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

When some healthcare professionals talk about people with substance or alcohol use disorder, process addictions, mood and co-occurring disorders, trauma and PTSD, or eating disorders, they often put someone in a group based simply on symptoms. But whole person, holistic care, like what Cottonwood Tucson provides, takes into consideration an individual’s complete self and full...Read More

While many people play video and online games for fun and camaraderie, others use these activities to deal with various issues they’re troubled with and don’t know how to handle. If they don’t receive proper treatment for these issues, they can develop a gaming addiction, which is a type of process addiction. Kathleen Parrish Explains...Read More

Few people who live together are around each other all the time. Most individuals have separate work, friends, errands, hobbies, and other activities from each other. These busy routines mean that all too often, we don’t fully know the behaviors of the people we live with unless we come face-to-face with them. Stress, Substance Misuse,...Read More

The best time to get treatment for substance use or mental health issues is right now. Yes, there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but life is even more challenging if you fear drugs or alcohol negatively impact your health, behaviors, and the people you love. Your Recovery Is...Read More

Recovering from trauma and substance abuse disorders often requires a person to see his or her life through a different lens—one that allows them to move forward without remaining in the grip of past experiences and behaviors. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing One type of therapy takes a literal approach to this notion of seeing...Read More

The roots of trauma run deep. On the surface, you may think you’re handling everything just fine, but if there’s unresolved or unaddressed trauma, it’s crucial to recognize how it affects your entire being—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. In addition, researchers acknowledge that substance abuse is often both a symptom of prior trauma and a...Read More

Collective Differences No matter how hard we try to make all aspects of life equal, there are clear differences between those who identify as male and those who identify as female–not just individual differences but collective ones, based on some biological factors but mostly on societal perceptions. These differences are notable in many areas, including...Read More

Food addiction is a genuine concern for many people, and like many process addictions, this compulsive condition is representative of more serious issues that need to be addressed. Highs and Cravings Individuals who struggle with food addiction often eat to excess and crave foods high in artificial sweeteners, fat, salt, sugar, or a combination of...Read More