterans themselves. For example, after suffering from the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, Army veteran John Thurman used his experience with yoga to help others, in a program that packs rooms. […]
Recovery from traumatic events is never easy. However, humans are amazingly adaptable. Unfortunately, survival does not mean thriving. A person can survive traumatic events and be scarred for the rest of their life. Trauma affects children particularly profoundly. Children do not just get over trauma; they live with the consequences for a lifetime. Children adapt […]
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is also known as “ecstasy” because of the ecstatic feelings it produces in those who use it. While many dismiss the drug as a dangerous substance, some scientists claim it may have positive therapeutic uses with little risk of harm when used under proper supervision. According to researchers, in the early 1970s a […]
Advocates of hallucinogens claim that substances that alter the conscious may be a key to treating mental illness and can be more effective than some prescription drugs. There has been a resurgence of interest in psychedelic research in the last few years with promising results. However, treatments using restricted Schedule 1 drugs like psilocybin are […]
You have probably heard of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but may not know much about it. PTSD affects not only returning war veterans traumatized by military service, but many people who are exposed to terrorism, violence and natural disasters, shattering their sense of trust and safety. After a traumatic event, everyone experiences some stress symptoms. […]