Articles
Tough Love and Enabling During Addiction: Why They Don’t Work
People often display these two common behaviors when trying to help an addicted loved one. Here is a look at why tough love and enabling don’t always help when you’re dealing with someone who has a drug or alcohol addiction.
Fighting Fatigue While in Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
A large problem for alcoholics is that your liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at one time, so the excess alcohol is left to circulate throughout your body.
Group Therapy for Substance Abuse Treatment
When you enter substance abuse treatment, you will be participating in both individual and group therapy.
5 Ways to Help a Friend Recovering from Drug or Alcohol Addiction
Here are five ways to offer help to a friend who’s recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction.
The Sleep Effect: Combating Fatigue during Alcohol Addiction Treatment
One symptom of withdrawal that you may not expect is extreme fatigue, which can make the first few days of alcohol addiction treatment seem even more challenging.
Safety in Numbers: Group Therapy in Treating Substance Abuse
Your concerns will never be exactly the same as another person’s, but knowing you are not alone and that there are others in comparable positions who can offer understanding may bring you comforting relief.
6 Ways to Support a Friend in Drug Rehab
Your friend has taken a monumental step in seeking drug rehab, and they will need their friends more than ever. Your support means more than you could possibly imagine.
Leaving Addiction Treatment? Don’t Forget Your Aftercare Plan
Before you leave addiction treatment, you and your therapist will put together a plan that will help you to stay sober and minimize the risk of relapse.
Improving Your Communication Skills After Substance Abuse Treatment
By communicating well with others, you are going to greatly increase the longevity of your recovery. Communication skills are one of the most crucial tools needed to prevent relapse, as they will enable you to label your emotions rather than bottle them up.
Can Drug Abuse Cause Bipolar Disorder?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a 2007 study shows that the number of visits by adults to a doctor’s office that resulted in a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder has nearly doubled over the last decade. The study also describes an increase in diagnosis 40 times the previous number for children and adolescents.
Art Therapy: A Creative Way to Recover from Substance Abuse
Much like other methods of therapy, art therapy can help you to examine your feelings and behaviors. Unlike other methods of therapy, however, you will use techniques such as drawing, painting, and sculpting to gain insight into your substance abuse.
Does Alcohol Cause Depression?
Many people turn to alcohol as a way to “drown their sorrows” and make themselves feel better after a rough day at work or a stressful or traumatic event. People who experience the symptoms of depression may also turn to alcohol to self-medicate. But can alcohol actually cause depression?
How Art Therapy Works in Substance Abuse Treatment
Drawing self-portraits and painting elaborate scenes may not be what you expect when you enter substance abuse treatment. But if your substance abuse treatment center offers art therapy, that may be just what you need.
When a Friend Enters Drug Rehab: What to Say
When a friend enters drug rehab, it can be a difficult and uncomfortable process for both of you. But there are a number of different things you can say and do to let your friend know that you are there to support their successful recovery.
Substance Abuse Addiction: Can You Fake It?
A person can create a convincing case of drug or alcohol dependency with the following strategies.
How Being a Codependent Parent Can Hurt Your Addicted Child
The love that you have for your child is often unparalleled to any other form of love that you have ever experienced. However, when your love takes the form of codependent behavior, you are not only negatively impacting yourself, but your child as well.
Why You Should Break Away From Your Codependent Relationship
Not every relationship is going to be good for you, even those that you desperately want to make work. Sometimes, it is in the letting go that can help you get back on your feet and put you in a clear mindset.
How Do I Know If I Have Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder is an intense fear of group situations. In order to tell if you have Social Anxiety Disorder, you will want to look at certain reactions to different situations in groups and in public, as well as the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder.
Benefits of Group Therapy for Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Group therapy has been a core aspect of drug and alcohol addiction recovery for several decades, and it has proven to be very effective. Here are some reasons why you should consider participating in group therapy if you are in treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction.
Hitting Rock Bottom: What Does it Mean?
Most addicts need to hit their own personal rock bottom before they can ever begin the addiction recovery process. The key to understanding the concept of rock bottom is to be aware that it is a unique process for everyone.
