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According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), an estimated 1.5 million Americans aged 12 or older were using cocaine in 2014. Annual surveys suggest that cocaine use has been quite stable since 2009 – with nearly 505,224 emergency room visits involving cocaine in 2011 and similar numbers to date, recovery is one major topic of discussion. By understanding the various treatment options available, more information can be shared with loved ones ready to recover. Furthermore, we can seek help for ourselves by knowing what options are available to us. Cocaine dependency has been treated with several medications, which have shown to reduce harm in withdrawal and detoxification, counter the effects of overdose, and more. However, treatment should always be more than medication, as addiction directly effects the mind, body, and spirit. Psychosocial treatment involves a variety of components: structured counseling, motivational enhancement, case management and coordination, psychotherapy, and relapse prevention may all be involved. Those with cocaine dependency may have needs different from other substance users, making customized treatment very important. A study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that individual drug counseling plus group drug counseling were very effective for those with cocaine addiction. What can you expect with each of these? Individual drug counseling: a mental health clinician will work with you one-on-one to uncover, explore, and conquer issues with discussion, observation, analysis, and intervention. With this, you can develop a professional relationship with someone whom you will speak with regularly. Group drug counseling: with others in recovery, you will obtain information on addiction and how it effects the brain as well as coping strategies and topic discussions. Relapse prevention, interpersonal communication and social relationships, and other areas of interest will likely be explored. When addiction is involved, recovery should focus on every aspect of life because addiction affects every aspect. Holistic recovery places emphasis on rebalancing and restoring a person’s mind, body, and spirit. If you’ve been struggling with cocaine addiction, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about treatment options to best fit your needs.

With marijuana becoming legalized in various parts of the United States for medical and/or recreational purposes, it’s important to know what you’re consuming. According to a 2017 poll conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, 52% of Americans aged 18 or older have tried marijuana, and 44% of these individuals who have tried it, currently use it. As explained by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), around 30% of those who use marijuana also have marijuana use disorder; in 2015, approximately 4 million people met the diagnostic criteria for this. A mind-altering, chemical compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can treat pain, muscle spasms, nausea and more – but can also lead to dependency and addiction if not monitored closely. One of the biggest concerns regarding recreational marijuana is the fact that it’s unregulated – meaning different strains could have varying levels of potency. In fact, researchers are still looking into potency to see if it’s related to commonly-noted side effects as well as emergency-room visits. Put simply, THC is responsible for the psychological effects experienced when marijuana is consumed. The brain naturally has cannabinoid receptors, which are associated with memory, pleasure, thinking, coordination, and time reception – when marijuana is consumed, THC attaches to these cannabinoid receptors, which affects all of the functions previously listed. One cannabinoid from the marijuana plant, CBD, has been shown to block the high associated with THC – which is also coming into research discussions for medical and therapeutic purposes. THC ultimately stimulates cells in the brain that release the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for feelings of pleasure. When an excessive of dopamine is release, the brain’s hippocampus (which is responsible for storing memories) remembers this “good” feeling and what caused it – which is what keeps people coming back for more of the drug. Despite common belief, psychological and physical dependency is possible with marijuana because of THC. If you feel that you may have marijuana use disorder, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about treatment programs. Recovery is possible.

If you have a loved one who is struggling with substance abuse, you may feel frustrated, angry, or downright hopeless. “How could they have gone this far?” you may ask yourself. Many friends and family members of loved ones with addiction feel the same way – it’s hard for someone looking in to truly understand all of the factors that play in addiction. First and foremost, it’s important that you and your family members attend family therapy so that you can develop important tools for recovery and family dynamic; addiction affects everyone, and you deserve help as well.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment used to help treat conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders (SUDs), marital problems, eating disorders, and much more. The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes 3 core principles that CBT relies on:

The following quote was found on The Mighty, “You wake up every morning to fight the same demons that left you so tired the night before, and that, my love, is bravery.” Yes, it’s true that recovery is quite subjective – if you can recall personal accounts from celebrities, friends, family, or others who are recovering from a mental illness or addiction, you will find that each story is different. Each person may be at a different “level” in life – for some, recovery means simply waking up each day and taking it one minute at a time. For others, recovery is centered around being sober. Sure, there are “criteria” that several research studies have conducted with mentions of social network, life purpose, community engagement, stability and more – but what truly matters is how you perceive your own recovery – and it could even entail a plethora of things. In 2015, a few researchers from California sought to explore this very concept – when individuals say they are “in recovery”, what do they mean? Overall, five typologies were identified: 12-Step Traditionalist: strongly focused on abstinence, supportive of spirituality elements, strong belief in being honest with oneself, handling negative feelings without using, and more.

When the word “narcissism” comes to play in conversations, most people immediately think of someone who acts self-entitled, unempathetic, and manipulative. While this can be one type of narcissism, what many people don’t realize is that narcissism is a spectrum - and there are healthy levels of it, too. In fact, we all need healthy levels of narcissism in order to dress nicely, feel confident during a job interview, and more. It’s only when levels of narcissism reach the upper part of the spectrum that is becomes narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and even then, a person isn’t considered “bad” – recovery is possible, which can make symptoms more manageable. A 2018 study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences found that narcissism is actually associated with “mental toughness”, which was found to be linked to academic achievement and overall long-term success. Implications from the study are that those with higher levels of narcissism may have a higher sense of self-worth – making them more motivated, driven, and assertive in life. Business Insider concurs with this evidence, stating that healthy amount of narcissism can lead to greater life satisfaction, stronger relationships, and less social anxiety. In a nutshell, healthy doses of narcissism add to your life – not detract from it. What happens when too much narcissism gets involved? NPD is often divided into two distinct types: grandiose and vulnerable NPD. Grandiose NPD typically is characterized with the descriptions listed at the beginning: an over-inflated sense of self, only conversing with those one deems “special” or “intelligent” or “successful” enough, and lack of empathy all contribute to this type of NPD. Vulnerable NPD, on the other hand, involves extreme sensitivity, preoccupation with rejection and abandonment, and over-compensation for low self-esteem. The next time you hear the term “narcissistic” consider the context and decide for yourself if it makes sense. Is this someone who truly shows signs of NPD, or do they show healthy levels of confidence? If you feel you may have NPD, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about treatment options – it’s never too late to seek help.

