I Experimented With...Diffusing New Smells In My Room

I took this video of the diffuser in action — you can hear that it has a little white noise element that is the sound of the oil bubbling, but is overall very quiet.

The good people at Organic Aromas were generous enough to send me a diffuser to test, to see how changing a scent in my room might help me with my anxiety symptoms like migraines and nausea. They also offered to give Beautiful Voyager a diffuser as a giveaway, so you will get the chance to try out a diffuser like the one yourself!

The diffuser they sent me is called the Opulence - Nebulizing Diffuser. I like its simplicity, and the way the glass lid fits into the glass carafe stem.

Gayle of Organic Aromas also sent me a lavender essential oil to try in the diffuser. The essential oil seems high-quality and very potent (though what do I really know about essential oils? Not much).

I really liked that this diffuser doesn’t need water added to it. You just drop in 20 drops of the essential oil, plug it in, and let it run. The effect is immediate in your room.

In terms of how the new smell affects me — it depends on the day! I find that hormones greatly affect my sensitivity to smells. On days when I am super sensitive, I run the diffuser just a short time to bring a relaxing smell into the room. On days when I’m less sensitive, I let it run more. If you don’t like smells, a product like this won’t be for you, but if you’re like me, and you like experimenting with new smells to change your state of mind in a subtle way, you might want to give it a try!

NOTE: I just learned from Gayle that the bubbling sound in my video is due to a need for me to add more essential oil! It is a soothing little notification that the diffuser is out. She notes, “if there is a bubbling that means that there is probably not enough oil on the diffuser. When you see or hear bubbling, if you dont like or want it, you can just add a few more drops of oil and it will go away. Also, you should try to use your diffuser on the LOW volume setting if you can. The diffuser is more than powerful enough on the LOW to cover any bedroom or small office space in a matter of minutes. Once the aroma reaches the desired level you can choose to turn the diffuser off at that time.” Thank you Gayle!

I’ll be updating this post with news about the giveaway as it happens. More soon!

I Experimented With...A CBD Subscription Box!

CBD bath bomb. This is the second one I’ve tried. Perhaps you remember the first ?

As a long time migraine sufferer with frequent nausea and motion sickness, I am always on the search for new products to experiment with. I never know what will help, so I have to keep an open mind when trying new methods. Recently the good people of Hemp Crate Co offered to send me one of their CBD subscription boxes filled with products to try. I took them up on it just to see what I could learn!

Here are the products the box included:

Dr Norm’s CBD chocolate chip cookies. These reminded me a bit of my childhood in the ‘80s with their Snackwell-esque vibe.

You put this CBD oil under your tongue and hold for 60-90 seconds. Once you’ve done that, you’re allowed to swallow any remaining oil.

I also haven’t tried this either but there’s no CBD here.

Truthfully I haven’t tried this yet but am looking forward to brewing it up.

I tried these first. Interestingly, I don’t see them on the site anymore, but they were tasty.

It was a treat to be able to try a variety of products, and I liked that this site tries to help educate its consumers about CBD in general.

CBD: Is it for me?

The truth is: I don’t totally know. I’m still finding my way through the world of CBD products. I’m also on 15 mg of Lexapro every day, so it’s hard to know whether the impacts of CBD would be felt more if I weren’t on an SSRI. I can say that CBD certainly doesn’t seem to have adverse effects on me, and as long as I am lucky enough to get to explore new products, from reputable sources like this one, it feels worth the try.

Have you tried any CBD products that helped you with anxiety or migraines? Share what worked for you!

Is Migraine a Chronic Illness?

I’ve suffered from migraines for as long as I can remember. There were times I’d come home from elementary school, go straight to bed, sleep until 7pm, wake up for 30 minutes, eat some pudding and go back to bed. The next morning I would have a “leftover headache,” a general achey gross feeling that lingered until I got moving for the day.

I am 34 now. To say that my migraines have gotten worse since those early days would be an understatement. They are much worse and MUCH MUCH more frequent than when I was a child. I’ve been told countless times that I would grow out of them, or that it is just a stage in my life, or that I should eat more bananas, or maybe I should change my diet or go see (fill-in-the-blank).

