If you have ever tried to address an alcohol abuse problem with a friend or family member, you might have felt resistance or defensiveness from your loved one. The idea that you can’t help people who won’t help themselves is not true. The right approach can encourage someone with an alcohol use disorder (an addiction…
All psychoactive substances, such as alcohol, marijuana, and opiates, have the potential to cause both physical and psychological addiction. But what is psychological dependence? Psychological dependence requires treatment but does not result in your body developing a physical dependency on your substance of choice. Both physical and psychological dependencies can cause withdrawal symptoms and require…
Completing rehab can be an amazing milestone to achieve, but it is not the end of addiction recovery. Maintaining sobriety is the next step in the process. Sobriety from drugs and alcohol requires daily maintenance after leaving a residential treatment center. Making sure that you’re well prepared to adjust back to life after rehab can…
Sober living houses are substance-free residences designed to support drug and alcohol abstinence. The stable environment they provide may be critical to your success during recovery. Some sober living houses are co-ed. However, today, awareness of the benefits of gender-specific residences is growing. Keep reading to learn the three main benefits of women’s sober living.…
Teens are under more stress than ever before. The sheer weight of this pressure has also led to an increase in substance use and mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder that occurs when a person has difficulty processing an emotionally disturbing…
Despite the common depiction of a drug overdose on TV and in movies, an overdose can happen to anyone using a drug, and at any time. Whether it is your first-time user or if you have already fallen into a substance use disorder, you are at risk. There are, however, steps you can take in…
It’s said that nearly 70% of Americans have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives. Trauma can touch anyone, regardless of background, financial status, or age. For those processing traumas alone, the result can often be an overwhelming sense of helplessness that is crippling and, if left untreated, dangerous. If you or someone…
Substance use disorder does not occur in isolation. Instead, in one way or another, it is connected to risk factors in other areas of your life. For many people, some of the most significant risk factors are family-related. However, your relatives and loved ones can also serve as crucial allies in your quest for recovery.…
Most people think of the effects of anxiety as divorced from their body’s physical health. But the truth is physical and mental health are inextricably connected. Changes to your physical health will affect your mental health, and changes to your mental health will affect your physical health. Everyone experiences anxiety occasionally, but extended bouts with…
Getting addiction treatment can feel challenging if you have already had treatment and still experienced a relapse. Trial and error are a part of a lot of people’s healing journeys. It’s good to keep an open mind to trying something new if you feel you’ve hit a wall. EMDR therapy may be an option that…