Understanding Relapse: What it is and How to Prevent it
A common fear in those going through recovery (as well as those outside of their initial recovery, their friends and their family members) is the potential of a relapse happening. After someone has had themselves as well as their lifestyle closely monitored for so long, independent sobriety can feel daunting. Relapse, however, does not happen by chance; it’s not random, and it’s not something you have to fear. We know it can be tempting to think if they relapse, all hope is lost or that it’s a sign they failed, but it’s not. Failure only occurs when you give up. [...]
Dual-Diagnosis: PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
Facing a mental health disorder is a struggle. Dealing with two conditions at once can be an even tougher battle. If you think you or a loved one might be facing a dual diagnosis of PTSD and a substance use disorder, here’s what you want to know. What is PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that occurs when an individual has trouble processing and coping with a terrifying event. PTSD can develop in response to a single or repeated instance. Some event that may provoke PTSD are sexual assault, violence, experience in combat, living through [...]
The Connection Between PTSD and Addiction
Research has long demonstrated an undeniably strong correlation between trauma and substance abuse. In recent decades, the connection between trauma-related disorders and addiction has become even more prevalent. When someone has witnessed or personally suffered from a traumatic event, they may experience a barrage of unwanted thoughts and feelings. Thus leading them to turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to manage the pain of their trauma. Rather than genuinely help them process and recover from the trauma, however, their substance use often spirals into abuse and then addiction, causing further and greater pain. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is [...]
Maintaining Recovery in the Summer without Compromising Fun
The summer brings a wave of fresh opportunities and pleasant emotions. The warm weather, the collective excitement and the train of relaxing or active social events makes this time of year something to look forward to. While this season is full of potential, for someone in recovery it can also be laden with triggers to fall back into substance use. If you’re trying to steer clear of drugs and alcohol this summer and need some tips to get you through, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we’ll share the top triggers to relapse during the summer, plus [...]
Breaking Down the Addiction Assessment Process
If you’ve never gone through a rehabilitation program before, you might have a lot of questions about the process, and might even be a little nervous about not knowing what to expect. In the beginning, you’ll likely be told that the first step of your enrollment is to undergo an assessment. In other words, before you’re formally enrolled into a drug or alcohol addiction rehabilitation program, you’re first going to go through an in-depth intake process. This initial phase is where the staff evaluates you, your unique needs, as well as your short- and long-term goals in order to help [...]
What You Need to Know About MDMA Before You Develop an Addiction
On the surface, drug use might be alluring. The sensations of euphoria, having high-energy and having empathy for others are definitely attractive feelings. When those feelings are induced by MDMA, though, there are dangerous and potentially lethal repercussions. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to MDMA, you’ve likely wondered about the symptoms of addiction. In this article we’ll share the scoop on both the short and long-term MDMA health effects and how you can heal from them and get sober for good. What is MDMA? Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy or molly, is a [...]
Can I Help My Loved One Find Treatment?
For anyone combating a mental illness or substance use addiction, it can be challenging for their friends and family to sit by and watch. As a loved one, you’re likely to feel a strong desire to help them help themselves—but how can you do this in a way that isn’t forceful, yet still encouraging? No matter who you are, change is something that must come from within in order for that change to last. For this reason, anyone with a mental health illness or addiction must first have the desire to change their lifestyle. Does that mean you, as the [...]
Five Steps to Preventing Teen Alcohol Addiction
It’s not abnormal for teens to be private about their interests, their friends and their hobbies. Sometimes, though, this secrecy is hiding something more serious— alcohol addiction. If you’re worried that a young person in your life may be at risk for substance dependence, there are ways you can intervene. Here are five steps for preventing teen alcohol addiction. Understanding alcohol addiction It can be unsettling to know that your child or a young person you care about has started drinking under the legal age limit. While drinking under the age of 21 is illegal and should be discouraged, it’s [...]
Is Drug Addiction Preventable? Yes, and Here’s How
Solving problems would be much easier if we all had access to time machines. While that technology isn’t available to us, we do have the power of prevention at our disposal, which can reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes in the future. Just like preventative health care can help you identify potential issues and diseases in the future, improve your quality of life and increase your life expectancy, working to prevent drug addiction can have an incalculable impact on a young person’s entire life. Is drug addiction preventable? Addictions are difficult to stop in their tracks. Changed brain reward circuitry, [...]
How Not to Be an Enabler of Addiction
If you’ve had a loved one that struggles with addiction, every part of your being yearns to help in whatever way possible. It’s terrible to see a friend or family member suffer, but sometimes our efforts to help can actually be harmful. In this article we’ll share an enabling addiction definition, examples of enabling and how not to be an enabler of addiction. Enabling addiction definition According to the American Psychological Association, enabling is when a person contributes or reinforces another’s maladaptive behavior. Anyone can be an enabler, but the ones who have the most influence are usually friends, partners [...]
The Undeniable Benefits You’ll Experience When Getting Sober for Good
There are a million reasons to get sober, whether you quit drugs and alcohol to boost your mental health or for some other purpose, your brain and your emotions are bound to benefit. In this article we’ll explore the connection between mental health and substance use recovery, and detail some reasons you’ll want to pursue sobriety. How are mental health and sobriety connected? There is a strong link between mental illness and substance use disorders. In fact, according to the journal Social Work in Public Health, around half of those who struggle with addiction have co-occurring mental health disorders and [...]
Understanding Triggers Behind Substance Use Setbacks
Triggers are stimuli - a sound, sight, place, person, date, or even a smell - that remind us of memories of a traumatic event or period in our lives. Triggers are deeply personal for this reason, and what triggers one person will probably have no effect on someone else. Triggers are most often discussed in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder, but individuals struggling with substance addiction can certainly attest to the existence of substance use triggers and addiction triggers. If you are new to your recovery, familiarize yourself with common substance use and addiction triggers and learn how [...]