I have NOT grown out of them and judging from my family history, there is a good chance I won’t. It’s OK. I’ve come to accept that, this is just part of who I am. This isn’t resignation but it is a sort of acceptance, radical acceptance as they say in the psychology world. It’s accepting something for what it is, moving forward and coping, because not accepting it tends to make it worse, I become angry and frustrated. It isn’t giving up on trying to learn more about them or hoping for a change, but it does mean being able to accept the migraine and MOVE ON with my day.

I’ve tried so many different things to try and get relief but I also get so much unsolicited advice, so I thought I would go over what I do do to fight my headaches.

Things I’ve Explored to Help with Migraines

1. Message therapy

2. Chiropractor

3. Acupucture

4. Physiotherapy

5. Excercise

6. Prophylatic Medication (I have had some success with Gabapentin)

7. Botox (not for my wrinkles!)

8. Nerve block

9. Medication for acute migraine attacks

10. Dietary Modification (I don’t eat gluten)

11. Hormone manipulation (birth control pills to regulate the hormone levels)

I’ve done all these things and yet I still suffer ALOT! Yesterday was my first headache free day for about a month and a half. I recently changed my medications around and it was NOT working well, so I have really suffered.

I’m not one to complain, although I’m sure my family is as tired of my headaches as I am and although I speak of acceptance, the anger, bitterness and frustration certainly mounts at times. Yesterday when I was headache free I had more patience, and energy for my kids then I normally do. It made me realize how much my headaches affect me. People are often amazed at how much pain I live in on a daily basis. I try not to let it affect me, I try and push through, or “sit in the pain”, as I’ve called it. Obviously there are days where I can’t push through, those days are the ones where the migraine kicks my ass! I HATE those days, because it’s yet another lost day!

I’m sitting right now, with yet another headache and a head cold, I feel gross, I feel exhausted, but I’m thankful. I’m thankful I had a day like yesterday, pain-free, light, clear, because I know I’ll get it again. The pain-free days are the days I hold onto when I’m dealing with a long stretch of migraines, they are the light at the end of tunnel.

Do I have a chronic illness? Yes. Do I like that? Obviously no! Does it define me? Hell no! Sometimes I wonder if it should though. Should I live my life in a way that allows me to accept my chronic migraines into my daily life? I don’t know, sometimes I think so, but what would that really accomplish? I have a career, I’m currently doing my Master’s of Nursing to become a Nurse Practitioner. My migraine friend is always with me, but it doesn’t stop me, it might slow me down somedays, but it doesn’t stop me.

I am having a hard time posting this blog to be honest. Not that I keep my headaches a secret but because as much as I say I’ve accepted it, writing about it makes it more real, makes it public. But whatever right? Maybe this will inspire someone else to push through!

So…..it is what it is! It’s part of me, it’s made me stronger.

Do you have migraines or another chronic illness? How has it affected you? Comment below!

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This essay was originally published in the Beautiful Voyager Medium publication.

What Chronic Illness is Like for a Nurse

Pamela Fellbaum, cozying up.

I don’t love talking about chronic illness, especially when I’m referring to myself. I balk at the notion I belong to that category. Over the years, however, I’ve come to accept that about myself.

I’m currently finishing up a two year full time Nurse Practitioner program. This has easily been the hardest two years of my life. I’ve appropriately taken on the word “PERSISTENCE” as my motto as I feel that although I have worked my way through the program it has taken more persistence then I ever thought possible.

For example: I suffered a significant concussion in the first two months of my program that limited my ability to read (try reading endless articles and writing scholarly papers feeling dizzy and nauseous and knowing medically that you were probably doing more damage by not resting your brain). This past January I was in a car accident where a pedestrian was struck and I was the first on scene. Luckily the young man was ok, but to say it wasn’t traumatic would be an understatement. Then on top of all of this is the chronic pain of my migraines. It’s hard to explain really, and probably even harder for someone to understand, but I pretty much function on a daily basis with some form of a headache, sometime mind numbing pain, other times just a general feeling of pressure! To make matters worse stress will frequently increase the pain and severity of my headaches! (and its been stressful!)

Mine is the orange truck…..I wasn’t hurt…but it was a crazy mess!!!

