Resources

What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of FDA-approved medications, combined with counseling and behavioral support, to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). MAT is the evidence-based standard of care — not … Read more

How Does Suboxone Work? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Suboxone works by combining two medications — buprenorphine and naloxone — to eliminate opioid withdrawal symptoms, suppress cravings, and block the reinforcing effects of other opioids. Buprenorphine partially activates the brain’s opioid receptors to create … Read more

Does Suboxone Help with Alcohol Withdrawal? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 No. Suboxone is not approved or effective for alcohol withdrawal, and using it as a substitute during alcohol detox is dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal is driven by the brain’s GABA system — not opioid … Read more

Does Suboxone Get You High? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 The honest answer: it depends on who is taking it and why. For people with opioid use disorder (OUD) taking prescribed doses in MAT, Suboxone does not produce a meaningful high — they take … Read more

Anxiety Breathing Techniques: The 333 and 555 Method Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 The 333 method (name 3 things you see, 3 sounds you hear, 3 ways you can move) and the 555 method (inhale 5 seconds, hold 5 seconds, exhale 5 seconds) are … Read more

Anxiety and Hair Loss: Is Stress Making You Lose Hair? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Yes, chronic anxiety and acute stress can cause real, measurable hair shedding — most commonly a condition called telogen effluvium, where hair prematurely shifts from the growing phase into … Read more

Why You Feel Like a Burden (And Why Your Brain Is Wrong) Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 If you frequently feel like a burden to the people around you — that they would be better off without you, that you’re “too much,” that asking … Read more

What to Eat When Anxiety Is Upsetting Your Stomach Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 When anxiety is hitting your stomach, the foods that help most are bland, easily digestible, and low in stimulants — think bananas, plain rice, oatmeal, toast, ginger, eggs, lean protein, … Read more

How Long Do Antidepressants Take to Work? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Antidepressants typically take 2 to 6 weeks to produce initial effects, and 6 to 8 weeks to reach their full therapeutic benefit. If you have just started a medication and nothing has … Read more

Signs You Might Need Medication for Depression Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Not every depressive episode requires medication — but some do, and the signals are specific. The key signs that antidepressants may be warranted include symptoms lasting more than two weeks, an inability … Read more