Addiction

Working to deconstruct the idea that addiction is some kind of moral failing is still an ongoing process. Therefore, it is important to discuss what factors do play a part in the development of addiction. Genetics can have a large role in the development of addiction. While any person can develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol, or behavioral addictions such as gambling or shopping, looking at one’s biological family can indicate one’s predisposition to developing a dangerous addiction. In fact, one’s genetics may play a much larger role in the development of addiction than one may realize. The American Psychological Association concluded that “at least half of a person’s susceptibility to drug addiction can be linked to genetic factors.” Internalizing the Genetic Component Addiction and substance use are dependent upon many factors. Two people drinking the same amount of alcohol can have wildly different reactions to its use. As a result, it is important not to gauge one’s own relationship with an addictive substance based on how others may be using it. While unfortunate, those with a parent who has suffered from addiction will be at an increased risk to develop a dependence of some kind themselves, making each use of an addictive substance much riskier. Addiction is something that is not only personally destructive but impacts entire families. This increased risk of developing an addiction can be extraordinarily dangerous to all involved. Internalizing the genetic component of addiction means understanding that an individual has an increased risk of developing an addiction and that they will have to prepare for the difficult and tense discussion about their own, or a family member’s use, with other family members and especially children. Find a Time to Talk Because of the major role that genetics play in the development of addiction, it is crucial that those who suffer from addiction are prepared to talk about their experience with family members. Not only is discussing one’s experience with addiction important to relationships, but it can also be critical information that is directly related to the safety of a family member. While this conversation may not be easy, it is necessary for the sake of the relationship and the well-being of others. Talking to a child about addiction is difficult, and it can be hard to determine exactly how much information a child may understand. However, children can be full of surprises. For parents who are struggling with an addictive substance, it is common that a child has already recognized that something is different about their living situation, even if an individual is trying to hide their use. Those who have gone through a recovery program and are successfully employing strategies to mitigate any persistent urges or guilt may also want to approach the conversation from the current standpoint, highlighting their progress before diving into the more difficult, painful memories of addiction. Regardless of how difficult some memories might be, this conversation is essential to prepare for and should be conducted with planning and allocated time for questions and discussion. Prevention by Education Anyone who has gone through the recovery process can attest to the intricate difficulties involved with navigating their transformation. However, the best way to combat addiction is to address it in a meaningful way before it develops. The genetics of addiction can make even infrequent use of a substance habit-forming. Therefore, it may be beneficial to acknowledge and address the complex difficulties and personal experiences of addiction at a younger age before a child is exposed to these substances on their own. Having a parent who has suffered from addiction may leave children at an increased risk of developing one themselves. These parents who have fought to overcome their addiction can also be a valuable resource of personal information that can be incredibly impactful. Part of the Whole Genetics play a large role in one’s susceptibility to addiction. However, it is not the only factor at play. One’s genetics, combined with their living environment, mental health concerns, social circles, relationships of any kind, all play a role in the development or prevention of addiction. Knowing one’s predisposition to addiction can be beneficial in creating a plan that consciously addresses the genetic risks while learning to identify problematic factors that may also influence one’s use of an addictive substance. Recovery is a personal journey, but it can affect the lives of entire families. Talking about the genetics of addiction is one way to open this dialogue and create an understanding of how families can not just address the topic of addiction together but move past it towards a healthy lifestyle. The genetic side of addiction is a complicated and important part of understanding the interconnected nature of addiction and addiction recovery. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and are ready to take the first step towards healing, Avalon Malibu can help you today. We offer various therapeutic approaches and encourage each individual to customize and personalize their experiences with us. Our trained, caring, supportive staff will help you find the therapies that are right for you and help you take healthy steps forward through recovery. Art therapy, music therapy, and many other experiential approaches are all part of our supportive atmosphere and are staffed with professionals that can help you tackle addiction and mental health issues in an effective, holistic manner. For more information on how we can help you, or to speak to a caring, trained staff member about your unique situation, call us today at (888) 958-7511.

In recovering from codependency, detaching with love is the central pillar to finding healing for yourself. The principle of detaching with love is not just limited to use by people who struggle with codependency; its message can be translated and used by anyone in recovery from unhealthy behaviors, addictions, or someone struggling to watch a loved one continually abuse drugs or relapse. At the core of detaching with love is allowing someone else to make their own mistakes but not at your expense any longer. Permitting yourself to detach opens up space for you to put your needs first and welcome self-preservation into your life.

