- Behavioral Health, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt all started with a phone call. Lisa Hillman got the call from a beloved teacher, warning her that her teenage son, Jacob, may be dabbling in drugs. “I will always remember that phone call,” says Lisa, the former longtime president of the AAMC Foundation. “I thought, he’s got to be wrong.” But he wasn’t wrong. That call would signal the start of a years-long battle with addiction for Jacob. “In addiction, the phone can be a nightmare,” Lisa says. With the help of therapists at AAMC’s Pathways, and later drug rehabilitation in Florida, the nightmare is over today. Now 28, Jacob is more than five years clean. “But who’s counting, right?” Lisa says. She’s written a book, Secret No More, which chronicles her son’s struggle with drug addiction and her family’s efforts to help him – and ultimately, themselves. “I wanted to write a story of hope,” she says. The secrecy of addiction Before addiction touched her family, Lisa, as a well-known hospital executive, lived an idyllic life. Her husband, Richard, is a former Annapolis mayor. They raised their daughter, Heidi, and Jacob in historic downtown Annapolis. But things changed during Jacob’s junior year of high school. First Lisa caught her son openly drinking in front of her. Then she got that phone call. Jacob graduated from high school and was accepted to the University of Maryland with honors, but his life took a sharp turn during a senior week trip to North Carolina. There, he was arrested for marijuana. A year later, he failed out of college due to his drug use, and returned home to work and attend Anne Arundel Community College. “He still didn’t seem right,” Lisa recalls. She soon learned he was continuing to use. Desperate to fix his problem, Lisa called a colleague at Pathways, AAMC’s addiction treatment center. She knew she would keep her call confidential. The Hillmans lived a public life in many ways, Lisa says, but they also valued their privacy. Lisa found herself balancing the demands of overseeing a multi-million dollar capital campaign at AAMC with discreetly trying to get her son the help he needed. “I think it’s a skill you learn,” she says. Pathways eventually sent Jacob to rehab in Florida, and that’s when Lisa learned something else. “I didn’t realize I was sick,” she says. Healing herself Through the help of a support group, Lisa learned the phrase that would become her mantra. “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it,” she says. With Jacob in Florida, Lisa focused on healing herself and letting her son go – detaching with love, she says. Back home in Annapolis, she took a call one night from her son, who confessed he’d had a minor relapse. She told him to take care of himself. “I was able to say that to Jacob because of the support group and learning to put the focus on him,” she says. It was a lesson she had to remember on New Year’s Eve in 2011, when she got a call from Jacob’s counselor in Florida. He told her Jacob needed detox immediately. The Hillmans agreed to pay for his treatment, but decided it would be the last time. And fortunately, something clicked within Jacob. “He wanted to be clean,” Lisa says. One day at a time Today, Jacob lives in Florida and works in recovery, managing a group of homes for recovering addicts. “For him, it’s almost a calling,” Lisa says. Writing her book, too, was a calling. She wants other families who are dealing with addiction to know that it’s OK to talk about it. Years later, Lisa reflects on the strangeness of trying to keep Jacob’s addiction a secret, even as she sat on the board of Pathways. Once she opened up to her bosses about her secret, they were supportive, a nod to the therapeutic environment in which she worked. She urges other parents dealing with an addicted child to find someone in whom they can confide. “It is a family problem,” Lisa says. “If the addict is to get better, it helps if the family gets better.” And you may not be able to fix the addict, but you can fix yourself. “One thing that addiction teaches you is to live life one day at a time,” she says. “Sometimes, it’s one hour at a time. Sometimes, it’s one minute at a time.” Pathways hosts Family Wellness Workshops for family members of adults and teens struggling with addiction, as well as those dealing with a combination of substance abuse and mental health problems. Call 410-573-5449 for upcoming dates, and register for a Family Wellness Workshop today. Originally published May 30, 2017. Last updated May 4, 2018.0
- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLots of things can affect your mood. The types of foods you eat are no exception. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is important to your general health, as well as your mental and emotional health. So can you eat your way to a better mood? Research suggests eating the following foods just might help: Strawberries This delicious berry is high in vitamin C, which has immune- and mood-boosting power. Research shows the antioxidants in these berries can decrease symptoms of depression. Oats Oats are an effective mood booster. Oats contain selenium which provides additional mood-boosting properties by regulating the function of the thyroid gland. Almonds and Walnuts These nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, proven to ward off depression. Research shows many nuts can decrease dopamine levels in the brain, leading to a calm, balanced feeling. A serving a day can help with focus, memory and alertness. Spinach This dark leafy green is filled with folic acid, magnesium and other antioxidants linked to good moods. Magnesium helps with the production of serotonin, which is a natural chemical in your body responsible for feelings of wellbeing and