As we continue to trudge through the COVID-19 pandemic, for just over 2 years now, more and more workers, especially younger ones, are re-evaluating what it is they want out of their employment, particularly when it comes to benefits. What they want, in large part (82% of employed Generation Z workers) are mental health days built into their compensation packages.

The Impact Of COVID-19 On Employee Burnout

Considering the global shutdown and otherwise completely altered way of living since 2020, it’s no surprise that across-the-board, mental health has been less than stellar. Employees are dealing with burnout, fatigue, and other stressors that prohibit them from getting their best work done. TalentLMS and BambooHR recently polled the youngest working generation, colloquially referred to as Gen Z (which includes anyone born between 1997-2012) and asked them about their ideal working conditions. A generation sculpted by technology and the vast interconnectedness of the internet, they are also reporting some of the highest levels of mental duress according to the American Psychological Association (APA). In a 2018 press release, the APA found that 91% of individuals between 18-21 reported experiencing at least 1 physical or emotional symptom related to stress. However, they are also the generation most likely to seek some sort of treatment or assistance for their mental health; 37% followed closely by Millennials at 35%.

The push for more inclusive mental health care is not just coming from Gen Z. Online job seeking platform, Monster, found that nearly 1 in 3 people believe that their work poorly impacts their mental health and overall wellness. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression and anxiety (2 of the most common mental illnesses) cost the United States roughly $1 trillion dollars in lost productivity every year and if organizations took intentional steps to rectify and maintain mental wellness, overall output and morale might increase. For example, for every $1 that is invested in quality mental health care, the return on investment/general health and productivity is $4 dollars.

Mental Health And Substance Abuse In The Workplace

Many people who struggle with mental health may also struggle with substance abuse issues. Studies show that roughly 1 in 4 adults struggles with both. Substance abuse and mental disorders can occur simultaneously for several reasons, including self-medication to ease the symptoms of certain health conditions or, on a larger scale, the state of the world or workplace stress. However, if untreated, both substance use disorders (SUD) and mental conditions can worsen and deeply affect all aspects of life, including employment. If you or someone you love is struggling, take the first step by reaching out to a treatment provider today.

New Work Culture Warrants New Policies

During the height of the pandemic, amidst closings and quarantines, many companies prioritized the mental health and wellness of their employees by offering mandatory vacation days, flexible or hybrid schedules, and access to apps that promote wellbeing. However, with the worst part of the pandemic seemingly in the past, the emphasis on overall health as a priority has slowly diminished, leaving some workers feeling burned out.

In a survey conducted by Mind Share Partners, it was revealed that 84% of workers (across several demographics) reported workplace-induced mental distress in 2021. The largest contributing factors leading to this steep 84% were emotionally draining work itself, challenges with work/life balance, and a lack of recognition from executives. Historically, United States workers are among the most stressed in the world, certainly exacerbated over the last few years. According to Gallup’s Global Workplace report, 57% of Americans (a makeup of 62% women and 52% men) reported feeling daily stress compared to 43% of the rest of the world. Fortunately, however, there are practices Monster suggests companies could consider implementing to remedy the widespread feelings of burnout and mental unwellness:

1. Invitation To Be Open About Mental Health

Thanks to younger generations and the slow beginnings of a shift in perception surrounding the legitimacy of mental health, it is more common than before to be open in discussing concerns relating to one’s inner wellbeing. One survey reported 65% of employees had discussed their mental health at work in the past year, but in order for this trend to continue, employers need to be cognizant of the ways in which they approach and handle mental wellness as well as provide adequate solutions to address the concerns brought to their attention. If organizations continue to encourage their employees to be honest and transparent with their individual needs, and employees know there is no threat of termination or other negative impacts, mental health and the normalization of its prioritization might eventually become common practice.

2. Monitor The Wellbeing Of Employees Through Regular Check Ins

Though much of the world is operating in a nearly normal capacity, many are still suffering from burnout and other lasting effects from the past few years. By scheduling time to speak with workers about not only their workloads and the feasibility, but also about their overall health and state of mind, employers have the opportunity to create a network of support in which their employees feel truly cared for. This practice could be beneficial in encouraging employees who are hesitant to take time off for their mental wellbeing, too. If higher ups reassure the importance of self-maintenance, those who are unsure of the implications of said time off understand there is no penalty or shame associated with that preservation.

3. Implement Company-Wide Days Off

Many employees fear taking time off for the pile of emails, deadlines, meetings, and any other important information they might have missed while they were away. To combat this, Monster suggests companies schedule time throughout the year where everyone is off at the same time. That way, all employees, from CEO to entry-level, are sure they won’t miss anything.

Mental Health Days In Practice: LinkedIn’s “LiftUp!” Initiative

In the early days of the pandemic, LinkedIn reached out to its employees and asked them how they were feeling. After employees responded with strong feelings of burnout, overwhelm, overall discontent, and other negative experiences, the company launched the LiftUp! program. This new implementation contained a series of policies that fostered a culture of care and concern among all employees. Arguably the most notable of the new policies was titled “RestUp!,” an initiative that included a company-wide, week long closure in April 2021 alongside allocated “Well-Being Days” and Friday half-days throughout July and August.

In an interview with CNN, Chief people advisor for the company, Teuila Hanson emphasized how leaders in the organization approached the current and bizarre work culture:

We looked at our survey results…the executive team put our heads together to figure out how could we systematically address these themes we are seeing with our employees. [LiftUp!] was really intended to figure out, what can we specifically do from a program perspective—benefits, perks to address burnout, work family balance, people feeling alone and isolated—how could we bring some surprise and delight, how can we bring some levity to our employees?

Executives noticed that these programs were incredibly beneficial for the overall morale of the company culture. Vice President of benefits and a lead in initiating the LiftUp! policies, Nina McQueen said, “It has been absolutely incredible to see employees talking about what their experience is and how they feel cared for. We see the sentiment and participation, and we’re measuring things up.”

