600 South Odessa Ave Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
Follow Us:

Tag: Treatment Options

Call for Bridgeton Veterans to Volunteer as Mentors for Substance Abuse Veterans

The brave men and women who fought valiantly for their country also came home with issues surrounding their mental health. According to a 2014 JAMA Psychiatry study, one in four active duty members show signs of having a mental health disorder. It is important for those who have served in the military to keep their mental health a priority when they return home as untreated mental health disorders can lead to devastating consequences.

Mental Health Disorders Veterans Experience

One mental health disorder those in the military experience is depression. This is an intense sadness that takes over their everyday life. They could be experiencing sadness from the tragedies they saw and experienced and see just how harsh the world can be. This is not the type of sadness that those in the military can just get over with time. JAMA 2014 study says that veterans experience depression five times more than civilians.

Another mental health disorder experienced by veterans is post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that comes from the shock of traumatic events like military combat, disasters, sexual assault, getting hurt or witnessing tragedy happen to others can lead to long-lasting effects. People with PTSD tend to experience irritability, trouble sleeping, nightmares, feeling jumpy, and abusing drugs or alcohol to self-medicate their pain. JAMA says that veterans PTSD 15 times higher than civilians.

Having a traumatic brain injury is another mental health issue that veterans deal with. This is normally as a result of being hit in the head or body really hard. You can experience drowsiness, headaches, and mood swings. Injuries like this should not be ignored or more permanent damage could occur towards the injury site that can affect your life.

Veterans also develop substance abuse issues while active and when they return home. Veterans deal with the stress and depression from being away from their families and in a war-torn area. They feel like the only way they can numb their feelings of anxiety or depression is by abusing drugs or alcohol. Coming back from the military can put stress on veterans as well when it comes to finding work, transitioning to civilian life, trying to forget about their time in service, physical and emotional pain they are going through, etc. The refusal to acknowledge their pain and seek treatment will make their substance abuse worse.

Consequences of Veterans Not Seeking Help

When veterans are struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse disorder, they could experience dire consequences like being homeless. Because they spend all of their money on drugs and alcohol, they are not able to pay rent as well as produce a steady income. Homelessness and poverty can cause veterans to steal. Not treating their mental health disorders can lead to getting out of control and becoming violent. With the right course of treatment, they will learn how to control their mood swings and their PTSD.

Another risk veterans face is dying by suicide. The Department of Veteran Affairs says that 20.6 in the military die by suicide with 16.8 as veterans and 3.8 as active duty. PTSD is associated with suicidal behaviors as they may be feeling guilt for behaviors used in combat as well as painful members of watching their service members die. Veterans are also more likely to take their lives in that they have had weapons training so they know how to use them.

Bridgeton Veterans Volunteer to Help Other Veterans

The Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office is asking for veterans to volunteer their time to be mentors for the county’s Veterans Division Program. This program is to help veterans who have substance abuse issues and have engaged themselves in criminal activities because of their PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, mental health issues, and other physical injuries that they experienced during their service. There will be a training session done by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs at Cumberland County College for veterans interested in being a mentor.

Mentors are to encourage and help their veteran mentees through the criminal justice system while helping with their treatment plans. The mentor is responsible for being a good listener to their mentee and trying to understand any of their concerns. No legal experience is required. Mentors are expected to call their mentee every week on the phone or see them in person. After two years when veterans complete the program, their criminal cases are dismissed and their arrest record is expunged. Mentors being able to relate to the psychological issues their mentees are struggling with can help them make a good team and be a good source of strength.

How to Help a Fellow Veteran

The most important thing that you can do to help a fellow veteran is by asking how they are doing and listen to them without being quick to interrupt them. Remind them the importance of not only taking care of their physical wounds but their mental wounds as well. That anyone can develop mental health symptoms and that it is not a sign of weakness. You should also let your mentee know that speaking to a counselor will not hurt their career or security clearance. Bridgeton veterans who are struggling with their mental health and substance abuse disorders will be able to seek help from other veterans who can relate to their pain and are willing to help them on their journey to recovery.