So…..yes, I’ve had some challenges, but I’m not writing this to ask for sympathy or a “good job”, I’m writing this because I’ve recently realized that there may be a purpose behind my struggles, behind my pain.

I’ve seen many patients that are dealing with chronic pain. I can see the mental pain when they realize this problem isn’t going away. As their practitioner, I don’t want to tell them that there is a cure, or that they may become pain free — perhaps it may happen for some, but it isn’t often the goal.

So I have sat back in my chair and listened as they tear up. They speak about the things they have given up and the stress that it causes their family. But as they speak, I have realized something — they are grieving, and THAT I could relate too.

When I label their pain as grief I can see the stress float away. There is a realization that it is ok to feel the way they feel, and that maybe, just maybe, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I wouldn’t have come to this conclusion without my personal struggles, and that being able to relate to my patients is a gift I’ve been given. Is my pain a curse on me? or a punishment for something I’ve done?? Well I’ve considered this, but in the end I reject those ideas and instead embrace the reality that my pain eases others, the empathy I possess gives others hope.

This gives my pain purpose, and this purpose gives ME hope which allows me to embrace it and move forward.

What about you? Do you experience chronic pain? How do you get through it?

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Pamela is a nurse practitioner in Canada. This essay originally appeared on the Beautiful Voyager Medium publication. Read Pamela’s essay What I've Learned By Chronicling Pain. Want to share your own story? Here’s how.

How I Faced My Travel Fears And Explored the World

Gilad at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

I wanted to interview travel writer Gilad because I love that he focuses helping nervous would-be travelers realize that travel is for everyone. Gilad has hypochondriasis, OCD and moderate anxiety, but as you’ll see, it hasn’t stopped him. - Meredith

1. When did you first start working on your site? What prompted it?

I started working on Anxious & Abroad a few months ago because I wanted to fill a gap in the online travel community. Before my first trip, I did extensive, admittedly ridiculous research to find out everything I needed to know about where I was going (which happened to be Southeast Asia).  

Gilad in Dalat, Vietnam

What turned out happening was that the questions I really had about travel had more to do with my concerns and fears about it than the actual destination I was going to. I wanted to know what I needed to pack, how to effectively plan a trip, what sorts of things I would need to be prepared for, as a guy who struggles with anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I needed to hear from someone in my position that they had done it, that they shared my same concerns, and that they didn’t die in a Cambodian prison. And instead, all I was finding were these picture-perfect instagram nomads who seemed to have nothing in common with how I felt. 

 So in the end, I saw my site as an opportunity to add to both the travel and mental health communities as a way to show people that the fears they have about travel are manageable and worth pushing past. Before my first trip, I never saw myself as the type of person who backpacks. I had a mental image of what a “backpacker” looks like, and I just didn’t fit that mold. But since then, I realized that it couldn’t be more false, and I wanted to show other people that they don’t have to subscribe to this notion of the carefree nomad -- that they can (and do) fit into the travel community exactly the way they are. 

Gilad in Saba, Vietnam

2. What has been the hardest thing about connecting with others on the topic of anxiety?

Honestly, my biggest obstacle has been myself -- my blind confidence that I’d be rejected for talking about it. Before talking about my anxiety, I was so concerned about being judged or looked down upon for what I considered my emotional shortcomings. But I was pleasantly surprised by how many people in my life not only welcomed the conversation, but had deeply related to it themselves. 

I think a lot more people struggle with mental health than we think. Our anxiety wants us to think that we’re the only ones in the world who deals with these things, but the reality is that everyone has something they’re going through, and we can frequently find a common ground by talking about it. We just need to be brave and share our stories.  

GIlad with travel buddies in Minca, Columbia.

I also think that we live in a really, really remarkable time when empathy and mental health awareness are in vogue and not nearly as taboo as they used to be. 

3. What have you learned about travel? How has it changed over time?

 If I’ve learned anything about travel, it’s that it’s not nearly as scary as we think it is. I used to be convinced that if I went abroad I’d: 

• Get lost

• Get kidnapped

• Get sick

• Get into trouble

• Get murdered

• Get sold into sex slavery by a drug cartel and go to prison for having drugs in my butt 

 And now, after 4 years of travel to over 20 countries (some of them solo), I’ve noticed that the things we worry about are often so blown up in our heads that the reality is so much simpler. I’ve been welcomed by locals, I’ve taken buses alone, I’ve tried sketchy foods and I’ve lived to tell the tale. The only real solution to things that are blown out of proportion is using experience to put them back in proportion. I really believe that.