Other Companies Like Bumble & Hootsuite Have Followed Suit

While LinkedIn may have been the first company to attempt a complete organization-wide shut down, they are hardly the only one. Roughly 2 months after LinkedIn, founder and CEO of Bumble, Whitney Wolfe Heard gifted her company’s 700 employees one full week away with paid vacation; a bonus to the allotted vacation time granted each year. The goal, as with LinkedIn was clear cut: to give workers paid time to themselves without the guilt and burdensome worry that they might return to an even bigger pile of “to dos.”

Research shows that the average person has around 8 social media accounts on various platforms and spends nearly 2.5 hours on social media alone (not including the hours of additional time spent online). In response, Hootsuite decided to stagger a portion of their workforce so the business remained open, while mandating a week off for all other employees. Company founder, Ryan Holmes believes strongly in the “interval training” model in which periods of hard, focused work are offset by time to rest, reset, and recover. Listed as “inaugural” and most likely based on other companies’ collective success, this event provides an interesting thought experiment for those continuing to navigate the work/life balance amidst the ever-evolving societal landscape.

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Mental Health Is Physical Health

Despite the clear and encouraging strides we have made in the realm of mental health over the last decade or so, there is still a long way to go in legitimizing the very real nature of all that goes on inside our minds. Where physical health is often blatant and usually understood, mental health remains largely in the dark theoretical space of presumption and misunderstanding.

Just as you would care for a broken bone or a contagious cold, be sure to care for your mind, too. If you have began or increased the use of drugs or alcohol in an attempt to remedy mental health struggles, take a moment to evaluate the motives behind substance use. While substance abuse may provide a temporary relief, they typically worsen mental health struggles in the long-run. Reach out to a treatment provider to confidentially ask any question you might have and they will help guide you forward.

The post Mental Health Maintenance In The Workplace appeared first on Addiction Center.

Approaching the 2-year mark of the pandemic’s beginning, the once uniform look of in-person work-life has transformed into a mushy hybrid of remote, at-home, and in-person work. Catching up with a co-worker at the water cooler has shifted into a flurry of Slack messages and never-ending Zoom meetings, which makes many feel overwhelmed and understimulated. Working in a changing environment can lead to worry, stress, uncertainty, and loneliness, which can harm our mental health. Additionally, studies have revealed mixed results between the positive benefits and adverse health consequences of working from home. 

Needless to say, transitioning to working from home is a significant disruption of routine, which, to be honest, is never enjoyable. This disruption can lead to an increase of loneliness, anxiety, or depression. However, there are tangible things that you can do to regulate your day-to-day to avoid the doom and gloom of monotonous work. 

The Psychological Impacts Of Working From Home

According to a 2021 survey run by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), most individuals who work from home reported negative impacts on their mental health. Due to the watered-down boundaries between work and home spaces, many found difficulty turning off their laptops and their minds at the end of the day. A couple more minutes wrapping up an assignment turns into countless hours that bleed into the night. According to recent studies, the feeling of “never being able to leave the office” led to 82% of remote workers reporting feelings of burnout, stress, and increased pressure.  

Additionally, remote work eliminates day-to-day interactions with colleagues like discussing weekend plans, work frustrations, and swapping stories. This camaraderie doesn’t translate as well over web interfaces, and some find that they spend hours or days without speaking to others. This disconnectivity from your co-workers and the rest of the world may make you feel lonely and isolated. Loneliness is associated with higher depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms like random pain. 

Multiple surveys concluded that the physical and mental health impacts of working from home vary considerably. This variability can be based on factors like childcare and the demands of home, level of support from employers, and extent of social connections outside of work.

Benefits Of WFH Life

While studies highlight some adverse consequences that have surfaced from remote work, there are some highlights for employees with a home base. These benefits include:

• Less commute stress
• Increased time flexibility 
• Location independence 
• Customizable office
• Less exposure to illness
• Greater productivity

Tips To Improve Your Mental Health While Working From Home

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health, but sometimes mental wellness is not viewed as such. Managing and checking up on your brain can be difficult, but there are some activities that you can do to help keep your brain a happy camper amidst all the changes and uncertainty of this time. 

Establish A Routine

Keep to a routine with a clear start and finish time in a designated workspace. While it is tempting to work from the couch or bed, having a designated area to focus on work can help separate your work and home space. On the same note, getting dressed for the day the same way you would if you were going into the office can help boost productivity. Take some time to hop in the shower, put on your favorite outfit, and put your best foot forward for the day. 

Moreso, give yourself regular breaks. It can be tempting to chug straight through hours of work, but your eyes and body will thank you if you get up and do a little wiggle. 

Move That Body

Beyond giving your body the occasional wiggle, implementing stretching, walking, dancing, bike riding, whatever you fancy, into your day can help recenter your mental and physical health. Exercising daily for 20 to 30 minutes can significantly lower anxiety levels and boost endorphins and serotonin. As someone constantly staring at a computer screen, going on a daily walk allows me to calm my anxieties, rest my eyes, and appreciate the beauty of nature. Studies have also linked outdoor walks with lower blood pressure and stress hormones. 

Work With Other People

This tip may sound strange in the context of remote work, but there are options for those who would like to work around others. For those who miss the white noise of collective pecking at keyboards and muffled conversation, venturing out to a local coffee shop, library, or co-working space can help mimic a similar environment. If you cannot venture out into society, countless videos on YouTube are available as background noise fillers. These videos can add some much-needed ambiance to the quietness that can exist from working at home. 

Connect With Others

To help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness, maintain communication with your friends, family, co-workers, and loved ones. When feelings begin to build up or anxieties arise, your chosen support group will know just the things to say to bring you back down to Earth. Or, they can offer a listening ear. At times, that is enough. Carving out time during your week to catch up with your loved ones can help melt away the isolation that remote work can often facilitate. 

Ask For Help

While reaching out to loved ones can help immensely with mental health, that is not always an option for individuals, and that’s okay. Additionally, if an individual is experiencing a severe decline in mental health, like increased rates of depression or anxiety, they should consider professional help. Many organizations have free mental health services, and some workplaces have even increased their resources available to employees since the pandemic. 

