Holiday Drinking and Panic Attacks: What You Need to Know with Clinical Director Tessa Sterling
If you have ever experienced a panic attack, you will probably agree that it feels like you are having a heart attack. My only panic attack occurred many years ago, when I was in active addiction. I remember it vividly: chest pains, difficulty breathing, numbness in my arms and hands, sweating, palpitations, and tightness over […]
Suicide Prevention Resources All Year Long
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we practice suicide prevention every day, and we joined the community during Suicide Prevention Month to come together to save lives. It means sharing awareness campaigns, offering training, and spreading education about the risks, warning signs, and protective factors that help keep people safe. We asked a few key staff […]
Whack-a-Mole-Recovery and the Behavioral Health Campus
I’ve never liked the carnival game Whack-a-Mole. Bashing heads with a cartoon hammer while an endless succession of new rodents appear. It is too stressful and unpredictable. However, I can relate to the use of the term whack-a-mole recovery. Years ago, I pounded down a substance use disorder (SUD) that had taken over my life, […]
Suicide Prevention – What It Means to Us
Suicide prevention and Suicide Prevention Month are public health responses to death by suicide. For the public, it involves awareness campaigns, training, and education about the risk factors, warning signs, and protective factors that help keep people safe. For anyone in the public who is interested in learning more about suicide prevention, we offer a […]
Why Veterans and First Responders Only Treatment? 4 Questions for Executive Director Matthew VanLiere
Matthew (Matt) VanLiere has a BA in Criminal Justice and 29 years of experience in law enforcement. Matt worked with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department in narcotics investigations (undercover work), bench warrant enforcement, general road patrol, and crisis negotiation. He was an honor guard member for his entire law enforcement career. During his years of […]
What are Summer Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for Addiction Treatment
Summer intensive outpatient programs at Sanford Behavioral Health provide individuals with the support they need, allowing them to maintain their daily responsibilities and routines. Our Outpatient Center offers individualized addiction recovery programs that work in “real life.” Summer is a good time for a mental health “tune-up” for college students, but virtual addiction treatment provides […]
Addiction Treatment – Social Model or Medical Model?
Treatment for substance use disorders (addiction or SUD) comes in many forms. The”best fit” may vary significantly depending on an individual’s background, history of use, medical comorbidities, support system, and other factors. Two specific models of addiction treatment are often discussed—the medical model of addiction treatment and the social model of addiction treatment. The […]
U.S.Households With an Addicted Parent Impact 19 Million Children
According to a new study based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19 million U.S. children live in a household with at least one parent with a substance use disorder (JAMA Pediatrics). This figure represents nearly one-quarter of all children in the United States. The study analyzed data from 62 […]
Announcing 24/7 Easy Admissions – Because Crises Do Not Happen 9 to 5
Mental health crises often happen at night for several reasons. Factors may include intoxication, nighttime anxiety or depression, secretive eating or purging, lack of daytime distractions, circadian rhythm disturbances, lack of empathy or argumentativeness from family members, or even the need to urinate (alcohol is a diuretic). Nocturnal anxiety makes everything seem more problematic. Likewise, […]
5 Detox Myths That Might Stop You From Getting Help
Detoxification is the safe removal of alcohol and drugs from the body and managing the resulting withdrawal symptoms. When detoxing, patients can expect a variety of uncomfortable mental and physical symptoms like nausea, anxiety, and body discomfort. Fear of a painful withdrawal or past negative experiences with withdrawal are the primary reasons individuals avoid seeking […]