Once you’ve begun treating your addiction, you may realize how many of your closest friends were just drinking buddies. It might feel like the people and places that once made up the fabric of your life are now unhealthy for you since you’ve entered your sobriety journey. In actuality, you now have the chance to begin building a supportive network of friendships and relationships that have your best interests in mind. Mindfully entering into your new relationships as a recently sober person will allow you to intentionally build authentic relationships.

In the world of recovery, hitting “rock bottom” has become somewhat of a right of passage to get someone struggling with addiction to seriously consider getting help. However, is hitting bottom, or reaching your lowest personal point in addiction, truly a necessary step to precede getting help? The fact is that addiction is easier to treat when treated earlier, so getting help before hurting yourself or others is a much better option before waiting to hit rock bottom.

We now recognize that cigarette smoking is not the harmless pastime that it was once touted to be. In the world of addiction recovery, it is even more important to keep a close eye on the use of nicotine and cigarette smoking. With cigarette smoking, a common companion to substance abuse, many entering into addiction recovery may think it is too overwhelming to give up smoking and drugs all at once. However, the benefits of putting down cigarettes while in addiction recovery should be a consideration.

If you or someone you love engages in self-injurious behavior, a mental illness could be the underlying cause. Finding the right help to stop self-harming and addressing any influential factors like mental illness or substance abuse is necessary since the individual lacks the impulse control to effectively stop themselves from continuing this behavior and hurting themselves.

With concerts, festivals, and other gatherings now being scheduled again, the challenge of navigating social events without drinking or using them once again arises. These situations often feel triggering, especially for individuals in early recovery. For some, this may be their first time attending social events sober if they recently entered recovery sometime in the past year during the pandemic. Mentally preparing yourself before attending one of these social events is the first step to being ready for the emotions that might come up. Before you get to the event, visualize yourself having a good time and being fun without needing alcohol or drugs. Take out any of the false beliefs in your mind that you will feel isolated or everyone will notice that you aren’t drinking. Choose your intention for the event, like catching up with old friends and enjoying their company or wanting to dance all night long. Once you’ve mentally prepared yourself to feel comfortable not drinking, follow some of the tips below at the event:

When it comes to recovery, it is a mistake to think that having strong enough willpower alone is the secret to overcoming a substance use disorder (SUD.) Finding the right comprehensive treatment for you is key to sustaining a long and happy sober life. Certainly, willpower is a piece of the puzzle, but there are other pieces one needs to persevere through the daily challenges of cravings, triggers, and temptations.

Being ambitious is a useful character trait to possess when it comes to achieving your goals or advancing in your career. However, even a good thing can get out of balance and wreak havoc in your life if kept unchecked. Knowing if your ambition acts as a motivating force or an end is an important factor in knowing how healthy your relationship with ambition is in your life. If you aren’t sure whether your ambitious nature has gotten a little out of control, then look for some of these subtle signs that ambition may be becoming toxic to you.

Over the past twenty years, no drug has seen a higher increase in overdose deaths like opioids. The opioid epidemic killed 49,860 people in the year 2019 alone, with its deadly grip affecting people of all backgrounds and demographics. With its effects so far-reaching and devastating, those suffering from opioid dependency need viable treatment options as part of the solution to ending the opioid crisis. One of the popular clinical treatment options available for those recovering from opioid abuse is the Vivitrol shot.

Learned helplessness usually has a role to play in most individuals’ dependency. Either learned helplessness was a causative force in the inception of their dependency, or they developed learned helplessness in the process of failing to quit and perpetuating it. Whichever way learned helplessness affects your dependency, the good news is that it can be unlearned given the right tools.

Addiction recovery is an ongoing process, and there is no definitive date or time where someone should expect themselves to be “cured” of the disease. New coping strategies continuously need to be learned and implemented to new stressors, urges, and other changes in one’s life. This difficult journey can be a lot to take in, and frustration can arise if an individual feels as if they are not making the progress they are “supposed” to. Because of the fluid and individualized nature of the process, recovery isn’t measured on a pass-fail metric. It is a complicated, continuous evaluation. This also means that the idea that recovery can be “failed” is a fallacy, and thinking of one’s life in binary outcomes can be detrimental to one’s prolonged sobriety.