My name is David N., and I’ve been with The Blackberry Center for over four and a half years. I’m a Recovery Assistant (RA), and that means that I facilitate group therapy, help patients get to and from activities, and overall create an environment that’s conducive to recovery. I like to show recovering addicts that...Read More
If you’ve recently gotten clean, congratulations! You’ve taken a huge step toward a better life by getting sober. Things are probably starting to look up. So, why do 40-60% of recovering addicts and alcoholics who seek treatment relapse within the first year? In this article, we’ll cover the warning signs of relapse and ways to...Read More
If you are eligible for Medicare and you are one of the millions of people who are affected by mental health conditions in the United States, your recovery program at The Blackberry Center may not cost you a dime. Find your guide to coverage and recovery below. Mental Health Coverage To maintain your wellbeing, you...Read More
Staying sober for the holidays can be especially challenging, especially for people in early recovery. From office parties to family gatherings, alcohol—and often, drugs—seem to be everywhere. How can you navigate this festive-yet-stressful time of year without using? Like recovery itself, it’s simple, but not easy. But here’s the good news: millions of Americans in...Read More
Deciding you’re ready to seek treatment for a mental illness is difficult, but the difficulty of getting the help you need doesn’t stop there. You have many different kinds of mental health care providers to choose from, but how do you find the best mental health facilities for you? Well, “best” depends on what you...Read More
This is a personal account from Carissa Sawyer, a woman in recovery from heroin addiction. This story details her heroin addiction, her path to recovery, and the progress she made through medically assisted detox in a clinical setting. I was addicted to heroin for ten years. What started with taking prescription pain pills from my...Read More
Behavioral health services is a broad term that encompasses many different services provided by social workers, counselors, psychiatrists, and other mental health care professionals. Unfortunately, this is the kind of medical jargon that makes getting services seem unapproachable to some. What does behavioral health even mean? And when in your life should you think about...Read More
For years, nitrous oxide has been a safe and medically prescribed pain treatment. Some people abuse nitrous oxide as a recreational drug for its euphoric, relaxing, and dissociative effects. Known as whippits, this drug is a common ingredient in whipped cream dispensers. Because whippits are legal and so easy to obtain, they are especially popular...Read More
If you struggle with chronic pain and addiction, making the decision to receive treatment at a rehab center can feel like choosing between two types of suffering. Here is what you need to know about the Saint Cloud rehab centers that will help you manage both your physical health and your addiction. The Relationship Between...Read More
There are a lot of reasons to be nervous about inpatient depression treatment centers, but one of the most common concerns is the comfort of the facility. With a variety of outpatient treatment options, why not just stay at home and deal with your depression by attending meetings and therapy sessions? Well, as it turns...Read More
From the beginnings of addiction to dual diagnosis, Florida is home to countless people in need of help with their mental health and substance use disorders. Research has shown time and again that there is a strong relationship between addiction and mental health. As one issue worsens, so does the other. But why are mental...Read More
It might surprise you to learn that heroin was originally intended to be a safer alternative to morphine. Of course, not long after, the awful effects of heroin and heroin withdrawal came out. Heroin abuse is extremely dangerous and habit-forming. Worse yet, any time you shoot up or snort the drug, you risk a fatal...Read More
