A mental health disorder can affect every aspect of your life, including your relationships, employment, and self-care routines. These struggles can worsen over time, as well. If you have been struggling with a mental health disorder, you know how hard it can be to find the right care to suit your needs. However, with Harmony…
Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-based behavior modification intervention that draws on the principle of operant conditioning to reduce undesirable behaviors while increasing healthier alternatives. CM is alternatively referred to as the carrot-and-stick method, the prize method, or motivational incentives and is highly effective in treating mental health and co-occurring disorders. However, CM is not…
Alprazolam, or Xanax, is the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine, a prescription drug class that produces a sedative effect. Xanax is a fast-acting drug mainly used to treat insomnia, anxiety disorders, and panic disorders effectively. GABA is a neurotransmitter that suppresses the activity of nerves. Xanax works by amplifying the effects of GABA to reduce the…
Perhaps the most well-known form of addiction and mental health treatment is the 12-step program. However, many people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction don’t really understand what 12-step programs are really about before they begin recovery. Often, individuals have or are exposed to many conflicting views and opinions. It may seem that the advice…
MDMA is a designer drug commonly referred to as ecstasy. Since its creation, it has caused controversy. The drug started as a possible therapeutic tool but quickly evolved into a wildly popular and frequently abused party drug. Yet, this drug has been re-approached over the last few years and re-appraised for its therapeutic benefits. Today,…
Yoga therapy utilizes yoga poses, breathing exercises, guided imagery, and meditation to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. The holistic nature of yoga encourages the integration of mind, body, and spirit. Yoga therapy incorporates elements of physical therapy and psychotherapy. A growing field, yoga therapy has been widely studied, and this research supports its effectiveness…
The holiday season, while often filled with joy and celebration, can also be a significant source of stress for many individuals. The pressure to meet societal expectations, the financial strain of gift-giving, and the sheer volume of social engagements can be overwhelming. During this time, mental health struggles may heighten, leading to feelings of anxiety…
Major depression is a severe mental health disorder marked by a perpetual depressed mood, diminished interest in activities, and impaired daily functioning. Treating depression involves a combination of psychotherapy and medications. Most people are aware of the emotional symptoms of depression, but depression has physical symptoms as well. Many people, including doctors, often miss the…
Addiction is a complex disease that has a history rooted in stigma. Historically addiction has been viewed as a moral failing of people who actively chose to relinquish self-control. Thankfully, modern science and medical research have proven that addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease, which has helped to alleviate much of the stigma previously…
By general definition, relapse means to fall or slip back into a former state. Regarding addiction, relapse is a return to drug or alcohol use following a period of abstinence. For mental health, a relapse is the return of symptoms to the degree that functioning is impaired. Relapse is always within the bounds of possibility…