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Tag: Alcohol Addiction

Mental Health Struggles and Management Among Dentists

A Silent Epidemic: Mental Health Struggles in the Field of Dentistry In the healthcare profession, mental health issues, especially those concerning substance abuse, are rarely discussed. In fact, dentists and oral surgeons may often shy away from admitting to mental health concerns and seeking professional help for fear that careers may be at stake. Studies dating back to the 1980s note dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression among male and female dentists and oral surgeons. Dentistry and oral surgery are professional fields riddled with stress and the requirement for perfection. Research shows also that dentists and oral surgeons face higher rates of suicide than other executive and health industry professionals in the United States. Stress or burnout in the dental and oral

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Why Dentists and Oral Surgeons Are at High Risk for Substance Abuse

High Substance Abuse Among Dentists and Oral Surgeons Several factors contribute to dentists being at risk for substance abuse and addiction. With a high demand for perfect performance, the isolation of running a practice and business, and access to controlled substances, turning to substances as a form of relief may be tempting. Factors that contribute to substance abuse in the dental and oral surgery profession include:  Isolation Profession-related low self-esteem Access to controlled substances Depression due to work/life balance stressors Demands to be precise; perfectionism Burnout and overwhelm Because many dentists and oral surgeons run their own businesses, stressors they face are often unique to business owners. Dentists and oral surgeons often face the dual demands of practicing as a

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The Psychology of Addiction

Understanding the Stages of Addiction To understand the psychology behind addiction, it is important to start with the basic of the behavior. If you understand the root causes, an addiction may be easier to overcome, treat, or sympathize with the addict’s experience. Addiction is identified by an individual engaging in an activity or behavior that starts as pleasurable but cannot stop the behavior, even to the detriment of everyday living. This may include harm to family, work, hobbies, and other commitments. An addict may set aside their well-being and health or the well-being of their loved ones. In many cases, the cause of the addiction or addictive behavior is some aspect of emotional stress that is deep-rooted, often subconscious, and

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Substance Abuse & Addiction Among Health Care Professionals

New York Health Care Professionals and Substance Abuse Disorders Despite societal perceptions of healthcare professionals and preconceived ideologies, these professionals are just as susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse as in other professions. Society holds healthcare workers to a higher standard than the rest and holds them in high regard for their contribution to the community. Healthcare professionals are here to take care of us. Healthcare professionals know what to do and what not to do to be healthy. Healthcare professionals prevent us from hurting ourselves and sometimes others. We often assume that healthcare professionals will do everything possible to protect their health and well-being, but that is not always the case. Unfortunately, many contributing factors can be a catalyst

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The Importance of In-Person Addiction and Alcoholism Treatment During the COVID 19 Pandemic

There have been many mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased depression, anxiety and exacerbations of PTSD as a result of isolation, changes in lifestyle and fear. Along with increases in suicidality and domestic abuse, one of the most dangerous mental health effects of the pandemic has been increased substance abuse.1Along with all the dangerous effects of substance abuse there have been “an increasing number of reports from national state and local media,” including New York, of “an increase in opioid and other drug related mortality.”2 What is the Cause of Increased Substance Abuse During the Pandemic? The cause of increased substance abuse is many. More people are using illicit drugs and alcohol to cope with their symptoms

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Treatment Approaches Designed for Women with Addiction and Alcoholism

By Britt Gottlich, Psy.D. Through years of training and practice in the field of substance abuse, I have noticed some interesting gender differences. First, I have found that more men tend to seek substance abuse treatment than women. Second, I have noticed that often the core of what began the substance abuse problem is often different between men and women. Third, it has become evident that men and women do not always gain the same benefits from the same treatment approach. This month, my blog explores these interplaying factors and introduces addiction treatment approaches that may better fit the needs of female clients. Women May Be Less Likely to Seek Substance Abuse Treatment According to research, “Surveys in the early

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Group Therapy for Executives with Addiction

By Dr. Tracey Bassett In deciding what to write about this month, I drew from Dr. Glazer’s most recent post in which he said, “I now understand that my most important role as a physician and therapist for alcoholism and addiction is to help provide a safe space, a trusting, mutually respectful relationship where I can help guide a person through their own recovery process.” I could not agree more. One of the things that I think makes our practice so unique is that when we meet with a client for the first time, we conduct an assessment for what the client really needs. Which therapist will they work best with? Which modality of treatment will they respond the best

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The Lack of Evidence in “Evidence Based Treatment” for Alcoholism and Addiction

By Samuel Glazer, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Health Many “for profit” treatment programs, both inpatient and outpatient, tout “Evidence Based Treatment” (EBT) as their approach to treat alcoholism, addition, and other substance use disorders. This label can be misleading, and though EBT sounds effective and backed by research (thus justifying the high cost of their programs), many “evidence based treatments” are actually associated with very poor outcomes. As a skeptical addiction psychiatrist in Manhattan, I have observed and communicated to many of my patients and colleagues that though labeled “evidence based,” and considered the standard of care for addiction, many evidence based treatments have either very little or no evidence or extremely biased research showing efficacy.

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Meditation and Mindfulness for Alcoholism and Addiction

Meditation and Mindfulness for Alcoholism and Addiction Written by Olga Megwinoff, MD There is so much referring to meditation and mindfulness. Every mental health guru speaks of mindfulness and media outlets are saturated with everything meditation. It is definitely trendy and even in my own neighborhood, in the non-trendy suburbs, we started a meditation group. When something is so trendy, it can be easy to dismiss as a valuable and important tool in psychotherapy. Nonetheless, I am ever grateful that I pursued this method of treatment as it changed my views and opened the door to the great teachings and understanding of the mind from the eastern psychology perspective. In this, my first blog, I will try to explain in

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Addiction 

By Britt Gottlich, Psy.D. I often meet with people who say they are unsure of whether they have experienced trauma or not. So, what is trauma? Most people define trauma based on how trauma is portrayed in the media. But, in reality, it is a very subjective experience. Something that may be traumatic for one person may not be traumatic for another. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster.” The way I like to understand trauma is based on an individual’s interpretation of the event. As children, we live under the assumption that “good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people.”

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