Located on the shore of Southern New Jersey, Enlightened Solutions is a recovery center that uses evidence-based therapies and holistic healing to treat addiction and mental illness. With the opportunity to learn about therapies that are keyed in to healing the human spirit and learning about new stress reducing techniques centered around a 12 step network, you will be ensure a lasting recovery. For more information, please call us at 833-801-LIVE as we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Alcohol and Cancer

Alcohol may seem like a harmless drink even if you only drink socially. The truth is that according to the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, alcohol is a known carcinogen. Going into treatment for alcoholism will show you taking control of your body and will lower your chances of developing cancer.

Even a modest drinker who has only had one drink a day still has a chance of increasing the risks of some cancers. There are many types of cancers that you can contract such as liver cancer. You could get cirrhosis which is the scarring and inflammation of the liver. Healthy tissue gets replaced by scar tissue which prevents the liver to function the right way. Alcohol can also affect estrogen levels by changing the way your body metabolizes them, leading to breast cancer. Very Well Health says that 75% of people with oral cancer are drinkers and the chances can go even higher if you smoke as well. Other cancers can include throat, esophageal, laryngeal, colon and rectal cancer.

Alcohol has the potential to give someone cancer because of ethanol and acetaldehyde. Ethanol is the main ingredient in alcohol and acetaldehyde is created once alcohol is digested in the body. Drinking can weaken the body’s ability to process and absorb important nutrients like Vitamin A, C, D, E, folate, and carotenoids. Folate is a vitamin that cells in the body needs to stay healthy. Heavy drinkers tend to have low levels of folate which can play a role in breast and colorectal cancer. The cells that are damaged by alcohol try to fix themselves which leads to changes in DNA that lead to cancer. Bacteria in the colon and rectum converts alcohol into large amounts of acetaldehyde. Alcohol can also lead to excessive weight gain as extra calories are being added to your diet increasing the risks of many different types of cancer that comes from obesity.

If you quit drinking alcohol right away, it will not lead to an immediate reduction in cancer risk. Eventually, the cancer risks will decline if you continue towards your path of sobriety but it could take years before the risk goes away. For example, The International Journal of Cancer says that people who stopped drinking still had high risks of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers than people who never drank even 16 years after they stopped. The chances, however, were still lower compared to when they started.

The type of alcoholic beverages are not going to matter in terms of contracting cancer. Ethanol is an ingredient found in all alcoholic beverages. The larger or stronger the drink, the more ethanol there will be and the more your risk of cancer will be. There will never be a way to completely prevent the risk of ever getting cancer but there are ways to prevent your chances of cancer as a result of alcohol. The obvious way to avoid alcohol-related cancer would be to not touch a drop of alcohol. Try to avoid going to bars or meeting friends who drink in front of you. Let them know that you simply are not interesting in drinking alcohol and would prefer a non-alcoholic beverage like water, soda, coffee, tea, or juice. If it is too late for that, limit the number of alcoholic beverages you consume. The American Cancer Society recommends that men only have no more than two drinks per day and women should have no more than one. An average beer is 12 oz, a bottle of wine is 5 oz, and a bottle of liquor is 1.5 oz. If you are a woman and are afraid of getting breast cancer, you should have no more than four drinks a week.

Another thing that you should avoid doing is binge drinking even if it is just for one night. One night has the power to change the rest of your life. If you are a woman, it means not having four drinks within a short period of time. Men should not have five or more drinks in a short period of time. You should also avoid mixing alcohol with tobacco products as that will increase your chances of cancers like oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus. Eating more foods with folate can help reduce cancer risks like leafy green vegetables, fruit, dried beans, and peas. If you have any questions or concerns about your alcohol intake, speak to your doctor to see if you can rule out cancer.

If you are currently in cancer treatment, you should avoid alcohol as even small amounts can irritate mouth sores caused by cancer treatments and can even make them worse. Alcohol can also conflict with certain cancer treatments which can cause serious side effects. Even if you decide to relapse after surviving cancer, it does not mean that you will never get cancer again as you can get a different kind. It is important to ask yourself whether drinking alcohol is more important than contracting a fatal disease. Think about the family and friends that you have who would hate to see you ill or die as a result of an addictive substance that you could have gone into treatment for. By not touching alcohol or going into treatment if you have, you are taking control of your body and will lead a long, healthy life.

Through years of experience working with art and music therapy, we know how powerfully beneficial they are in healing and relapse prevention. Call Enlightened Solutions today: (833) 801-LIVE.

