When the Cameras Stop Rolling: What Is the Long-Term Prognosis for Trauma Survivors?

Elements' David Sack, MD in The Huffington Post

It has been one month since the Boston Marathon bombings, and the media frenzy has quieted to a dull rumble. Then last week, another headline: "Three Missing Girls Found Alive." And the process repeats. Media blitz and, shortly after, silence.

When the media spotlight dims and the public goes back to life as usual, what happens to the victims and their families whose sense of safety has been shattered? Tragedies like the Boston Marathon bombings and the kidnappings of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight have a short news life, but their real-life effects are long-lasting.

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Going Cold Turkey? Why Self-Detox is a Bad Idea

Promises | May 9, 2013

When alcohol or drugs have virtually consumed your life and you come to the conclusion that it's time to purge them from your system, the temptation is to do it yourself. While this may seem like a harmless home remedy, certainly one that won't cost you anything, in fact, the practice is not only not very effective, it is also a bad idea that can prove dangerous - even fatal, in some instances.

This caution isn't meant to scare anyone away from the detoxification process. Far from it, in fact, but it is meant to warn against going cold turkey at home. To safely detox, there is only one way to go and that is with medically-supervised detoxification in a licensed detox center.

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Bipolar Disorder and Substance Abuse Among Teens

Elements | May 13, 2013

Co-morbidity is a technical term which describes the event of two conditions which occur together. Co-occurring conditions are quite common in medicine. Knowing which conditions tend to go hand-in-hand gives doctors and other health care providers clues as to what illnesses they must be on guard against or watchful of.

Several studies in recent years have focused on the co-morbidity of bipolar disorder (BPD) and substance abuse disorder among teenage patients. Young people who struggle with the mood disorder frequently also battle with substance abuse.

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Fifty Shades of Female Sexuality

Sex Addiction Expert, Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT-S in Psychology Today

It will probably shock no one to learn that there are significant differences in the ways women and men think, act, and react. Unsurprisingly, this emotional dichotomy extends to the bedroom, with women and men experiencing sexual activity, and even sexual attraction, in very different ways. For instance, women are typically most interested in their connection to the other person - the relationship - whereas men tend to be more visually oriented. In other words, when it comes to sexual/romantic attraction, men tend to objectify body parts, and women tend to objectify (for lack of a better term) relationships.

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An Interview with Vicki Piper, Program Counselor

Right Step | May 17, 2013

Over 17 years ago, Vicki Piper made a decision that changed the rest of her life: She went to rehab. She met with a therapist; she worked the 12 Steps. Today, her recovery remains one of her top priorities as well as one of her most treasured accomplishments. When working with her clients, Vicki is honest and direct. She needs to be because, as she explains, addicts "have a disease that tells them they don't have a disease." At the same time, she's caring and supportive, meeting clients where they're at and bringing them up from there.

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Nature or Nurture? Why Do People Do Drugs?

The Ranch | May 16, 2013

There are dozens of reasons people choose to use drugs, and even more reasons that drug use - or any substance use - may lead to substance abuse and eventually dependency. Some people are biologically predisposed to substance abuse and dependency, both of which are diagnosable and treatable disorders according to the DSM-IV. Despite a biological tendency, many people avoid substance use as a personal choice or out of necessity. The reasons people may turn to substance use include variations in environment, social support and socioeconomic status that can make drugs or alcohol seem like an easy coping mechanism. Understanding the reasons that people use substances makes it possible to identify dangerous situations and avoid them.

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