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Diazepam, otherwise known as Valium, is a benzodiazepine – a drug that sedates and depresses the central nervous system. It’s available by prescription and can help with a variety of health issues such as with spasms of the muscle, seizures, severe panic attacks and more. As with any prescription medication, however, Valium can be easily abused if a person comes to abuse the drug and begins craving the effects of the medication. Whether you’re currently in recovery from addiction or you have a loved one who has struggled with Valium addiction, sometimes it can help to learn a little more about Valium and what is to be expected with it. Unfortunately, Valium is often abused by people who are trying to stay awake to complete tasks – such as college students who want to have more energy for schoolwork. People find that when they take Valium, they may experience less headaches, less anxiety and less aches and pains altogether. For many people, Valium can make it feel as though all problems have literally melted away – but the problem truly becomes an issue once the medication settles in and the body becomes dependent on the drug in order to get through the day properly. Valium tends to weaken certain neurons in the brain – the area of the brain which is typically responsible for preventing excessive dopamine production, which leads a person to feel euphoric at times. This means that when Valium is taken, the more dopamine is produced in the brain – and the neurons that typically regulate it are not able to operate as well as they were before. The flooding of dopamine in the brain is what eventually causes the brain to experience cravings, and this can become incredibly hard to overcome. If you’re struggling with Valium addiction, seek the help you need today. Recovery is possible – you’re not alone.

There are so many instances when we have a particular goal in mind, but that goal becomes distorted as – for whatever reason – we begin to pull ourselves away from it, maybe without even realizing it.  No matter where you’re at in life right now, think about the ways in which you’ve self-sabotaged your own relationships, professional career, parenting endeavors and more. Self-sabotage is defined as any action that we take that gets in the way of us achieving a particular goal. Working towards getting a promotion at work? Self-sabotaging behavior may involve you waiting until the last minute to complete a project, rushing to get the job done and then it looks bad on you. On a diet? Self-sabotage may involve going back on the plan that you set for yourself consistently so that you can’t reach your nutrition goals. No matter what it is, self-sabotage has a sneaky way of making sure that we fail. Why is this? There are so many reasons for self-sabotage, including 1) feeling like we’re not good enough, 2) wanting control over the situation – if we force ourselves to fail, at least we controlled the failure 3) fear of being “called out” by someone as a fraud, 4) feeling too comfortable with being in a particular place in life (such as addiction), 5) making it easier on ourselves and 6) being bored and wanting something interested to transpire from it. Self-sabotage can certainly happen in addiction and mental illness recovery; and if we’re not careful, it can ruin our entire healing and restoration process.  You know deep down that you’re engaging in these self-sabotaging behaviors, so make the decision to stop them. Talk to your therapist about what to do. Ask for help. Use your tools. As long as you keep trying in recovery, you’re winning. There’s no doubt about it. If you’re ready to embark on the journey towards healing, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

As you’re taking new steps towards healthier living, you’ll want to make sure that your mind, body, and spirit are adequately prepared for all the new changes that will be taking place. Recovery isn’t just about treating the addiction itself – it’s about doing what you can to ensure that you’re in the healthiest state possible as a form of restoration. Physical health is incredibly important because your body serves as the foundation that gets you to where you need to be; without physical health, it becomes harder to carry out daily tasks and live the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of. Stretching is a great way to boost your immune system and prepare your mental health for optimal processing.  There are truly so many benefits to stretching: it promotes flexibility, it corrects our posture, and it helps our bodies become more prepared to deal with injuries as they come. In addition to this, our blood supply increases with stretching – which means that nutrients are better able to reach the parts of our body that really need it for healing. Light movement has actually been shown to improve our mental health and can boost our mood. Studies have shown that a certain type of protein can be increased through stretching, which makes it easier for our mind and body to heal. Mental illness concerns like anxiety and depression can be reduced, making it easier to function in daily life and thrive in recovery altogether.  Much like we may need to warm up a vehicle on a cold winter day before we drive it off the parking lot, our bodies need time to adjust to the movement and changes that are taking place. Stretching can improve your circulation and give you fuller range-of-motion, which will also help you react better to falls and other issues that may arise. There are a few types of holistic practices that can also increase our stretching capabilities, including yoga and meditation. When we stretch, we become more in-tune with our mind, body, and spirit – which ultimately can have a transformative effect on our addiction recovery.

