Identifying Cues for Addiction, Understanding Relapse and Moving Towards Recovery
We can’t predict what’s going to happen throughout the day, and sometimes upsetting thoughts or situations can occur. We may receive bad news about something that meant a lot to us, we may suddenly feel agitated or depressed, or our thoughts and feelings may occur because of an unknown cues that came up in our […]
Why It’s Possible to Find Joy in Recovery from a Neurological Point of View
Joy is something many people find elusive every day. They suffer from behaviors that keep them from being able to find true happiness. Expectation can get in the way of reality when it comes to finding purpose and peace. The brain and neurology can play a role in how people perceive their circumstances or respond […]
Treating Addiction as a Symptom of Trauma
Substance abuse and addiction are still widely misunderstood, both culturally and by many medical providers. Because of this misunderstanding, we have created a legal process and healthcare system that often punish those with addictions, exacerbating their already poor circumstances. Many people who find their way into a courtroom or a hospital due to substance abuse […]
Common Issues Faced by Adult Children of Someone with an Addiction
Substance abuse affects everyone that loves someone with an addiction. It can be difficult, painful, and frustrating to watch a friend, sibling, or partner fall into the cycle of addiction, knowing that they must make the choice for themselves to seek treatment. For the children of people with addictions, however, the damaging effects of substance […]
Why Willpower is Not Enough to Conquer Addiction
Willpower is a bit of a farce when it comes to addiction. There is a cultural misconception that if an addict truly wanted to quit, they would. Failure to recover from addiction is often seen as a lack of willpower or a form of weakness. There is a great deal of research, however, proving that […]
5 Tips for Balancing Work and Addiction Recovery
Getting back to “normal” after completing a long-term inpatient addiction recovery program can be a challenge. Normal might mean something entirely different now that you have committed yourself to a sober lifestyle. You may have to find new friends, new hobbies, and even a new job. Whether you had the luxury of taking time off […]
Addiction Recovery and Child Custody
Child custody battles can be messy and complex, and with the addition of substance abuse issues in one parent or both, the legality of the situation can overshadow the needs of the children. Most parents with substance abuse disorder deeply love their children, and many fear that by seeking out treatment they will be giving […]
When Addicts Charm Their Way Through Treatment
Although addiction can happen to anyone, and there is no single personality type that accompanies addiction, there are certain traits and attributes that commonly occur alongside addiction. One personality profile that seems to show up often in treatment centers is the charming intellect. These are the people that charm the wits out of everyone they […]
Ending the Legacy of Addiction
Addiction runs in families, of this much we are certain. While almost everyone has at least one relative that has been touched by addiction, it seems that people who struggle with addiction themselves can usually name a few addicts in their family, and at least one immediate family member. Because people with substance use disorders […]
7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is one of the most important parts of addiction treatment. At least half of people with substance use disorders have a co-occurring mental health issue, and many believe the figure is closer to 80 percent. Issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders significantly increase […]
