Depression & Its Impact According to the 2019 Arizona State Health Assessment, more than 20 percent of the state’s residents between the ages of 18–25 reported having a mental illness, but only about half of them received treatment. Of all adults over 26 in the state, 17 percent have mental illness issues, and only 12...Read More

It’s hard to admit this out loud, but rarely do we master something new on the very first try. While this fact of life is totally acceptable when learning to ride a bike or baking sourdough bread, it’s rarely permitted in the world of recovery. “You went to rehab! You should be ‘fixed’!” How can...Read More

Here’s something interesting: research shows that toddlers will help someone in need simply out of an authentic concern for them. Naturally, this gives us all the immediate “feels” because of their wondrous innocence. What do you think life would be like if adults followed this same basic principle? Cooperation: The Foundation of Altruism If we...Read More

There are moments in life when you simply have to write out a pros and cons list when making a major decision. If you’re at a crossroads about how to improve wellness management but have never tried residential treatment for mental health issues, we’ll provide some facts to help your thought process. Peel Back the...Read More

According to the National Council for Behavioral Health (NCBH), approximately 30 percent of U.S. reserve and active military personnel—roughly 730,000 women and men—returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have mental health conditions requiring treatment, including PTSD and depression. However, less than 50 percent receive the care they need. Why? The Hidden Culture Within American military ranks...Read More

Treatment for substance addiction, co-occurring disorders, process addictions, and mood conditions might not be effective without taking into account an individual’s full life and experiences. One aspect often overlooked in cookie-cutter approaches is the impact of trauma. Many therapeutic approaches can effectively address trauma, including a relatively new application: brainspotting. How Trauma Affects the Brain...Read More

Eating disorders are complex and frightening for many people. It’s imperative for a person with an eating disorder to receive comprehensive, individualized treatment to regain whole health. Here’s what to expect. What Are Eating Disorders? The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides this definition for eating disorders: “serious medical illnesses marked by severe disturbances...Read More

Numerous therapeutic approaches are used to treat co-occurring substance abuse and mental health diagnoses. At Cottonwood Tucson, in Arizona, we aim to educate our guests about the various options available to support their recovery. One such option is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR was developed to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and...Read More

Effective treatment for mental health conditions requires a deep understanding of individuals and their experiences. For Aaron Wilson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Cottonwood Tucson, that understanding, above all else, must begin with a quest for diagnostic clarity. An inaccurate diagnosis can result in a cascade of issues to follow, such as treatment resistance that...Read More

It’s challenging to have a mood or mental health disorder, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or depression. But certain individuals also have further difficulties opening up about their illnesses to families or within their social circles because of stigmas. This is what many members of the BIPOC community—Black, indigenous, and people of...Read More