Tuning in to TV Shows about Addiction
For a disease that is so ugly and so unforgiving, why would millions of viewers tune in to watch TV shows about addiction? When did it all change? Why did addiction become one of the highest rated topics for television programming?
Why You Shouldn’t Start a New Relationship During the First Year of Addiction Recovery
One of the rules you are given when you enter into addiction recovery is that you should not begin a new relationship until you have been sober for at least one year. There is a good reason this rule is in place and has been used by counselors and addiction treatment staff for years.
Opiates and Your Brain
Most people are aware of the damage that drug abuse can cause to your brain. The dangers that surround drug addiction have been well documented, and can be extremely deadly.
Substance Abuse Treatment through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
When you enter substance abuse treatment, you will be provided treatment using a variety of therapies. One of the therapies you are likely to encounter during substance abuse treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Setting Boundaries and Following Through
Setting healthy boundaries with a drug or alcohol addict is often easier said than done. However, if you don’t enforce the boundaries and rules that you’ve set, you may as well be talking to the wall.
Can I Reverse the Damage Drug or Alcohol Addiction Caused My Body?
Drug and alcohol addiction is a disease that can do some serious damage to your overall health. Some of the physical effects can be reversed after you are no longer abusing drugs or alcohol.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Depression Treatment
While Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed primarily for treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), it has also been found to be an effective treatment for depression.
Do Psychiatrists Provide Addiction Treatment?
When it comes to addiction treatment, it’s not just psychologists, therapists, and drug and alcohol counselors who work to help you in recovery. Psychiatrists, who are physicians that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders, are just as likely to be part of your addiction treatment.
Gaining Trust Back in Your Marriage Following Addiction Treatment
Even if you are taking the brave step of getting needed addiction treatment, you may be wondering if your spouse will ever trust you again. While it may be a rocky road, and you are bound to face setbacks along the way, there is always the chance to rebuild trust in your marriage – if you are willing to put in the effort.
Don’t Be an Enabler: 6 Signs to Watch Out For
Enabling can encourage your loved one’s addiction, and could seriously magnify the problem. Here are six signs to watch out for to determine if your behavior is less helpful and more enabling.
How to Find a Sponsor for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Recovery
A sponsor is a key component to successfully recovering from alcoholism or drug addiction through the 12-step program. A sponsor’s support is necessary for a successful recovery. But how do you choose this crucial mentor?
Are Electronics Allowed in Drug Rehab?
While different drug rehabs have different rules when it comes to bringing electronics, few facilities put a complete ban on them.
Does Addiction Stop My Emotional Growth?
Drug and alcohol addiction is a disease that has a big impact on all parts of your life. Naturally, drug and alcohol abuse can damage your health, but what does addiction do to your emotional development?
The 5 Stages of Drug & Alcohol Addiction
It is important that you become aware of the different stages of addiction so you can recognize if a drug or alcohol addiction is developing. Here are the five stages of drug and alcohol addiction that you should look for.
The Dangerous Cycle of Codependency and Substance Abuse
Codependency can lead to tragedy not just for the abuser, but for the person who loves them as well. We’ll take a look at codependency, how it and substance abuse often go hand in hand, and what can be done about it.
Breaking the Cycle of Codependency
Because the cycle of codependency often repeats itself, you can find it challenging to break the cycle without professional codependency treatment. However, even without codependency treatment, there are some things you can do to end your codependent behaviors and learn to put yourself and your needs first.
5 Types of Anxiety Disorders
Although anxiety might be unpleasant, it is normal to a certain degree. Anxiety can keep us sharp enough to rise to the occasion, whatever it may be. Here are the five major types of anxiety disorders.
Top 5 Household Items Abused by Teenagers
Using household items to get high is nothing new among teenagers, and can be just as deadly as abusing illegal substances. If you aren’t aware of which products may tempt your teen, here’s a list of the top five addictive household items.
How Alcohol Makes Your Depression Symptoms Worse
If you’re suffering from depression, think again before reaching for a drink. Even a small amount of alcohol can have negative effects.