For people who drink too much alcohol too quickly, blackouts can occur. And when it happens, it’s interesting because of the way our society views it – in some ways, it’s terrifying, while others find it to be quite hilarious. Drinking too much and too fast can cause blackouts, and they’re incredibly common – especially since our culture condones so much drinking. If blackouts are occurring frequently in a person’s life, this could be a strong sign that they’re struggling with alcoholism or an alcohol use disorder (AUD) – but all too often, people don’t even realize they’re battling this because it’s viewed as a normal thing. As a person’s blood-alcohol level increases, the rate, and length of a person’s memory loss will also increase – and that’s why individuals often find themselves trying to piece together their night the morning after. The ”day after” or the “morning-after” are often situations filled with humiliating details, but the aftermath effects are serious; along with not remembering what a person is doing while experiencing a blackout, a person may also experience vision problems, impaired judgment, troubles standing, walking and more. For people who have a good idea of the serious effects that can occur from alcoholism, recovery is about understanding not only the harmful effects that these behaviors can cause to our body and to those around us, but also getting a clearer idea of how alcohol affects us in these instances. Previous reports have explained that blackouts a condition where the ability to form new memories is, temporarily, impaired. It makes sense, then, why people have such difficulties understanding what they did the night they blacket out – because alcohol took over. Researchers are still trying to discover exactly how blackouts occur – the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is responsible for making and storing memories, is obviously involved; in addition to this, previous research has shown that blackouts can vary in experience depending on who the person is, as well as their gender, weight, age, etc. Further investigations are exploring the types of blackouts that occur depending on not only the person but on the alcohol consumed – altogether, however, it’s very clear to see that people who blackout do face serious consequences – even if for a brief period of time. It’s not uncommon for people who blackout to want to try and put together the previous night’s events afterward, and with friends. Unfortunately, the information that’s talked about it’s always accurate because they’re often based on another’s person’s memory of the events – which could easily lead to false memories and false representations of what actually happened when alcohol was involved. In these instances, the circumstances could become extremely dangerous – especially if moments of crime, sexual assault, vandalism, and other related activities were present under the influence of alcohol. Studies report that men are more likely to experience blackouts than women – but with less stringent concerns about drinking, both groups of people are significantly at risk for blackouts. There are a number of health concerns that come with excessive drinking, such as missing work or school, getting behind in grades, finding out that a person said or did something that they wish didn’t happen, arguing with loved ones, overdose, hangovers, increased chances of having an accident, greater risks of getting involved in criminal activity and more.  When blackouts occur, we’re more likely to put ourselves into risky situations because we’ve lost the capabilities to think clearly and critically about decisions that we’re making. What we come to find is that people who’ve had blackouts tend to have false ideas about what really happened – and, in some cases, people admit to having followed through with a particular crime when indeed they were really innocent, all because they were under the influence of alcohol and can’t really remember what happened.   In instances such as these, the false representations that we may come to believe – because we don’t have any other evidence telling us otherwise – can place us at great risk legally, in addition to the risks that come to our health.   A one-time occurrence may not be a significant sign that help needs to be sought, but if blackouts are occurring often, or if a person is beginning to favor drinking over hobbies, work, family responsibilities and more, help needs to be sought. Blackouts can become a major sign of alcoholism if they occur often – but seeking help early on can help a person develop the tools they need to move forward in their life. Avalon Malibu focuses on the whole person, and with a personalized treatment plan and a support system, you’ll be well on your way towards healing and rejuvenation. If you’re ready to begin your journey to recovery, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today.

Reading good books in recovery is a healthy habit and a great way to feel mentally stimulated. There are plenty of great books out there about addiction, mental health, and recovery. They range from great personal stories of hardship and triumph to more research-based books on the topics. There are also plenty of novels and stories with themes pertaining to addiction and recovery. Reading helps us gain perspective and feel more connected. Above all, it expands our minds and makes us more empathetic. Here are a few recommendations, all pertaining to addiction, mental health, and/or recovery. Additionally, if reading about these topics is triggering or not enjoyable for you, choose other novels, poetry, or memoirs that are more in line with your reading interests. There are really no rules when it comes to a reading list and each book will open you up to a new world.