Don’t be afraid to travel, you guys. In all honesty (and you can take it from me, a guy who catastrophizes everything under the sun) travel does not have to be intimidating, scary, or lonely. You can do it. I did it, and you can too.  

Looking out on Peru.

4. What do you wish other people knew about anxiety and travel?

I don’t know if other people share this same insecurity as me, but I genuinely thought that travel wasn't for me -- that somehow, because I didn’t fit that “backpacker” image that instagram was selling me, that I couldn’t backpack. I didn’t look like them so I didn’t think I’d think like them. Shared dorms, strangers, no cell service -- it all felt so impenetrable for a Type-A person.  

But once I started traveling, that feeling so quickly dissipated. Shared dorms were nicer and cleaner than expected; hostel strangers turned out to be super friendly; no cell service turned out to be a really freeing feeling. 

I want people to know that they are the type of person who travels. There is no one type of person who can do it and one who can’t. You just have to be open enough to push yourself past your comfortable boundaries.

Rainbow Mountain (ed note: I had never heard of this place, but now want to go).

5. If you could take a trip with one person, living or dead, who would it be?

Ooh...this is a good question...I’d think I’d have to say Steve Irwin. I’m a big nature buff...I leave big cities as soon as I can when I travel. Steve was my hero for most of my childhood, and it would be such a treat to hike, trek and dive with that guy. I feel like he’d just randomly pick stuff up and put it in my face, like “here, check out this fatally poisonous snake!” Hell...I’d even get some matching short shorts so we could be twins.

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If you have questions about travel and anxiety, ask them here! Gilad would be happy to answer and share travel tips, too.

The Small Habits That Helped My Social Anxiety

By Marc Kraft

Growing up, I was always on the shy side. I tended to let my actions speak louder than my words. Sometimes it was a good thing, although strong communication with others is important trait in our society today.

By the time I reached college, that shyness transformed into social anxiety. Even though I have a great network of friends and enjoy spending time with them, I would have intense panic attacks and get extremely nervous in certain situations.

This anxiety has sent me down the path of testing to options to reduce my anxiety and panic attacks. I’ve tried nearly everything under the sun to gain control of my mental state. While most approaches didn’t work for me, there are a handful of habits that have made a meaningful impact on my life.

Meditation

Meditation is now a critical part of my daily routine. It’s the first thing I do in the morning. Even before checking email or scrolling through Instagram. This helps me start the day with a clear mind.

Meditation is like going to the gym for your brain. While it may feel like a waste of time at first, it’s important for training your brain to improve concentration, focus, and have greater control of your thought patterns.

Supplements

This can be a controversial subject and it’s important to discuss any changes with a trained medical health professional. With that in mind, I’ve had great success taking ashwagandha and a multivitamin in the morning, and magnesium glycinate in the evening,   

While this combo may not work for everyone, I had positive results after taking these supplements within the first few weeks. It’s also important to note that supplements are not all created equal. Do your research on the products you purchase before opting to put them in your body.

Working Out

You’ve likely heard how beneficial exercise can be for your mental health. This approach is an easy one to skip because it takes some serious will-power to get your butt off the couch! But I’m telling you, it’s worth it!

Consistently going to the gym has done wonders for my mental health. My anxiety kicks in the most in the mornings which is when I try to get my exercising in (2-3 times per week).

Take a Bath

Taking a bath is an easy way to trigger instant relaxation. I use this a ritual when I’m feeling extra anxious or in prep for stressful events.

Add in some epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate) to take your bath-time to the next level. This is another great way to get your magnesium levels up if you aren’t getting enough magnesium in your diet and are not a big fan of supplements.   

Limit Caffeine

My body is sensitive to caffeine. If I have more than one cup of regular coffee in a day, it leads to some nasty anxiety symptoms. Since I love the act of drinking coffee, I often mix regular coffee with decaf so I can enjoy a few cups of coffee with lower caffeine content.  

