In both cases, following common sense harm reduction strategies can potentially reduce these side-effects.
With mental illness, behavioral change is a menace, with drugs it is expected, and with the right techniques it can be a method to improve quality of life.
This method is centered around the concept of using rewards and punishments in order to condition the patient out of the behavior.
This type of therapy focuses in on challenging and changing maladaptive behaviors by utilizing emotional self-regulation, while also developing beneficial coping mechanisms.
As a related note, various illicit drugs can also impact behavior change, without the benefit of having a medical professional to monitor the user.
Drugs such as cannabis, opiates, stimulants, hallucinogens and barbiturates can have a very serious impact on one's behavior, with both acute and chronic usage leading to change.
[7] Despite a prolonged alteration in the way that one behaves, normalcy does usually return to an individual without any type of medical intervention.
[8] Such preventative care can include exercise, a good social support group, and a nutritious diet.