Mind and Body - The Dynamic Duo

By: Anne Snider, RN, BSN

According to John Lennon, the six best doctors are sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise and diet.  And certainly, this is difficult to argue with.  However, life in general can present us with enough disruption that we can find ourselves out of sync and unable to maintain the healthy lifestyle we desire.  Coping in stressful times can be very challenging.  

Investigation, Not Accusation!

By: Jason Ulanet, MSCP

Mnemonic devices can be handy when there is something new to learn. They reorient us as we get overwhelmed by the difficult task of learning and applying new concepts. Anyone who’s had to learn to read music has probably used the Every-Good-Boy-Deserves-Fudge schema, which tells you which notes go on which lines of sheet music. Countless spelling errors have been avoided simply by repeating this familiar rhyme: “I before ‘e’, except after ‘c’”. Acronyms frequently are relied upon to remember sets of rules, concepts, or just long, clumsy names for laws (see: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act = HIPAA).

When I work with couples or families who are trying to learn how to improve their communication patterns, I use this rhyme as a mnemonic device: Investigation, Not Accusation!

Substance Abuse Among Teens

By: Doug Hall, RN, BSN, Nurse Director - Adolescent Unit

Not surprisingly, there are some adolescents that are at a higher risk for chemical dependency then others. These at-risk teens tend share several common characteristics. They are often children of substance abusers, adolescents with mental health issues, depressed or suicidal teens, or victims of physical, psychological or sexual abuse. Cultural or social norms can also influence teens to experiment and/or overuse drugs and alcohol.

Substance abuse treatment programs most commonly vary based on their length of stay.  Many inpatient programs are long term to help manage treatment and help with the detoxification process. Long term treatment programs typically provide group meetings, psychosocial support systems and drug free supervision with tests. Family support is absolutely key to the success of a patient that is struggling with a chemical dependency. Outpatient programs also feature groups, friend/family support and individual psychotherapy.