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Finding Resources

While it feels that the world is changing day by day, there is one thing that we can all count on: ourselves. This is not to imply that we have to be okay at any given moment or that we are always in control, it simply means that we have the ability to reach out to others when we need additional help. We have tools to help regulate our mental health, but that is not always enough. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, contact a treatment provider today.

The post Maintaining A Happy Brain While Working From Home appeared first on Addiction Center.

There’s a problem many people who struggle with drugs and alcohol repeatedly run into when they’re trying to quit: that despite the often disastrous consequences of abuse and addiction, using substances can often be an effective way to temporarily feel better and respond to life’s stressors.

Many with substance use disorders don’t necessarily even enjoy the effects of their chosen substance all that much anymore, but they continue using it because it’s the best strategy they’ve worked out for navigating life’s difficult terrain.

And the terrain of life can be very difficult indeed — no one’s to blame when someone resorts to using drugs and alcohol as a way to cope.

Having said that, the consequences of substance abuse are severe. There’s a reason we often try to protect our children from drinking and using drugs; we know the behaviors end in negative outcomes too frequently for our liking or for their safety.

The good news is that there’s a key trait that protects children and adults alike from addiction and gives them a different way to manage the problems they face in life. It’s called self-efficacy.

What Is Self-Efficacy?

The concept of self-efficacy was pioneered by psychologist Albert Bandura. Bandura describes self-efficacy as “people’s beliefs in their efficacy to influence events that affect their lives,” going on to say that self-efficacy “is the foundation of human inspiration, motivation, performance accomplishments, and emotional well-being,” and that “Unless people believe they can produce desired effects by their actions, they have little incentive to undertake activities or to persevere in the face of difficulties.”

In other words, your self-efficacy is how much you believe you’re able to get what you want — without any outside help from anyone or anything.

It should be noted, of course, that great things can be accomplished with the help of others and by helping others; if one feels reliant on external aid, however, self-efficacy suffers.

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How Does Self-Efficacy Relate To Addiction?

According to a piece in the New York Times, “People with a weak sense of self-efficacy…tend to be pessimistic, inflexible, quick to give up, have low self-esteem, exhibit learned helplessness, get depressed, and feel fatalistic and hopeless. Not coincidentally, people who exhibit these traits are more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol to alleviate these negative feelings.”

Clinical research backs up this idea; an article published in Addictive Behaviors declared that “self-efficacy has been found to predict the quantity of alcohol or drugs consumed.” Specifically, it’s been observed that higher self-efficacy is linked to less frequent episodes of binge drinking, fewer instances of Marijuana use, and lower rates of relapse.

How Do We Learn Self-Efficacy?

There probably aren’t many people who wouldn’t want to have a stronger confidence in their own ability to achieve their goals. Frequently, however, peoples’ beliefs on this issue are tied to their fundamental and internal perspectives on the nature of themselves, of life, of fairness, faith, fortune, and fate.

Therapy might help, especially in the long-term, with deep-seated and negative beliefs about life or yourself. In the meantime, however, there are some simple ways we can build our self-efficacy for ourselves.

They include:

• Giving yourself tasks, even small ones, to accomplish during the day to build a sense of self-worth and competence (Like doing the laundry, cleaning a part or all of your room or home, experimenting with cooking something in the kitchen, or making a piece of art).
• Choosing to see negative life developments as narrow, changing, universal, and passing things — rather than broad, heavy, personal, and permanent things.
• Trying to see your glass as half-full when you can.
• Giving positive feedback, compliments, and praise to yourself and others over specific and explicitly-identified good behavior. This encourages more of it – vague, unspecified praise can be hollow, unrewarding, and unhelpful.
• Pursuing a hobby or interest that you can gain a sense of mastery in over time.
• Valuing your own ability to do hard work, not necessarily the results of that work or whether or not your effort is recognized by anyone but you.
• Watching others do great things – in the football stadium, the concert hall, the pages of history, or their own personal lives. This can allow you to see what’s possible for others and therefore for yourself.

By identifying opportunities to accomplish things, reward ourselves for putting the work in to do so, learn skills and pursuits, and admire and grow from the exploits and efforts of others, we not only guard ourselves against addiction but also do ourselves a huge service: we begin to make the most of our lives.

If you’re struggling with a substance use disorder, you have the ability to make a change. And if you’d like some help or want to get some questions answered, you can contact a treatment provider right now for free.

You deserve to realize the truth: that your life is within your grasp, and you can make choices to take you to exactly where you want to be.

The post How Self-Efficacy Guards Us From Addiction appeared first on Addiction Center.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the onset of a global pandemic. COVID-19 spread throughout the globe, uprooting the daily lives of millions. As the world hunkered down to quarantine, millions of Americans canceled activities and prepared. Some turned to alcohol to cope with the sudden change. 

Right after the announcement of the global pandemic, the sales of alcoholic beverages spiked. In the United States, the overall alcohol market grew by 55%, and online alcohol sales skyrocketed to a startling 243%. Despite bar, club, and restaurant closure, liquor revenue rose from $29 billion in 2019 to $31.2 billion in 2020. 

COVID-19 Alcohol And Addiction 

The effects of COVID-19 have trickled across countless households. Families are experiencing high levels of stress while juggling their children’s school activities, work-from-home responsibilities, and housework. Others are struggling financially, with social isolation and general uncertainties. The high levels of stress have triggered a spike in alcohol demand and addiction rates in the U.S. Stress is associated with an increased risk for alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, and alcohol use disorders (AUD). Some of the most common health manifestations due to COVID-19 include anxiety, poor sleep, and hypochondriac beliefs.

Alcohol abuse hit an all-time-high in 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 13% of Americans used alcohol or drugs to deal with COVID-19 related stressors. Those under lockdown or quarantine increased their heavy alcohol use from 21.0% (in March) to 40.7% (in September). The surge in alcohol use has the scientific and health community highly concerned.

In the U.S., more than 95,000 people die from dangerous alcohol use every year. Alcohol abuse shortens the life of an individual an average of 29 years. Every year a total of 2.8 million years of potential life is lost to alcohol.

