Client is a 27-year-old female admitted to Destination Hope residential program for substance use and mental health problems. During her pre-admission, client reported having suicidal ideations and partaking in risky behaviors such as, driving under the influence and using substances in front of her children. Client stated she has been married for 5 years but reports instability in their relationship due to her substance use and mental health. Client stated she has two children with her husband. Client reported drinking alcohol and abusing substances daily. Client stated negative consequences ..read more

Serotonin is an important chemical naturally produced in the body that aids nerve cells, digestion, breathing, brain function, and much more. Serotonin syndrome occurs when, by ingesting too many or the wrong combination of drugs, serotonin levels are too high for the body to handle. Mild occurrences of serotonin syndrome can dissipate on their own after a few days if the drug use is discontinued. More severe instances of serotonin syndrome can be lethal if left untreated. What Causes Serotonin Syndrome? This condition can appear after starting a new prescription or supplement or after upping ..read more

The client in this case study was a 23-year-old male presenting at the PHP, IOP, and OP level of care to address problems such as Paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Cannabis use disorder. Upon his arrival, the client was highly guarded, combative, reluctant, and ambivalent about any change. This was due to his mental health as he displayed symptoms of paranoia and delusions consistently, which would cause him to have outbursts and demand to leave treatment several times a day. The client has also suffered several concussions from playing soccer, at which point he began abusing mari ..read more

Binge-Eating Disorder (BED), a serious eating condition and one of many potential psychological causes of obesity, can be described as chronically overeating a large amount of food over a short period. The key difference between simply needing to change into sweatpants after Thanksgiving dinner and having full-blown BED is that this overeating happens regularly and is not done deliberately. People with BED don’t wake up in the morning, planning to consume thousands of calories within an hour or later that night. This compulsive behavior continues to impact their life adversely and is beyond t ..read more

International Overdose Awareness Day has been observed since it was founded in Australia in 2001. Overdose, both fatal and non-fatal, is one of the world’s worst and most baffling public health crises. It occurs when the body ingests more of a drug, including alcohol, than it can process, leading to an overload of its systems. If left untreated, it can lead to death. It is important to understand that any drug can cause an overdose, even over-the-counter medicine or drugs prescribed by your doctor. An overdose can also occur by taking the appropriate dose of a drug but mixing it with another ..read more

This is the case study of an 18-year-old transgender male client living in South Florida who entered into his first residential stay in treatment immediately upon discharge from a local hospital where he’d admitted himself voluntarily four days prior due to significantly increased depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation over the previous month. Client presented as highly anxious and overwhelmed with the state of his escalating mental health problems upon arrival at DH. From an outside perspective, this client was a gifted high school senior experiencing an increased struggle to function acr ..read more

Insomnia is a symptom rather than a disease or a stand-alone diagnosis, affecting up to 50 percent of the population. The Sleep Management Institute points out that women are affected by insomnia more often than men, partly due to the often-excessive responsibilities of home, family, and work. Counting sheep to no avail is a serious problem in the U.S., which is why at least 8.6 million Americans take prescription sleeping pills regularly, according to a recent National Center for Health Statistics study. The study found that more women rely on sleep aids than men, with ..read more

Tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to pursue the career you have today I have always been interested in psychology and helping others from a very young age.  I began my career in inpatient hospital settings where I had the opportunity to work in various roles and grow into leadership positions. I learned the importance of teamwork, communication, and working collaboratively to ensure safety for our clients and families.  I also love teaching and mentoring the students and individuals working toward licensure. What do you wish more people knew about Destinat ..read more

A co-occurring illness, also known as a dual diagnosis, is when someone has a substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental illness. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, close to 50 percent of people with a mental illness or SUD will have a co-occurring disorder at some point. Dual diagnoses are common, but that does not mean one causes the other. Most mental illnesses have to do with abnormal brain chemistry. A lot is happening in the brain, and a small deviation in one or two neurons or neurotransmitters can change brain functioning. Adding drug abuse to the mix, which also alt ..read more

What brought you to the field of addiction and mental health treatment? When I was in high school, I enrolled in a psychology class as an elective and ended up being fascinated with everything I learned. As I furthered my college education, I became more interested in working with children; I then began my internship at a site that offered treatment for women and children, where I quickly realized the need to work with adults recovering from addiction and mental health. I initially chose that site as my first option due to the children however, I ended up thoroughly enjoying my work with ..read more