The media can have a negative impact on body image and self-confidence. Here are some ways to support yourself. The media in general, and social media, in particular, is overflowing with images of what society tells us we should look, act, and feel like. When we spend time scrolling through Instagram or Facebook or even looking at some of our favorite magazines or website, we’re getting bombarded by subliminal messaging whether we know it or not. When we constantly see images of ultra-thin and athletic men and women, we begin to internalize those values as our own. This can lead to a lack of self-confidence and body image issues. In recovery, it’s important that we consume media that’s helping our mental health, rather than hindering it. We need all the support we can get. If you find that you’re not feeling good about yourself or your body after spending time on social media, it might be time to cut back on social media and/or change some of the accounts that you’re following. Body image issues can quickly overtake us, causing negative feelings and the urge to go on extreme diets. Self-acceptance is a huge component of a healthy recovery. Even though we’re developing healthy habits and changing our outlook, we need to love and accept ourselves, above all.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been shown to improve body image issues. Additionally, therapy can help us to deal with the underlying causes of body image issues, resulting in improved self-awareness and less susceptibility to media influences. Mindfulness exercises such as meditation can help us to more fully accept ourselves, stay present in the moment, and get more in touch with our true feelings. Lastly, it can help to locate the people, places, and things that trigger our body image issues. Following body positive accounts on social media, reading about body image issues, and talking about our feeling in a support group are all ways to feel better about our bodies and ourselves.

Reading can boost mental health and help us destress. Here are some ways to incorporate reading into your daily life. Whether you love novels, newspaper articles, magazines, or blogs, reading is always a good idea. There are innumerable benefits to reading that go way beyond increasing intelligence. Believe it or not, reading can actually boost mental health and decrease stress. Here, we’ll look at some of the benefits of reading, as well as some ways to incorporate it into your daily routine for improved mental and emotional health and a more expansive recovery journey.

Grief has been defined as, “Deep sorrow, especially caused by someone’s death.” Grief can be an incredibly deep and emotional experience that everyone goes through when a loved one has passed away, or even when a traumatic event has occurred. We can’t really predict how much an event will affect us until we’re in it - and in all cases, it’s crucial to surround ourselves with people who can love and support us through the pain.  Addiction recovery is already an experience filled with ups and downs, and to receive news that a loved one has passed can sometimes feel “too much” on top of everything else we’re going through. For loved ones of those in addiction recovery, what is said can have a huge impact on a person’s wellbeing. Self.com, a website that publishes information related to fitness, food, health, love and beauty, notes several key phrases that should truly be avoided when trying to support a loved one in recovery who’s gone through grief:

We don’t talk about it that often, but there’s more to addiction than simply being consumed by thoughts of drinking or using drugs. In many cases, substances can make their way into areas of our lives that never would’ve entered before - such as the workplace. The government explains that there are many negative effects that drinking on the job can have, including:

Color psychology may sound a bit silly, but it’s not - as research has shown just how much of an impact colors can have on our mood and mentality. The colors we wear, the colors that we incorporate in our daily living environments and the foods we eat can have an impact on our perceptions and, in some cases, how we feel. Very Well Mind, a website that publishes information related to cognitive psychology, behavioral therapy, developmental psychology and personality psychology explained that when used in therapeutic settings, colors can have significant therapeutic influences:

Addiction is a complex brain disease, and neuroscience can open up many pathways for understanding as we dive further into it. Last year, Medical News Today, a website that publishes information related to various health conditions, explained that neuroscientists “focus on the brain and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions, or how people think.” There are a wide range of research interests within neuroscience, such as: mathematics, science, chemistry, philosophy, psychology and medicine. With neuroscience, a number of aspects of nervous system are explored:

Opioid addiction takes the lives of nearly 130 people each and every day within the United States; it’s a serious national crisis that has destroyed families, costed companies nearly $80 billion dollars a year, and has holistically left serious social and economic consequences. In an attempt to combat these harsh effects of the opioid epidemic, researchers have been challenging themselves to find preventative measures; tools and resources to help those in our communities seek help before the addiction becomes more severe, or greater support and outlets once people need treatment.  Earlier this year, Georgia Tech published an article that covered a study conducted by researchers – this study sought to assess 1.44 million comments from Reddit, a popular posting platform, to explore some potential risk factors that give insight into opioid addiction itself. The researchers found 3 particular opioids that were “most commonly used”, including: