Stress can play a major role in substance use disorders. For many people struggling with addiction, self-medicating to deal with stress is a coping mechanism, albeit negative. The cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions we offer at Olympic Behavioral Health can help...
For so many people, living with anxiety means constantly feeling overwhelmed and worrying about things that you shouldn’t even have to worry about. It can lead to them missing out on social events, calling out of work, and in extreme cases, being unable to leave the...
It is completely normal to get angry in certain situations. Things happen that cause us to maybe say or do things that we don’t mean. Learning to manage that anger is vital so that you do not say or do anything that you will regret or that could even get you in...
People may turn to drugs for any number of reasons. Whether it’s because of peer pressure, curiosity, stress, mental health concerns, or another reason, using drugs often winds up having adverse effects in the long term. Many illegal drugs or legal drugs used outside...
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental illness, substance use, or both, many questions may arise. Did the mental illness lead to substance use? Did substance use lead to or worsen a mental illness? The fact that mental illness and substance use frequently...
Benzodiazepines, also commonly called benzos, are a type of sedative drug. They are typically prescribed for anxiety or panic disorders. Beyond their calming effect, they are also a highly-addictive type of drug. It is certainly possible to use benzos fully according...
Experiencing trauma has profound impacts. The medical field has long known about the link between trauma and addiction. But why does such a link exist? Why are so many people at higher risk for addiction following traumatic events? First, it is vital to understand...