In Closing

With these habits, I’ve been able to shift my anxiety to levels that I am comfortable with and the panic attacks are less frequent. Also, when they do occur they are less pronounced and pass faster.

I hope some of these tips work as well for you as they did for me. Remember it’s all about testing to see what works best for your body and your particular state.

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Marc Kraft is the creator of Mindful Searching, a site dedicated to providing accurate information around mental health and wellness. Marc has improved his brain health through self-experimentation over the last 9 years. Curiosity is his driving force.

What I've Learned By Chronicling Pain

Finding beauty while struggling with migraines.

I’ve written a few posts about my struggles with chronic pain — specifically chronic migraines. As I get older, the consequences of dealing with almost daily pain begin to become more and more obvious. For the first time in my life I’ve consciously made choices about my work life that take my migraines into consideration. In the past I’ve been determined not to let my pain impact my choices but it’s becoming too difficult to ignore that anymore. I found that if I don’t get a rest day every few days that my tolerance for my pain decreases. This has a negative impact on my mood and my ability to deal with stress. I found I was less patient with my kids and just felt like I was pushing through a day to get through it rather then living it.

I recently met with a new neurologist who put me on a new injectable medication — the first prophylactic medication made specifically for migraines.

Since starting this new medication and eliminating the hormone I’ve noticed a huge difference. I’ve found that I have days where I haven’t needed ANY break-through headache medication like Tylenol or a triptan. I think it has been YEARS since I’ve made it through a day without needing some kind of pain management.

This is obviously great news on my pain journey, but what I am going to say next might sound a bit backwards — so please hang in there as I write. It’s made me sad to see how happy, patient and energetic I’ve been. Certainly NOT because I am more happy, patient or energetic, but I’m sad because it has shown me the impact that my chronic pain has had on me and how therefore it has impacted my family. It makes me sad to think that I’ve wasted days just trying to “get through them” and not really trying to live in them.

As you’ve probably read in the past, my determination and resilience to ride through my pain is admirable, but I am starting to question what my life would have looked like without all that pain. This is obviously not a question worth asking as I can’t change the past and certainly never asked to suffer in pain almost daily.

I am however grateful I’ve been given the break in my pain for now. I try and live it day by day as my past has certainly shown me that my pain free days are much fewer than my painful days. There’s a small part of me that hopes for a pain free future but the realistic side is 100% aware that that is unlikely. I have found purpose in my pain in the past and will again. I will enjoy what I’ve been given for now.

If you liked what you read, please give me a clap or send me a note!

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Pamela is a nurse practitioner in Canada. This essay originally appeared on the Beautiful Voyager Medium publication. Want to share your own story? Here’s how.

The Link Between Chronic Pain and Depression

By Steven Booth, Founder and CEO, Elevation Behavioral Health

 In my role as the owner of a residential mental health program I have witnessed firsthand the debilitating effects of chronic pain-related depression in clients. Visibly hurting, both physically and psychologically, these individuals are desperate for relief from the suffering.

It isn’t hard to understand how suffering from chronic pain might lead to depression. Chronic pain, the persistent physical pain that lasts three months or longer, is exhausting to the brain and the body. Pain places a tremendous burden on one’s energy reserves, wearing the person down over time. Is it any wonder that one of the symptoms of chronic pain is depression?

Chronic pain and depression appear to be intrinsically linked through brain functioning. According to an article published in Neural Plasticity, “The Link Between Depression and Chronic Pain: Neural Mechanisms in the Brain,” the authors conclude that both depression and chronic pain share common brain regions that are involved in mood regulation. In addition, they conclude that there are, “overlaps in the pain and depression-induced neuroplasticity changes and neurobiological mechanism changes.”

Indeed, chronic pain and depression can set up a vicious cycle, with each condition worsening the symptoms of the other. The result can be debilitating pain-induced depression that severely impairs daily functioning. Unfortunately, many who relay their symptoms of physical pain and discomfort with their physician do not mention their depression symptoms. Doctors are beginning to be more proactive in asking pointed questions of their patients regarding potential coexisting depression. 

Treatment for a chronic pain patient with co-occurring depression should reflect both conditions. This will translate to the pain management program combined with psychiatric support, as well as other therapies or activities that will help alleviate suffering.