happiness. Greek Yogurt Greek yogurt is an excellent source of dairy, rich in protein and vitamin D. Eating protein can raise levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, two mood boosting neurotransmitters (or chemical messengers) in your brain. Greek yogurt also contains probiotics which can help with digestion. Dark Chocolate Dark chocolate can have positive effects on brain endorphins, which bring feelings of pleasure. Dark chocolate covered almonds, for instance, sound like a scrumptious, mood-boosting option! Asparagus This vegetable is a great source of tryptophan, which plays a role in the production of serotonin. Serotonin can affect things like your mood, digestion and sleep. Asparagus also contains a high level of folate, a natural vitamin proven to ward off depression. Research shows up to 50 percent of people who suffer from depression have low folate levels. Preparing a delicious and satisfying meal comes first—it’s an important step in getting the intended mood-boosting benefits. Try to incorporate a variety of foods you like along with some new ones that are known to boost your mood. Here is a quick and easy smoothie recipe to improve your mood in a tasty fashion. Ingredients: ½ cup oats 5 walnuts 1 banana ¼ cup blueberries 1 ½ cups skim milk (or nut milk, if you’re intolerant) Instructions: Add all ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy! Authors By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published March 6, 2017. Last updated Sept. 17, 2025.0
- Why Luminis HealthLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center offers Emergency Room (ER) areas that focus on substance abuse, psychiatric issues or a combination of both. Plus, we offer a dedicated pediatric ER that can help adolescents and teens in crisis.We'll find out what's going on and plan the best steps for you.TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageWhen you're going through a psychiatric or substance use crisis, you want and need help right away.We know mental and behavioral health care isn't always easy to find. Or if you find it, it's not available when you need it. Or it's not within easy reach.That's why at Luminis Health we make your mental health our priority. We have the mental and behavioral health care you need, when you need it and where you need it.0
- TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageLet's focus on your mental health.Mental health issues can cast a shadow on your life. Depression can cloud your days. Anxiety can come on suddenly and overwhelm you.We're here to help you navigate the storm. And bring back the sunshine. We help you emerge stronger than you were before.We know that depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges can also trigger substance use as an effort to self-medicate. We can give you the tools to manage your mental health in a healthy way. Every day.0
- Men's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogTwins Andrew and Anthony Henderson grew up on a farm in Upper Marlboro where being active and fit was just a part of daily life. But over time, age, busy lives, and injuries slowed them down. That’s when the weight gain began to creep up on them. They both struggled to keep the weight down, but nothing worked, and it eventually took a toll on their health. Last year, at 47 years old, Andrew decided it was time for a major change. He signed up for a free weight loss seminar at AAMC to learn about his options. Together with Dr. Alex Gandsas who leads AAMC’s Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program, Andrew determined that gastric sleeve surgery was right for him. Inspired by his brother’s success, Anthony has joined the weight loss program and is preparing for gastric surgery. “Since he had the surgery I was amazed, how he’s doing so good,” Anthony says, gesturing toward his brother. “I got jealous. Now, I want what he got.” Andrew laughs. “It’s true. When I walk in the door my family says ‘where’s the rest of you?” Before attending the weight loss seminar, Andrew weighed 407 pounds. He suffered from sleep apnea, diabetes, high cholesterol and gout. “It seemed like every time I went to the doctor, I was not responding to the medication and they gave me something else. I was on 13 medications total.” All that changed after his surgery. Within four months, Andrew had lost 73 pounds. The sleep apnea was gone, and he needed only two medications instead of 13. Anthony is looking forward to similar changes after his surgery. At 396 pounds, he suffers from high blood pressure and sleep apnea, and he’s taking five medications a day. Even so, the thought of surgery intimidated him and he considered not going through with it. That’s when Andrew encouraged him to go to the weight loss seminar. It gave him the information and resolve he needed. “This is a life changer,” Anthony said to his brother, “I’m glad you told me, go to that seminar. It eased me from being scared.” “The seminars are so important,” Andrew says, admitting to his own fears about surgery. “I was scared, I won’t lie. But I said, it doesn’t cost me anything to go to the seminar, so I went. It was very valuable, because things you don’t know about your own body you can learn there. You have three types of surgery that you could qualify for. You have the sleeve, then you have the lap band, and then you have the gastric bypass. He goes through each one and explains to you the purpose of it, the outcomes of it and who can qualify for it.” “You need the mindset to make the change and you need the support,” Andrew says. “And the program is lifechanging. I’m 73 pounds lighter and I got something to look forward to.” “We want to retire,” says Anthony. “We’ve got things we want to do.0
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