Previous Devastations And Alcohol Misuse

With increased alcohol use, sales, and ER visits related to alcohol use, there is no question that COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the lives of Americans and people around the world. The stress that has been caused by the pandemic is not isolated to this single experience. Other devastating occurrences such as terrorist attacks and recessions cause similar levels of stress, mental health disturbances, and potentially increased alcohol abuse.

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology looked into the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, and terrorist events in Israel and England and discovered that there was increased alcohol use up to 2 years after these events. An estimated 7.3% of people exposed to one of these events presented with alcohol misuse. The study also found that those who were exposed to terrorist attacks had higher rates of binge drinking, which increased with how involved they were with the event, such as if they knew someone who lost their life in the attack. Alcohol abuse was even more common in those with PTSD symptoms.

Researchers from the Frontiers study examined drinking patterns and the Great Recession of 2008 and found that there was decreased alcohol consumption during this time. This was likely due to reduced wages, higher debts, and loss of purchasing power. However, during this time the rate of binge drinking increased in certain populations like the unemployed, young people, and men. Economic adversity has been found to be associated with increased rates of alcohol misuse.

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Finding Treatment For Alcohol Addiction

Drinking is a popular pastime in the U.S., and in 2020, while people quarantined, it became even more common. However, reaching for an alcoholic beverage every time a person is bored/stressed is problematic. Habitual alcohol use can lead to an alcohol use disorder (AUD). More than 15 million people are battling AUD in the U.S. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, young men are at an increased risk of developing an AUD. If the individuals recently lost their primary jobs due to COVID-19, the risk is even higher.  

Developing an AUD can happen to anyone. Alcohol use disorders are the most common addictions in America. Unfortunately, SARS-CoV-2 contributed to the spike in rates among Americans, as seen in alcohol sales for 2020. Fortunately, there are several addiction treatment centers ready to help anyone battling a substance use disorder. Thousands of people are prioritizing their health and seeking treatment. Contact a treatment provider and discover the many options you or a loved one have. Begin to take back control of your life by contacting a treatment provider today.   

The post Alcohol Sales Spike In 2020 Due To COVID-19 appeared first on Addiction Center.

Loneliness is often viewed as a negative state of existence, although some alone time is needed to recharge. A Harvard study mentions “25% to 60% of older Americans suffer from loneliness. Another site reflected loneliness in younger audiences with “79% of Gen Z, aged 18 to 22 feeling lonely” and secondly, “71% of Millennials reported feeling lonely.” The link between loneliness and addiction should be something that people are aware of during these uncertain times. Being alone and being lonely are characteristically different with varying effects on our mind, body, and emotions. Furthermore, being alone can be seen as healthy as people can find being alone as way to disconnect from a stressful life. For example, perhaps you are at a park enjoying the scenery around you. Your mood may be peaceful and joyful; there is a sense of feeling complete despite being in solitude.

In contrast, you can be in relationships and be miserable and lonely due to a lack of connection. Loneliness often includes being alone and feeling as if there is a loss or an inner void needing to be filled. It is a state of mind that causes someone to feel rejected, unloved, excluded, ignored, and invalidated. For example, lonely people may seek companionship but because of sadness, anxiety, depression, or negative thoughts and other factors, he or she may find it difficult to connect with others, creating a cycle of isolation and pain.

How Loneliness Impacts Health And Wellbeing

Loneliness impacts social experiences, emotional states of being, mental health, and physical health. Psychology Today includes states that loneliness is a risk factor for depression, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, weaker immune systems, poor sleep patterns, and increased stress. This does not include feelings of low self-esteem; being antisocial; poor cardiovascular function; anxiety; poor brain function; increased cigarette smoking; increased alcoholism or drug use; poor memory; suicidal thoughts, acts of suicide or suicidal attempts, and an increased mortality rate. If someone you love has been talking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Additionally, those feeling lonely lack social support needed to overcome low moods and feel whole. Lastly, with the current state of COVID-19 and isolation due to quarantine, those experiencing loneliness may have worsened episodes of depression, anxiety, or grief and isolation. As a result, he or she can cope in unhealthy methods, like turning to drugs or alcohol for comfort.

How Loneliness And Addiction Are Linked

Because of the increased likelihood of depression and possibly poor self-esteem, someone can decide to cope with these emotions in an unhealthy manner. Loneliness and addiction go hand-in-hand for a large number of people suffering from a substance use disorder. Using harmful substances to cope with challenges like depression, anxiety, and trauma are called co-morbid disorders. In cases of loneliness, someone can easily fall into the lure of drinking to cope. A study conducted by the Journal of Aging and Health cited loneliness as a risk factor for alcohol abuse.

Moreover, the study found alcohol consumption more common in older adults. A reported 65% of “adults aged 45 years or older who have been diagnosed with drug or alcohol abuse report being lonely.” Ironically, those who have begun a drug or alcohol habit may often choose isolation to hide their habit from loved ones or friends, increasingly become lonelier to cope with feelings of being lonely. As a result, one can use alcohol or drugs to find short-term relief. To add, other drugs like cocaine or meth can become a substance of choice to increase low moods, give someone energy, and produce euphoric feelings to combat depression. Once someone has become dependent on harmful drugs like these, professional help is best to relieve the mind and body of cravings and reduce the risk of a fatal or non-fatal overdose.

Loneliness And Alcoholism

Once someone starts drinking to ease loneliness or depression, he or she further increases their sense of loneliness. Additionally, someone drinking can quickly develop a tolerance once he or she drinks a few times. Someone who has 2 to 3 drinks per sitting may soon realize they need a stronger amount of alcohol or more servings per sitting. This can also translate to binge drinking—which is drinking 4 or more drinks in 2 hours for women and 5 or more drinks in 2 hours for men. Although people may drink for a host of reasons, being lonely can put them at increased risk and they should be aware of the link between loneliness and addiction.

Drinking this much  can reduce the feelings of being intoxicated until people seek more alcohol. For example, some binge drinkers can transition into heavy drinking because the amount of alcohol just doesn’t cut it anymore. Moreover, since alcohol alters the chemistry in the brain, long-term alcohol use can be extremely difficult to stop. Going cold turkey may prove to be extremely difficult as alcohol withdrawal symptoms like cravings, nausea, vomiting, and hallucinations can encourage prolonged drinking.

