Addiction

We know what lies ahead for you after treatment. Let Avalon By The Sea help you get there. We provide treatment to men and women at residential levels for both substance use disorders and mental health disorders. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call 1 (888) 958-7511 today.

Eating disorders are finally being given the attention they deserve in the media for both men and women. Once reserved for the deathly ill, eating disorder treatment has broadened its horizon. Most treatment centers offer treatment services for eating disorders as co-occurring disorders with substance use disorders or other mental health disorders. Binge eating disorder has become a nationally known eating disorder as research, celebrities, and treatment centers have come forward about its presence. Recently, Harvard University Medical School conducted what is being called the first national census of eating disorders. The survey found that binge eating disorder is the leading eating disorder compared to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

How many times a day do you check your phone or mobile device? More importantly, how many times do you check your phone at night? Many of us have developed a compulsive habit of picking up our phone, swiping through our apps, and picking the first one which seems interesting. We are constantly looking for an update, a photo, a news story, or something else to feed our brains and distract our attention. According to Forbes, “Americans check their cell phones or mobile devices over 9 billion times per day; 50% also check their phones in the middle of the night.” Are we addicted to our smart devices? Many researchers believe that is a true statement. Various parts of the interactive experience with our devices trigger the brain in a way which produces a reward, making it a pleasurable experience. For example, the blue light which hides behind our screens is meant to simulate natural daylight, telling our brains to be awake and alert. Multiple studies have found that looking at our devices late at night keeps us awake and interrupts our ability to get normal, deep REM sleep that we need. When we scroll through our news feeds late at night, numbing ourselves to sleep, the activity might seem mindless. On the contrary, we are stimulating our brains in the same way cocaine might. Some research has compared the way the brain lights up in the reward center just from scrolling through a newsfeed to the way it does after ingesting cocaine. Additionally, when we receive a notification of a like or comment on one of our posts, we get an extra boost of pleasure and reward. Unfortunately, that reward isn’t satisfying but instead leaves us hungry for more. Various research projects have evaluated the way social media interactions make us feel about ourselves in terms of body image, especially. More time spent online can be depressing and lower our sense of self-esteem, depending on what kind of media we consume. Treatment is a time where there is not a lot of interaction with mobile devices. If you feel that your distraction from digital devices is preventing you from seeking the treatment you need to help a substance use or mental health disorder, call Avalon today for a confidential assessment: 1 888-958-7511.

Of spiritual matters, humans have for a long time pondered until they’ve gone mad. Where do we come from? Where do we go when life ends? We have wealth of scientific evidence regarding the ‘miracle of life’ which explains how human beings are created and born. Though we have accounts from those who have temporarily died and come back, we are not yet evidenced in what happens when we pass. Spiritual disciplines and religious faiths have their respective ideals on the meaning of life, the meaning of being a human, and what happens when we die. For the most part, people are left to come up with these answers on their own. Spirituality Questioning such existential philosophy is not a way most people would choose to spend their time. Spirituality is not about finding answers but developing a faith regarding that answer. What does it mean to be alive and to be a human among other human beings? How do we make the most of our time here- or is that even necessary? Many who enter recovery find that they are far more spiritual than they had ever known. Recovery in itself is a very spiritual process. Some programs of recovery, like the traditional twelve steps, regard themselves as spiritual programs, helping people discover a power greater than themselves and a manner of moral living. Atheist or Agnostic Those who have found themselves to be atheist or agnostic are usually turned off by all of the spiritual talk. Spirituality is a luxury for people who cannot make any other sense of life, is typically their opinion. Spirituality is not a luxury but a necessity, especially for those in recovery. Drugs and alcohol are often coping mechanisms for those who struggle to make sense of how they are and what their role is in the world. Developing a spirituality helps make sense of those larger questions and create a way of life that doesn’t require drugs and alcohol to cope. Instead, they are able to find peace, acceptance, and serenity. Avalon By The Sea supports the use of the 12 step method and the development of a spiritual manner of living for recovery. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call 1 (888) 958-7511 for more information.

Having an addiction to porn means an unhealthy relationship has grown between an individual and the sexualized media they consume. Here are some other things to know about porn addiction: Porn Is Easily Accessible It doesn’t take a shady trip to a darkened store front purchasing items in black plastic bags to buy porn anymore. Porn is everywhere. Porn can be accessed from any connection to the internet on a laptop, computer, smartphone, tablet, or any other device. Porn is a multi billion dollar industry.  All it takes is an email address and an age verification to access porn. Like stumbling into a first drink or hit of drugs, porn can just happen to people out of curiosity. While Porn Addiction Isn’t A Diagnosis, Many Experience It As Real Recently, there has been controversy as to whether or not porn addiction is real. Clinical psychologists and the American Psychological Association has concluded that sex addiction and porn addiction are not clinical diagnoses. However, to the thousands of people who struggle with sexually related impulses, the addiction feels very real. The obsessive need to watch porn can take over someone’s life, causing problems in relationships, jobs, and more. Porn Addiction Is Non-Gendered Stereotypically, porn addiction is stigmatized to be a male-centric disorder. However, plenty of women suffer from porn addiction as well. Porn has a lengthy list of categories, appealing to many kinds of people. Porn Addicts Can’t Have Real Sex During Their Addiction The fantastical world of pornographic sex is unrealistic in many ways. Consuming an excess amount of porn makes it difficult for porn addicts to relate to real life human partners in real life human sex. Physical and emotional intimacy simply does not feel as pleasurable. Recovery From Porn Addiction Recovery from any kind of sex related addiction requires a complete overhaul on one’s relationship with sex. A loved one will have to deeply analyze what sexual activity has meant to them and what they want it to mean to them in the future. Their habits and behaviors have caused them to develop a certain sexual identity which they now realize they have the power to change. For some, recovery from porn addiction might require time spent abstinent in regards to sex. Recovery from any sex related addiction does not mandate sexual abstinence. It is entirely possible, and is often the goal, for someone with porn addiction to be able to have regular, healthy, intimate, sex again. Porn is often a coping mechanism for deeper underlying issues. Treatment and therapy can help with discovering what lies beneath the obsessive and impulsive need for porn and heal the addiction. Avalon By The Sea offers primary care treatment for process addictions including porn addiction. For a private consultation and more information on our residential treatment programs, call 1 888-958-7511.

