How Does the Biochemistry of Addiction Impact Substance Abuse? The biochemistry of addiction has several parts that play a role in the way in which someone becomes addicted and how they recover and remain sober. Many aspects of a person’s life can create a positive or negative affect on the recovery process as a whole such as their family, physical …

It is very common for people who struggle with psychiatric or substance use disorders to have difficulty trusting themselves and others during the recovery process. First of all, this may be the result of situations in the past which involved unhealthy family systems and sexual abuse. Many people were raised in families where trust was broken or where it was not even …

Resilience is the set of characteristics one possesses to overcome difficult situations. A positive response versus a maladaptive one when faced with adversity. Resilience is something we are born with and develop over time as we interact with the world around us. Resiliency is something that can also be broken down. How resilient someone is depends on multiple factors including …

Did My Loved One Relapse? Recovering from addiction is not linear. There are ups and downs, and sometimes a step forward leads to two steps back. Relapse is, unfortunately, a common part of recovery. According to the American Medical Association Journal, about 50% of people relapse within a year of treatment. Nearly half of the people recovering from drug, alcohol, …

The Challenge of Honesty Whether people are being dishonest about whether they have been exercising, eating healthy, or taking their medications as prescribed, many are not honest with the professionals that they have put their trust in to provide health care. Disclosing drug or alcohol abuse is no different, and if anything, it adds an additional level of anxiety for patients. It’s understandable …

Loneliness is often viewed as a negative state of existence, although some alone time is needed to recharge. A Harvard study mentions “25% to 60% of older Americans suffer from loneliness. Another site reflected loneliness in younger audiences with “79% of Gen Z, aged 18 to 22 feeling lonely” and secondly, “71% of Millennials reported feeling lonely.” The link between …

Whether it is deciding to break open the gifted bourbon from a grateful client, sipping Aunt Sue’s holiday eggnog all evening on Christmas eve, or having more than a few cocktails at the never-ending string of holiday parties, we know that this season of comfort and joy may find us going a little heavier on the “comfort,” which can be …

Addiction and mental illness often go hand in hand. In fact, SAMHSA estimates that 8.9 million adults with substance use disorders also have a mental health disorder. Some of the most common co-occurring disorders include alcoholism and antisocial personality disorder, Marijuana addiction and schizophrenia, Cocaine addiction and anxiety disorders, Opioid addiction and PTSD, and Heroin addiction and depression. As Mental Health Awareness …

Breaking The Cycle of Intergenerational Addiction “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” You may have heard this phrase in reference to the traits you share with other members of your family. Maybe you have your grandfather’s nose, your mother’s laugh, or your uncle’s hard-working demeanor. Unfortunately, there are also unhealthy characteristics that can be passed from generation to …

Empathy sets a solid foundation for many of our relationships throughout life – whether with family, friends, or even colleagues. It also plays an essential role as you continue on the path to long-term recovery and sobriety. At its root, empathy is described as being able to understand and relate to the emotions of others. It bridges the gap between …