If someone is abusing drugs like Xanax, cocaine, or other highly addictive substances, he or she can equally find it hard to quit or go cold turkey. If you or a loved one has fallen victim to an alcohol use disorder, or drug abuse, know there is help available. Loneliness and addiction can be difficult to overcome, but it is possible. Talk to a treatment provider today.

The post Loneliness And Addiction appeared first on Addiction Center.

Anyone can develop mental health and Substance Use Disorders (SUD), regardless of age, race, or background. Celebrities, too, must often battle co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders – sometimes made worse by the spotlight. Moreover, drugs and alcohol can aggravate symptoms of depression, mania, anxiety, paranoia, and more. Below are 10 celebrities who have struggled to maintain positive mental health while also struggling with substance abuse.

1. Britney Spears

Britney Spears, 37, made headlines again this April, after checking into a mental health center. While the hashtag #FreeBritney circulated on social media, others were reminded that the singer has sought treatment multiple times since 2007 for her mental health. Spears had admitted to being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and suffering from postpartum depression in the past.

Drugs and alcohol often aggravate symptoms of some mental health disorders. Spears has admitted to excessive drinking, “dabbling” with drugs, and being a “smoker” (referring to Marijuana).

2. Demi Lovato

Fellow Disney teen star, Demi Lovato, similarly struggled through her twenties with substance abuse and her mental health. In July 2018, the 25-year-old overdosed at home in the Hollywood Hills and had to be revived with Narcan (an anti-Opioid overdose medication). For years, Lovato has been open about addiction and how that’s affected her bipolar disorder and disordered eating. For the pop singer, relapse has been a part of recovery – she relapsed after 6 years of sobriety last year – yet she pushes onward, sharing her journey with her fans via social media.

What I’ve learned is that this illness is not something that disappears or fades with time. It is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet. I want to thank God for keeping me alive and well.

3. Russell Brand

As a teenager, Russell Brand said he started using drugs and alcohol. He was also treated for depression and had problems binge eating. He has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD. Yet, the British comedian didn’t let that stop him. In 2002, he began his recovery journey and has since raised money for drug treatment programs, advocated better mental health resources, and in 2017 released the book Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions.

If you’re addicted to bad relationships, bad food, abusive bosses, conflict, or pornography, it can take a lifetime to spot the problem, and apparently a lifetime is all we have.

4. Jada Pinkett Smith

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith’s Facebook show “Red Table Talk” has allowed a number of guests to be open about troubling experiences in their lives. Jada, 47, has also opened up about the effect her mother’s hard drug use had on her as a child, as well as her own addictions. For instance, she recently admitted to having a sex addiction and that she and husband, Will Smith, continue to work on themselves and their marriage.

I had many addictions, of several kinds, to deal with my life issues, but today, at 42, I have my wisdom, my heart and my conscience as the only tools to overcome life’s inevitable obstacles.

5. Mary-Kate Olsen

For her 18th birthday, Mary-Kate Olsen chose to enter treatment at an undisclosed facility for anorexia and disordered eating following an intervention by her family. The fashion icon and Full House alum is said to have also struggled with Cocaine abuse – a Stimulant often abused by people trying to lose weight.

While Mary-Kate rarely speaks to reporters and has never spoken publicly herself about an eating disorder, when Elle magazine brought the subject up in a cover story interview, the fashion mogul replied, “I think it’s important that what anybody goes through — and I’m not saying that it’s true or not true — you realize it’s part of growing up. Everybody is going to go through hard times. It’s a part of life. I think the hardest part to get to is that point of asking for help or reaching out to other people and being honest with yourself.”

6. Jean-Claude Van Damme

Before being diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, action star Jean-Claude Van Damme struggled with an addiction to cocaine and alcohol, was arrested for drunk driving, and charged with domestic violence. He now takes Lithium and credits proper mental health treatment for turning his life around.

Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is one of four types of bipolar disorder and involves extreme highs and lows and 4 distinct mood episodes each year. Substance abuse, especially involving stimulants, can worsen symptoms of bipolar disorder.

7. Justin Bieber

Young pop star, Justin Bieber, started his journey to recovery in 2014 after years of making headlines for his bad behavior and drug use. The “Sorry” singer admits his drug use “got pretty dark”, that he had a “problem with sex”, and that he suffered from depression while touring. Since going through detox, the married man (wife, Hailey Baldwin Bieber) says he’s now able to drink socially but has avoided narcotics since.

I found myself doing things that I was so ashamed of, being super-promiscuous and stuff, and I think I used Xanax because I was so ashamed.

Among people with an addiction, feelings of guilt and shame often lead to greater amounts of substance abuse. Resolving the underlying triggers behind drug use can help those struggling with addiction to recover and develop new, healthy coping strategies.

8. Kurt Cobain

Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was diagnosed as a child with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and bipolar disorder, and his family had a history of suicide. For years, Cobain and wife, Courtney Love, abused drugs like Heroin, Cocaine, and pills – even as Cobain struggled with severe depression. Yet, the singer never sought treatment and died of suicide in 1994 at 27-years-old.

9. Carrie Fisher

Known globally as Princess Leia in Star Wars, Carrie Fisher admitted that she struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for years. Initially, she found sobriety at 29-years-old and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder the next year – while someone is abusing substances, most medical professionals will not diagnose a mental health disorder. Fisher went on to become a prolific writer and stand-up comedian, before her death in 2016. Coroner’s found cocaine, Heroin, Methadone, other Opiates, alcohol and Ecstasy in her system but could not conclusively report that they were the cause of death.

My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life. She ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases… I know my Mom, she’d want her death to encourage people to be open about their struggles.

10. Ernest Hemingway

One of the most famous writers of the twentieth century, Ernest Hemingway suffered from bouts of severe anxiety and depression, which eventually contributed to his development of alcoholism. Books have been made of the For Whom the Bells Tolls author’s quotes on alcohol and drinking. More recently, studies reveal Hemingway’s heavy drinking habits may have exacerbated his traumatic brain injuries, deteriorating the writer’s grip on sound decision-making until his death. In 1961, Hemingway shot and killed himself in Idaho.