We don’t want to make accusations when we are concerned a loved one might be struggling with alcohol abuse. If we push them the wrong way, it could strain our relationship, cause them to drink more, or start an argument. Confronting a loved one about their drinking, or the need to confront a loved one about their drinking, is usually a sign of a drinking problem. If you are not sure, look to these signs to be confident in knowing your loved one is struggling with an alcohol problem.

Sleeping pills are meant to induce deep sleep for an extended period of 6-10 hours. While for some sleeping pills are hardly noticeable, for others, the next day can feel as though they’ve been demolished by a wrecking ball. Even if you get a full 12 hours of sleep or more you might feel drowsy as a result of sleeping pills. Sleeping pill “hangovers” are feeling the effects of a sleeping pill well after a full night’s rest. Side effects can include:

In the last five years, overdose on opioid drugs has increased 33%, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Though the general increase is 33%, some states, like New Hampshire, have seen increases of 191%. Other high ranking states included Connecticut, Ohio, North Dakota, Massachusetts, and Maine. Opioid drugs include prescription painkillers, heroin, and synthetic opioids. Namely, drugs like Oxycontin, Heroin, and Fentanyl. 2016 saw some of the worst influx of opioid drug abuse with people overdosing on other synthetic opioids like Carfentanil, which is an animal tranquilizer. 2016 also saw a tragic number of opioid overdose deaths. NY Daily News reports that more than 52,000 people died from drug overdoses last year in America. Almost two-thirds of those people overdosed on prescription opioid painkillers or illegal opioid drugs like heroin. For the synthetic opioid drugs like Fentanyl, which saw a rise in popularity in 2016, the overdose death count rose 73%. That’s about 9,580 deaths due to synthetic opioids alone. Prescription opioid drugs had the highest overdose death rate, yet with the smallest increase overall. Popular opioid prescription painkillers like Oxycontin and Vicodin took the lives of 17,536 people. Though the increase is only 4%, the ongoing cost of opioid prescriptions continues to be detrimental. For emphasis, the website reports, compared to the 52,000 lives lost from opioid overdose, 37,757 died in car crashes and 36,252 died from gun related deaths. Combined, that is just over 20,000 people more than those who died from drug overdose-- less than either one category. The Rise Of Synthetic Opioids Most concerning is the steep increase of overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids. Synthetic opioids were created for chronic pain patients or traumatic surgery patients who did not tolerate regular morphine based opioids. In need of an opioid pain reliever, synthetics were made. However, many of the synthetic opioids released this year were never intended to release. Pharmaceutical companies found them to be dangerously strong and never proceeded to develop the substances. Foreign markets, primarily China, got hold of these chemical substances and started producing them. Synthetic drugs are cheaper and can act as fillers for other drugs- like actual heroin. Powerful, potent, and cheap, synthetics took over the market and took lives. Avalon By The Sea is committed to providing quality rehabilitation treatment to those suffering from opioid addiction. Though the challenge is daunting, recovery is possible. Our residential treatment programs focus on healing mind, body, and spirit, for total transformation for a better life. For a private consultation or more information on how we can help you or a loved one with opioid use disorder, call 1 888-958-7511.

Need some new hobbies this year to occupy your time and invigorate your self-care repertoire? According to recent research this a host of crafty and culinary hobbies that will help boost your creativity and your mental health. In a social media world where perfectionist Instagram and Pinterest photos fuel the Do-It-Yourself drive, crafting and baking, in addition to other hobbies, bring people a lot of joy. That healthy joy is improving their mental health, as the research reveals. 658 students were surveyed for the study and found that the next day after crafting or creating in some way students had more energy, felt happier, and had a greater sense of calm the next day. Of the crafts and hobbies, these are some of the other activities included by the researchers in the study:

Divorce is something that happens between parents, not a child. However, it is often the child who is most affected. Adult children of divorce live with a special kind of fear: anything can break the love between two people and most of the time you don’t see it coming. Not every divorce is obvious. Without the security of a blatant reason for a parent’s love to end, a child is left with a particular insecurity. What causes two people to stop loving each other? What causes someone to leave? Each step becomes when of fear when a child of divorce grows up and starts engaging in romantic partnerships. Every fight is terrifying. The fear of not knowing what could be wrong, what could cause them to leave, is paralyzing. Some children of divorce grow up to be codependent and needy while others become counter-dependent and avoidant to love.

Avalon By The Sea offers transitional care and planning for each resident. Our certified dual diagnosis treatment center is eligible to treat both mental health conditions and substance use disorder conditions as well. For a private consultation of more information call 1 888-958-7511.

The only thing you have to change is everything it is often said in recovery. Getting sober seems intimidating because many people assume they have to give up and change their whole lives. Ironically that mind state indicates the deeply enmeshed role drugs and alcohol plays in ones life. The power of habit is real and the substances we choose to abuse are but a symptom of deeper habits. Getting sober is primarily a process of changing ones habits from unhealthy and destructive to healthy and productive. Whether or not you give up your entire life is really a choice you have to make.