The Connection Between Chronic Pain and Depression

 Chronic pain refers to the physical pain that results from an injury, a degenerative condition, or a disease that persists for more than three months. It is estimated that nearly half the population is living with chronic pain. Living with pain on a daily basis is disheartening and can result in other symptoms such as sleep problems, fatigue, and physical weakness. Chronic pain can also lead to depression as its limitations to fully enjoying life begin to accrue.

Individuals struggling with both comorbid depression and pain may suffer major impairment in daily functioning, only deepening the depressive disorder. Disruptions in relationships and work performance due to the coexisting disorders can lead to serious consequences. In fact, among those with both chronic abdominal pain and depression there is a 2 to 3 times higher likelihood of suicide ideation or suicide attempts.  

Symptoms of Depression

While it may seem natural to focus primarily on the chronic pain and assume that any symptoms experienced are directly related to the pain, in many cases a co-occurring depressive disorder is the cause for many of the symptoms. By understanding what the symptoms of depression look like, individuals being treated for chronic pain are better prepared to identify them as attributable to depression and can then obtain necessary treatment for the depressive disorder. 

The DSM-5 has identified nine basic symptoms of major depressive disorder. While it must be taken into considerations that some medications cause depressive symptoms, as do some illnesses, it is helpful to consider the diagnostic criteria for depression. When five or more of these symptoms occur over a two-week period, it is pointing to a co-occurring depression diagnosis: 

1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report or observation made by others. 

2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities more of the day, nearly every day.

3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.

4. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.

5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day.

6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.

8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.

9. Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

Management of Co-Occurring Chronic Pain and Depression

Once a clinical diagnosis of depression is arrived at, it is essential for the individual to begin treatment for the depression in tandem with the pain management. Many doctors will refer the individual to a psychotherapist or a psychiatrist where the mental health disorder can be effectively managed.

To treat the depression, outpatient mental health services are usually the initial course of treatment. With the goal of improving overall quality of life, the prescribing doctor will likely include a combination strategy of psychotherapy and antidepressants. The most effective psychotherapy for depression patients is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where negative thought patterns are challenged and reframed into more productive, positive self-messaging. CBT teaches patients how to shift out of negative territory when triggering thoughts occur, employing the newly acquired coping skills. 

For those patients whose depression is spiraling, particularly those who have increasing thoughts about death or suicide, a residential depression program is appropriate. This higher level of care provides a more intensive approach to treating the depression within a safe, supportive, and healing environment. During the stay, patients focus on learning new helpful coping strategies and practice these skills. Psychotherapy is provided daily, with both individual and group therapy sessions. In addition to the conventional psychotherapies, holistic therapies are often integrated into a residential mental health program.

Holistic Therapies that Benefit Both Chronic Pain and Depression

There are multiple holistic or experiential activities that address the mind-body-spirit connection. Many of these are of eastern origin; some are even ancient. Other holistic methods have become popular in the past decade as a natural way to enhance the treatment effects of traditional therapy. Some holistic activities that help improve the symptoms of depression include:

●      Mindfulness. Our minds can take us to dark places if we let them. Mindfulness helps teach individuals how to focus on the present moment, to acknowledge the emotions, and offer a sense of control.

●      Regular exercise. Something as simple as a 20-minute daily walk can produce endorphins and increase serotonin levels, improving mood, sleep quality, and energy level.

●      Yoga. Yoga utilizes purposeful poses that can increase strength and flexibility while calming the mind.

●      Improve sleep. Sleep quality can greatly impact mood, one way or another. By committing to better pre-bedtime habits, such as no caffeine after mid-afternoon, avoiding heavy meals, and eliminating screen time one hour before bed, can improve mood, concentration, and cognitive functioning.

About the Author

My name is Steven Booth, the CEO and Founder of Elevation Behavioral Health in Agoura Hills, CA. I’ve earned my B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Economics. Before helping to co-found Elevation Behavioral Health I worked in both private and public accounting. Like many others, I have seen firsthand the destruction that addiction can inflict on family and friends. I have also witnessed the extraordinary changes that can be made when addicts receive the necessary treatment. My passion is providing outstanding mental health care through Elevation Behavioral Health.