Find Treatment For Co-Occurring Disorders Today

If you or someone you know is struggling under the pressure of addiction and mental health disorders, contact a treatment provider today.

The post 10 Celebrities Who Battled Addiction And Mental Illness appeared first on Addiction Center.

The United States – still in the grip of the nation’s worst addiction epidemic in history – lost over 700,000 people between 1999 and 2017 to drug overdoses. On average, 130 Americans die every day from an overdose related to Opioids. Approximately 1.7 million Americans have a diagnosable addiction to prescription Opioids (such as OxyContin® or hydrocodone). Another 652,000 people suffer from addiction to Heroin. Celebrities are no different and their journey to recovery can be just as challenging. Below are 10 celebrities who have found recovery from Opioid addiction and continue to promote sobriety.

1. Robert Downey Jr.

The universally-beloved Iron Man actor was first introduced to drugs by his father at the age of 6. In the years that followed, Downey recounts experimenting with a range of substances, including mixing alcohol with Heroin and Amphetamines. After multiple failed attempts at sobriety in and out of rehab and jail, Downey checked himself into rehab in 2001. It took 6 years of sobriety and working to regain the trust of studio heads before he was cast in both Iron Man and Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder in 2007.

Job one is get out of that cave. A lot of people do get out but don’t change. So the thing is to get out and recognize the significance of that aggressive denial of your fate, come through the crucible forged into a stronger metal.

Break free from addiction.

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2. August Alsina

August Alsina, too, grew up with parents addicted to drugs. While he witnessed the damage Crack Cocaine had on his family, he failed to see the destructive power of prescription painkillers until it was too late. Following hospitalization for exhaustion (where he was in a coma for 3 days, dying twice), his doctor prescribed Percocet® for pain. After a tearful phone call from longtime friend, Jada Pinkett-Smith, he made the decision to seek recovery.

Because it’s coming from a doctor, you feel like, what am I doing wrong?

3. Bradley Cooper

While promoting A Star Is Born with Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper opened up about his own history with prescription drug abuse and alcoholism – similar to his character in the movie, Jackson Maine. The Hangover star has been sober since the age of 29 but admits the trauma of addiction and his journey to recovery helped make him the healthy, focused celebrity he is today.

I wouldn’t have been able to have access to myself or other people, or even been able to take in other people, if I hadn’t changed my life. I never would have been able to have the relationships that I do. I never would have been able to take care of my father the way I did when he was sick. So many things.

4. Matthew Perry

The pressure of being on the immensely popular Friends and chronic pain landed Matthew Perry in rehab twice for a Vicodin® addiction. The Fools Rush In actor has also been treated for addictions to alcohol, Amphetamines, and Methadone (an opioid addiction treatment medication sometimes abused by people seeking to “come down” from heroin). After his recovery, Perry went on to open a sober house and lobby Congress to allow more drug courts.

Drug courts are the single most effective program for curing serious drug addicts for life-long recovery.

5. Eminem

Before Eminem released Recovery, an album detailing the depths of his addiction to prescription drugs, the emcee had severe Opioid and Benzodiazepine addictions. What began with misusing Vicodin to feel “mellow”, spiraled into a dependence on a cocktail of prescriptions, including Xanax® and Valium®. He credits his love for his young daughter, Hailie Scott Mathers (now 23), for his dedication to recovery and continued sobriety.

It’s been a learning process, I’m growing. I couldn’t believe that anybody could be naturally happy without being on something. So, I would say to anybody, “It does get better.”

6. Gerard Butler

Six years after his mega-successful role as King Leonidas of Sparta in 300, Gerard Butler suffered an injury while filming the surfer movie Chasing Mavericks. After receiving a prescription for painkillers, he eventually became dependent on them. In 2012, he checked himself into the Betty Ford Center, where he describes being ‘ripped apart’ by rehab and realizing how his choices affected his addiction.

I’m glad I did it… They really do rip you apart [in rehab]. You get rid of a bunch of s**t, realize a bunch more s**t, and you make a plan.

7. Macklemore

Before Macklemore rose to fame with “Thrift Shop”, he was drinking alcohol alone in his parents’ home as a 13-year-old. In his twenties, he describes becoming addicted to OxyContin – even nicknaming it “Synthetic Heroin”. When his addiction began to seriously jeopardize his relationships as well as the career as a musician he hoped to have, he turned to rehab. Since then, he’s become a vocal advocate for the recovery community. Working with Ryan Lewis and President Barack Obama, he released the documentary Prescription for Change: Ending America’s Opioid Crisis in 2016.

It’s a progressive disease, it gets worse with time. And I always felt that I could control it by myself, that I could take this drug out or just do this, but it didn’t work and it got worse… Going to a treatment facility, I was given the tools and the counseling to figure out how to stay sober.

8. Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes is well-known for his brilliance in aviation engineering and his work in Hollywood (he even produced the original Scarface). In 1946, a plane crash left him with severe, chronic pain. Consequently, after years of dependence on narcotic painkillers, the towering 6’4” figure had shrunk to 6’1’ by the time of his death. Receiving drugs like Phenacetin, Codeine, and Valium, he would sometimes inject them intravenously, resulting in the kidney damage that took his life.

9. Nicole Richie

Party girl daughter of Lionel Richie, socialite, and Simple Life star, Nicole Richie, was once arrested for Heroin possession and jailed for driving under the influence. While she may no longer be BFFs with Paris Hilton, the 36-year-old mom and fashion designer believes it’s important to be honest with her children about her addiction and the recovery that saved her life.

What I can do is use that experience as a tool for when my kids get older. They know that people have died from drugs because they go to school and it happens.

10. Steven Tyler

The now 71-year-old rock legend, Steven Tyler, has claimed he spent over $2 million “easy” on illicit substances. As the front man for Aerosmith, Tyler says he’s had serious addiction to heroin, alcohol, cocaine, and (most recently) prescription Opioids in 2009. Despite knowing how much he was hurting his family, his band, and himself, Tyler says addiction didn’t allow him to care about any of it. Nonetheless, he’s been able to recover each time he’s relapsed.

