Substance abuse affects people of all ages from all walks of life — and while 10 percent of U.S. adults have drug use disorder at some point in their lives, 75 percent do not receive any form of treatment. Addiction is a brain disease, one that is closely linked to poor trauma and poor mental health. Although each individual is unique, many addicts begin using substances as a coping mechanism
“Enabling is helping a person in a way that feeds the dysfunction. Helping is being there for someone in a way that does not support the dysfunction.” — Dr. Noelle Nelson Addiction is a family disease. If you have a loved one that is suffering from addiction, you know this all too well. Whether a family member or friend is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, you know how challenging it
What is Neuroplasticity? The brain is one the most complex organs in the human body. It is composed of synapses, or small structures that neurons use to communicate with each another. Over time, some synapse connections can grow stronger, while others weaken as we get older. Because our brains are so adaptable, they change according to our circumstances and environments that we live in. Not only does the brain play
What Dangers Does Summer Bring for Those in Recovery? Summer brings its own challenges for those in substance abuse and addiction recovery. More people get together outdoors and have special events like weddings and birthdays. With these activities, there’s more temptation to enjoy a few drinks and enjoy the summertime sun. After all, no one expects every person in recovery to sit in the house all summer long. But it’s
What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. Producers make it in a lab and chemically modify it to be stronger than other opioids such as heroin or morphine. Doctors prescribe it to patients in severe pain, most commonly after serious surgeries. Although fentanyl is present in a number of legal prescriptions, it’s now increasingly associated with overdose deaths in recent years because of its potency and addictive properties. According
Many people recovering from addiction are unaware of their immune health. It can be a tough topic to address, especially when there are so many other things to work on. But your immune recovery is an essential part of your new life. Substance abuse over an extended period of time has harmful effects on a person, including how it affects them on a biological level. In many cases, our bodies
What is Aftercare? Aftercare programs are one of the most important parts of the recovery process. They include any type of care offered after the detox or residential treatment. Now that you’re sober, aftercare programs focus on how to keep it that way. They offer tools, strategies, resources, and support networks to make sure you don’t relapse. If someone doesn’t have an aftercare program in place after their treatment, there’s
What is Social Anxiety? Anxiety and fear are natural human reactions designed to keep us safe from perceived danger or threats. When we feel threatened or stressed, our bodies start to feel physical sensations of anxiety. This is a normal—and even healthy—response to perceived danger. But what happens when we experience these reactions without any real threat or danger involved? One of the most common forms of this anxiety not
Knowing how to set goals is a valuable skill in all areas of life. But it is especially important when you are recovering from substance abuse or addiction. The process of setting realistic and achievable goals will give you milestones to look forward to on your recovery journey. These milestones make an open-ended and sometimes intimidating process easier to break down. If you can wrap your head around step-by-step goals,
Spring is a time of renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings. With the changing weather, outdoor and leisure activities are more appealing than ever. But activities associated with leisure are often a sticky topic for those recovering from substance abuse and those newly committed to sobriety. For these folks—and maybe you’re one of them—leisurely activities might be tied to your first time engaging in drugs or alcohol. And as the addiction
Addiction and Adverse Childhood Experiences In today’s culture, stress has become an almost inevitable part of life. And children are no exception to having these experiences. But there is a difference between “normal” types of stress and what have become known as “Adverse Childhood Experiences,” or ACEs. One of the biggest amplifiers of ACEs, studies have shown, is a sense of chaos and randomness in a child or youth’s living
Recovery from addiction or substance abuse is not an easy journey to embark on. For many people, some type of fear often keeps them from even starting the process. For others, different fears may arise during recovery that make you want to quit your treatment program and just give up. If either of these sound like you, you might be afraid of more than one thing that’s blocking your path.
