You can plan carefully for time away from work, keep your employer conversation private, and still face an unexpected disclosure at home. Imagine arranging treatment, then seeing an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) arrive addressed to your spouse: the person who holds your health insurance policy. That paperwork may reveal...
If you need rehab, fear of workplace consequences can make it hard to take the next step. You may be wondering whether your boss will find out, whether treatment could affect your job, or what to say on leave paperwork. In most cases, you do not have to tell your...
If your parent needs detox or addiction treatment, a Medicare Advantage card can make it seem as if coverage is settled. It isn’t. Plans can differ in which facilities they use, what needs approval, and what you may owe. Before you commit to a program, check the plan’s rules,...
You made it through detox. You expected to feel better, but weeks or months later, you may still feel anxious, irritable, foggy, or unable to enjoy things. If you’re worried your brain is permanently damaged, or that you’re bound to relapse, those feelings can be frightening. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome,...
If you drink to take the edge off Klonopin or Xanax, or take a benzo while drinking heavily, you may feel as if each substance balances the other. In reality, they can hide how much your body depends on both. Alcohol may make the benzo fog seem less noticeable,...
Maybe it was your dad’s third fall this year. Maybe your mom’s wine bottles keep appearing from a different store, or the pills in her prescription bottle don’t match the date. You notice, then wonder whether you’re overreacting, or how to bring it up without hurting her. Substance problems in...