I’m telling you all my truth. I am a drug addict and alcoholic, and fighting it every day.

Celebrities Who Lost Their Lives To Opioid Addiction

Because up to 60% of people with an addiction relapse, addiction specialists emphasize ongoing support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous as well as detox and rehab when required. Below are a 8 celebrities who did not find recovery from their Opioid addiction in time to save their lives.

• Philip Seymour Hoffman – actor known for roles in Capote and The Hunger Games. He died in 2014 of an apparent Heroin, Cocaine, Benzodiazepine, and Amphetamine overdose.
• Prince – legendary singer and songwriter best-known for Purple Rain. Prince died in 2016 of a Fentanyl overdose.
• Corey Monteith – the Glee actor had a history of substance abuse starting at age 12. After multiple failed attempts at completing rehab, Monteith died in 2013 of an alcohol and heroin overdose.
• John Belushi – an actor known for roles on Saturday Night Live and National Lampoon’s Animal House, Belushi was known to “speedball” (a combination of Heroin and Cocaine) that eventually led to his death in 1982.
• Amy Winehouse – the “Rehab” singer previously battled addictions to Heroin, Ecstasy, Cocaine, Ketamine and alcohol. She also suffered bulimia. At 27, in 2011, Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning – her blood alcohol content was 5 times the UK’s legal limit.
• Corey Haim – known for his role in The Lost Boys and being one half of The Two Coreys (alongside Corey Feldman). In 2010, Haim was accused of “doctor shopping” (or visiting multiple doctors to obtain more prescriptions) for thousands of pills, including OxyContin. In 2010, coroners attributed his death to pneumonia and an enlarged heart.
• River Phoenix – the eldest of the Phoenix clan, River quickly rose to teen idol stardom in the 80s after the release of Stand by Me. In 1993, at the age of 23, Phoenix overdosed on Morphine and Cocaine.
• Heath Ledger – the Australian method actor broke new ground in films like Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight. Ledger said his role as the Joker and his role in I’m Not There affected his sleep and he felt forced to take pills to help. At age 28 in 2008, he overdosed on a combination of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Diazepam (the generic version of Valium), Temazepam, Alprazolam, and Doxylamine.

You Don’t Need To Be A Celebrity To Get Help For An Opioid Addiction

It’s never too late to find sobriety. If you or someone you know needs help finding detox and rehab options, contact a treatment provider for more information.

The post 10 Celebrities Who Found Sobriety After Opioid Addiction appeared first on Addiction Center.

Jenna Jameson may be best-known for her work in the adult film industry and the New York Times best-selling book that followed, but today the 45-year-old mother-of-three just wants to focus on her sobriety and staying healthy – for herself and for her family.

“In the beginning, it felt like defeat,” Jameson said in a video posted to her YouTube channel in 2016 titled ‘My Sober Journey’. “It was scary.”

Jameson’s initial experience with addiction began when – during her most recent pregnancy – she was diagnosed with pregnancy-induced migraines. The Sugar author describes the high volume of prescription painkillers her doctor was prescribing to take care of the debilitating pain, which soon led to a dependence.

Break free from addiction.

You have options. Talk about them with a treatment provider today.

(870) 515-4356

Addiction And Depression

Prescription Opioids like Oxycodone and Hydrocodone (sold under brand names like Percocet®, Vicodin®, and OxyContin®) can become habit-forming, even when taken as-prescribed by a doctor. After only 5 days of regular use, the risk for chemical dependency increases dramatically. Among patients prescribed 8 days’ worth of pills, 13.5% were still taking them a year later.

That really spiraled into a pretty gnarly addiction, and I decided that my life is better lived sober. Therefore, I pushed myself to get clean.

Yet, as many people who have undergone their own recovery journeys can attest, sobriety isn’t without its setbacks. Jameson, after struggling to quit opioids for years on her own, felt herself “starting to slip into a bit of an alcohol addiction.” What started with a few glasses of champagne and wine, eventually turned into a dependence on alcohol to feel better.

“Then, as my life got a little more chaotic and a lot of sadness set in, I started drinking to curb that. And, I knew it was getting bad when I started drinking alone.”

A significant percentage of adult entertainers report high levels of trauma, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and suicidal thoughts. Stressful experiences often lead people to substance abuse in an attempt to self-medicate, feel better, and try to forget or avoid life’s problems. Known as co-occurring disorders, substance abuse and mental health disorders can exacerbate each other, potentially resulting in fatal overdose or suicide attempts.

The Transformative Power Of Sobriety And A Healthy Lifestyle

Seeing the damage alcoholism was having on her body and mind, Jameson enrolled herself into addiction treatment at the Hazelden Betty Ford drug rehab.

“In the beginning, it felt like defeat… It was scary.”

The detox and inpatient treatment Jameson received at Betty Ford changed the course of her life. After “chipping out” (a term people in recovery use to indicate “graduating” from an addiction treatment program successfully) on St. Patrick’s Day, Jameson felt ready to begin her life anew – healthy and focused.

Talking about her addiction, Jameson says, “It’s a really scary thing. It’s not really accepted in society. There are a lot of misconceptions.”

From the minute I walked into my group meetings, I felt at home and I felt accepted.

“I was worried I couldn’t lose the weight sober,” she wrote in 2018. “I’m being real with you. When I was in my addiction it was easy to stay thin. Sobriety and being overweight was new to me. I kept telling myself if I could beat addiction and stay sober, I can easily lose the weight… and I did. The healthy way.”

Today, Jameson says she still attends meetings, tagging #aa and #na (acronyms for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous) in a recent post about her weight loss journey.

“Sobriety has taught me a lot about myself, my coping mechanisms that I ignored came bubbling to the surface quickly after getting sober. That scared me. Everything I knew was wrong. Everything I believed in was hurting me, not helping. Meetings and leaning on my Sober friends like @mrs__shay made things bearable the first year. I was surviving. Sober. It was shocking at first, but now it’s my new normal,” she said via an Instagram post.