Mental Health During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a very emotional time as you have a baby growing inside your body. But, not only do you have to look out for your physical health, you also need to think about your mental health as well. By knowing about what your mental health can be like when you are pregnant and how you can keep it in check, you will be in a good state by the time your baby is born.

How Pregnancy Affects Mental Health

Because you know how big the responsibility is to carry a baby in your body for nine months, this can be an emotional challenge for you. You may be feeling stressed in that this is a big change coming to you. While you may have read all the baby books and taken the classes, it still cannot prepare you for the hormonal and physical changes your body will go through. Unexpected things may happen to your baby even if you do everything that the doctor tells you. Especially if you had bad experiences in the past like a miscarriage or if your last baby dealt with health issues, this may put you on edge during your pregnancy with high anxiety that something will go wrong. Your anxiety can also grow higher if you google every complication that you may experience, making yourself even more on edge.

Mental Health Problems During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can often lead to anxiety and depression. The chances can increase if you have had problems with your mental health in the past and are not doing anything to treat it. It can also occur if you feel like you do not have support. Your spouse may be at work the whole time you need something, does not come to classes with you, or you live in an area where there is no family near you. It could be that while you are pregnant, you are having problems with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend which is making you even more stressed and emotional. You may have also dealt with past abuse before which can put you in a depression while pregnant.

Best Time to Get Help

Remember that there is nothing to be ashamed about in terms of having a mental illness. The important thing is that you take care of yourself for the sake of your baby and yourself. When you notice the signs that something is off about your mental health, do not be afraid to do something about it. By getting a proper diagnosis for what you have, you will feel relieved knowing there is a reason for your behavior and that it can be treated. This can mean if you have been constantly feel sad for longer than a couple of weeks. It can also mean that the negative thoughts and feelings that you are experiencing are affecting your everyday life. If you are losing interest in the things that you used to enjoy or you feel hopeless, that means that you have depression. If you do not do anything about your depression, this can impact you doing what the doctor tells you to do to take care of your baby. Being anxious or worried all the time is having anxiety which will also not leave you in a healthy state during your pregnancy. If you experiencing any of these issues as well as developing panic attacks or obsessive compulsive behaviors, feel free to let a mental health professional know.

What Pregnant Women Need to Be Aware Of

Depression is never the fault of the woman who is pregnant. No one asks to get depression just like no one asks to have a physical ailment. There are many factors that lead to someone getting depression. While developing depression may not be in your control, how you treat it always will be.

You should also know that you are not alone in developing mood disorders during your pregnancy. Because it is a common stereotype how emotional women can be, especially during pregnancy, this may prevent women from getting help. That it is not natural to see a woman not full of joy while pregnant. The point is that mental disorders are serious and always need to be paid attention to. It is also important to know that the sooner you get help, the sooner you and your baby will feel better. Getting early treatment will help you be able to better bond with your baby once he or she is born. Do not wait until your symptoms turn serious to realize you need urgent help.

How Your Mental Health Can Be Treated While Pregnant

One method of treatment is taking prescription medication. Always make sure that you talk to a doctor first to make sure it is safe to take while pregnant. If you were taking medication for your mental health before you were pregnant or you plan to be pregnant, still speak to a doctor to see if you should still continue. Another option is to use talk therapy to better manage your stress, depression, and anxiety while pregnant. By joining a support group, this will more than prove to you that you are not alone in your struggles. You can also do things at home like eating right, getting a good amount of sleep, yoga, and speaking to a friend. By taking care of your mental health, you will have a successful pregnancy.

Located on the shore of Southern New Jersey, Enlightened Solutions is a recovery center that uses evidence-based therapies and holistic healing to treat addiction and mental illness. With the opportunity to learn about therapies that are keyed in to healing the human spirit and learning about new stress reducing techniques centered around a 12 step network, you will be ensure a lasting recovery. For more information, please call us at 833-801-LIVE as we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • 1
  • 2

Contact Us

We are here to help. Contact us today and get the answers you need to start your journey to recovery!

  • Discuss treatment options

  • Get help for a loved one

  • Verify insurance coverage

  • Start the admissions process

Get In Touch

Fill out this form and we’ll respond to your message

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    You Have Any Questions?

    • Don't hesitate to contact us or visit our clinic.


    Copyright © 2023 Enlightened Solutions | All Rights Reserved