#stigma reduction

Say NO to Loony-Bins: Immediate Action Required for Inpatient Psychiatric Care

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The current model of inpatient psychiatric care, which primarily focuses on safety and crisis stabilization, falls short in promoting sustained recovery. The prevalent emphasis on ultrashort lengths of stay often overlooks the need for comprehensive treatment plans.

A proposed model of care advocates for rapid diagnosis, goal-setting, and treatment modalities before initiating treatment, organized into three distinct phases: assessment, implementation, and resolution. This approach emphasizes individualized treatment and active patient involvement in treatment planning, addressing critical psychosocial aspects that are frequently neglected.

As we strive to reform the mental health care system, it's imperative to prioritize effective, recovery-oriented treatment strategies. This includes ensuring patient comfort and preferences are accommodated within reason. Considering patient preferences, like comfort items (such as safe stuffed animals; Share-Bears, if you will) and rescue medications (like melatonin,) is essential to upholding rigorous standards of care and safety.

Let's advocate for reforms that enhance patient-centered practices while adhering to established treatment guidelines and advancing recovery-oriented care.

Say no to “loony-bins;” those archaic relics that should be relegated to the distant past.

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💘 Q'u lach' shughu deshni da. 🏹 "What I say is true" in Dena'ina Qenaga

One of the most damaging myths about recovery is the idea that cravings mean something is going wrong.

They don’t.

Cravings are not proof of weakness, lack of commitment, or failure. They are evidence of how the brain learns, and how long that learning can last.

When a substance or behavior repeatedly produces relief, reward, or emotional regulation, the brain learns that association. Over time, this learning becomes automatic. The brain doesn’t wait for conscious permission. It responds to patterns, cues, and memories.

That’s not a moral issue. It’s a biological one.

Cravings Are Learned Responses, Not Decisions

The brain’s learning system is built to prioritize survival. When something reliably changes how we feel, reducing pain, stress, or emotional discomfort, the brain marks it as important.

Dopamine plays a key role here. It doesn’t just signal pleasure; it signals learning. Over time, the brain begins to respond to reminders of a substance or behavior before it happens. This is why cravings can appear suddenly, even when there’s no intention to act on them.

Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains that addiction involves long-lasting changes in brain circuits related to learning, memory, and motivation: https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/drugs-brain

Cravings are often the brain replaying a learned shortcut, not a conscious desire.

Why Cravings Can Show Up When Things Are Going Well

This part surprises a lot of people.

Cravings don’t only appear during a crisis. They often surface during:

stress

fatigue

emotional vulnerability

boredom

periods of change

or even moments of relief

That’s because the brain links certain internal states, not just substances, to learned outcomes.

The National Institutes of Health has documented how cues and emotional states can activate reward circuits automatically: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4553654/

So if cravings show up during recovery, it doesn’t mean recovery isn’t working. It means the brain is still unlearning old patterns.

Cravings Are Information, Not Instructions

One helpful shift is to stop treating cravings like commands.

A craving is a signal: “This pathway exists.” It is not a requirement to act.

The American Psychiatric Association notes that cravings can persist even when motivation to recover is strong: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction

Understanding this reduces panic. Panic often makes cravings louder. Curiosity makes them manageable.

Why Time and Repetition Matter

The brain changes through repetition. Just as addictive patterns were learned through repeated exposure, new patterns are learned through repeated non-use, new routines, and alternative responses.

Every time a craving passes without action, the brain receives new data. Over time, those signals weaken.

This process is gradual, not dramatic, and that’s normal.

Cravings Don’t Define Progress

Progress isn’t measured by the absence of cravings. It’s measured by what happens when cravings appear.

Do they pass faster? Do they feel less intense? Is there less panic attached to them?

Those changes matter.

Cravings don’t mean failure. They mean the brain is learning something new and unlearning something old.

I truly believe that inclusivity in healthcare is vital for a thriving society. Everyone deserves access to quality medical services, regardless of their background. The medical services industry is making strides towards this goal, and brands like FasTreat are leading the way in offering accessible solutions.

FasTreat is dedicated to providing ADHD assessment and treatment online, making it easier for individuals to receive the support they need from the comfort of their own homes. This approach not only saves time but also reduces the stigma often associated with seeking help.

What are your thoughts on the advancements in online healthcare services? Have you or someone you know benefited from online ADHD assessments or treatments? It's encouraging to see how technology is transforming the way we approach health and wellness!