She attributes the transformation her worldview and body have undergone to not just sobriety, but exercise and the keto diet (a low-carb, high-fat regimen). Maintaining a routine and being mindful of triggers to use drugs or eat helped Jameson drop over 50 pounds (going from 187 to a healthy 130 pounds). “As of today, I can say my mental game is STRONG. I feel I can do anything, I conquered abuse, addiction, PTSD and depression.”

Kickstart Your Own Journey To Sobriety

If you or a loved one are struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle and are worried about the risk of drug or alcohol addiction, talk to a treatment provider today for more information.

The post How Rehab, Sobriety, And Diet Transformed Jenna Jameson appeared first on Addiction Center.

The development of a substance abuse issue is something that can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, geographic location, or socioeconomic status. Many of these factors can play a role in the causes and effects of an addiction, as well as the best way to go about treating it. When helping someone who is struggling with addiction, it is important to take these factors into account when determining how to get them the help they need. While most people tend to think of large cities and urban areas as being a mecca for drug use and alcohol abuse, the number of people addicted to illicit and mind-altering substances is on the rise and, in some cases, even more prevalent in rural areas.

The Statistics

Despite America’s ongoing ‘War on Drugs’, there are many areas where Opioid addiction, alcoholism, and the presence of other substance use disorders have reached almost epidemic proportions.  In response to this, there has been a multitude of studies conducted in recent years seeking to find correlations between certain demographics and the misuse or abuse or particular substances.

In 2012, researchers sought to identify the differences between urban and rural drug users in terms of their recent and lifetime use, as well as the age of onset use of a certain substance.  Their study interviewed 212 prescription drug users–101 subjects from a rural area in the Appalachian region and 111 urban subjects from a metropolitan area in Kentucky. Participants were given an interviewer-administered questionnaire examining sociodemographic traits, psychiatric characteristics, and self-reported drug use. Results found that rural drug users had significantly earlier ages of onset abuse of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, and Crack. Rural drug users also tended to have significantly higher odds of lifetime and recent use of Methadone, OxyContin, and Oxycodone. Urban participants, however, had significantly higher odds of recent Crack and Cocaine use.

Another study in 2009 looked at prescription Opioid misuse among 2 groups of felony probationers, 782 from rural areas and 743 from urban areas, that were participating in an HIV-intervention study. They found that rural participants were almost 5 times more likely than their urban counterparts to have misused prescription Opioids, meaning the prevalence of prescription Opioid misuse was significantly higher among the rural probationers. Researchers supposed that this substantial variance in prescription misuse is due to the face that there is a comparative scarcity of illicit Opioids in rural areas and that, because of their more recent emergence, abuse treatment centers in rural areas were ill-prepared to treat prescription Opioid misuse.

A study conducted in 2006 found that alcohol abuse exceeded illicit drug abuse in rural areas, and that it has been particularly prevalent among rural youth. They also found that the risk of early onset alcoholism is exacerbated by parental absence, a growing problem in rural America. Native Americans are particularly vulnerable to substance use disorders, and most areas with a concentrated Native American population are rural.  They also found that less educated young adults are more likely to have an illicit drug abuse problem.

A separate study in 2009 based their findings on drug users who were, at the time, attending and receiving care at a treatment facility. Nationwide, 31.4% of all admitted individuals received treatment at facilities located in urban areas, while only 7.2% received treatment at facilities located in rural areas. In addition to this, the study found rural treatment populations to be significantly more likely than urban treatment populations to be referred to substance abuse treatment through the criminal justice system, to report primary alcohol abuse or primary abuse of non-heroin Opioids, and to be aged 18 to 25. On the contrary, urban treatment populations were significantly more likely to be self- or individually referred to treatment, report primary Heroin abuse or primary Cocaine use, engage in daily use of their primary substance of abuse, and to be aged 18 or older during the onset of their substance abuse (where rural admissions tended to be even younger).

What Does This Tell Us About Rural And Urban Substance Abuse

The findings of all of the aforementioned studies seem to show similar and complementary data. First, drug users in rural areas tend to start abusing substances earlier in life. This can be explained by poorer education quality and opportunities in rural areas as opposed to urban areas, as public education quality in smaller, rural areas tend to be lower grade and the opportunity to seek higher education tends to be less available. These characteristics in a community, along with a trend of increasingly absentee parental figures, can be used to explain the high number of teenage alcoholics in rural areas.

There are also, across all studies, a significantly higher number of prescription Opioid misuse in these rural areas. In Urban areas, however, there appear to be significantly more heroin users. Heroin is an extremely addictive, illegally produced opiate synthesized from Morphine. Many who try Heroin were at first prescribed legal, prescription Opioids that were given to them by a doctor. However, due to the highly addictive nature of these drugs, many people have ended up misusing them or becoming unknowingly addicted. Now reliant on the euphoric effects of their medication just to feel normal, when their prescription runs out, urban users may find that it is cheaper and easier to obtain street drugs such as heroin or Fentanyl. However, this hasn’t always been the case in rural areas. For those addicted to prescription painkillers in smaller, more isolated areas, it can be easier to continue obtaining prescriptions, either from a doctor or a friend/family member. This is supported by the studies and data collected above.

Another notable finding regards the treatment of substance use disorders in urban vs. rural areas.  In urban areas, treatment centers are significantly more accessible. This is because high-density urban areas are more likely to have the funds, resources, and infrastructure to treat substance abuse as a public health issue, directing those with substance abuse problems to prevention and treatment programs and facilities.  Meanwhile, in rural areas, the ability of law enforcement, public officials, and health professionals to manage treatment and other intervention programs for residents is hindered by the very characteristics defining such areas: wide open spaces, limited funds, and the almost isolationist tradition of “taking care of your own” that is so common in rural regions.

Get Help Today

If someone you know is struggling with an addiction, it is important to recognize the characteristics their environment that may be influencing their harmful behaviors.  There are many sources both online and locally that can help you learns what resources and aid your city can potentially offer.  For those in areas where there are less facilities or opportunities to find professional help, community interventions can help draw on the existing resources of rural populations and provide struggling members with the information and support they need. To find out more about rehab options, talk to a treatment provider today.

The post Substance Abuse in Rural Vs. Urban Areas appeared first on Addiction Center.