The following is an excerpt from a personal story shared on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) regarding panic disorder: “I thought I was going crazy, I thought I was dying and had no one I could talk to that understood. It got so bad that at one point I started a new job and had difficulty driving to work. I couldn’t get there without having a panic attack.” Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder, and affects about 4.7% of adults in the United States at some point in their lives. The following are true symptoms of panic disorder:

Whether you’re seeking recovery for a mental illness or an addiction, your condition may not always be as straight-forward as it seems. For instance, many people have been diagnosed with a mental illness and, while they understand the “label” of their experiences (for example: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.), they may not fully comprehend what their mental illness entails, how it affects their daily life, how their past experiences have contributed to their condition, and what steps they need to take moving forward to better manage their symptoms. Psychoeducation is a combination of psychotherapy and education - an intervention used to provide specific information related to the concern of the client. Reputable treatment centers utilize psychoeducation to inform individuals, families, and groups. Family members have been shown to greatly benefit from psychoeducation interventions; the American Psychological Association (APA) states that family members can help reduce patient relapse rates by adhering to what their loved one needs most – these families often do not know what their loved one truly needs until they obtain more information from a psychoeducation intervention. A research review published in the journal Evidence-Based Adjunctive Treatments highlights 4 main components of psychoeducation:

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that approximately 1 person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, with 78% of suicides occurring in low and middle-income countries around the world. The United States has seen an increase of 30% in suicides from 1999 to 2010, and it’s considering the leading cause of death in the U.S. Suicide is an incredibly important topic to discuss because of not only its effects on millions of people around the world, but because of the tools, resources, and support that can be used to prevent it as well. Life gets busy, but that shouldn’t mean that we close our eyes, ears, and heart to those around us. Suicide doesn’t always emerge from the form of depression; sometimes it’s in the wink of an eye, behind a person’s smile, or amidst someone walking. It easily disguises itself to those who fail to truly see and listen – but that doesn’t mean that we can’t become more open to the subtle signs:

Therapeutic relationships are similar to other professional relationships in that it takes time for both parties to come to an understanding of one another. At first, you may have an idealistic view of your therapist – but these perceptions may fluctuate over time as you move forward with therapy. Sometimes it’s a clash between preferred approaches in therapy, and other times it’s based on perceived dissimilarities. Either way, it’s important that you give your therapist a fair shot at working with you because, just like any collaboration, it takes time to develop a solid understanding – unless, of course, unrealistic or inappropriate situations are taking place – always keep your safety number one. If there are very clear, distinct differences that are going to have a major impact on your success in recovery (for example, if you believe wholeheartedly that addiction is a disease but your therapist explicitly states on their information pages and handouts that addiction is a personal choice) there’s a likely chance that this professional relationship will not work well together. There are four main phases of therapy:

It’s normal to feel worried about relapse – in the addiction and mental illness recovery realm, many people fear relapse because it is seen as this horrible sign of failure, even though it isn’t. In fact, many recovery experts say that temporary relapses provide individuals with clues as to what’s working and what’s not; in this way, you can discover whether or not certain components of your treatment program need to be altered or emphasized more effectively. Relapse occurs for about 40-60% of those in addiction recovery, according to a study highlighted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The American Psychological Association (APA) notes that for those in mental illness recovery, 48% of people relapse if they do not have family involvement, whereas 28% of people relapse if their family is involved in their recovery journey. As you can see, relapse occurs quite often. There are a variety of steps that are taken to help individuals avoid this, however; relapse prevention treatment programs provide specific tools and resources to assist clients in identifying triggers when they arise, and an action plan to enact when they feel they’re high-risk. Most often, it really is about finding the people, places, thoughts, and situations that cause you to want to use or spiral; a 2015 study published in the journal of Qualitative Health Research involved focus groups with women in treatment for substance dependence to find the factors that both enabled and impeded their recovery. Results from the study showed that both adding supportive people to their recovery networks and avoiding or distancing oneself from those who were not conducive to their recovery proved crucial to their success. Psychiatrist Dr. Chad Coren stated on the The Fix, ““Any high-risk situation or stressor that sparks off a thought, feeling, or action to use drugs or alcohol. This spark, which is experienced as a temptation to use, is called a 'craving' or 'urge.' Triggers lead to cravings, and urges to use.” Rather than fearing relapse - which can produce feelings of anxiety, ultimately perpetuating the very outcome you’re trying to avoid - focus on your healing. Your recovery. Your action plan for when tricky situations arise. Work closely with your healthcare team if you are a reputable treatment center – they are meant to provide you with support during this time. Recovery is possible – you can do this. Don’t give up on yourself.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one of the most commonly known self-help groups out there – with weekly meetings, individuals from all walks of life can come in and talk about their experiences while learning of new tools and resources to help them on their journey to recovery. Other self-help groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and even non-12 step programs such as SMART Recovery and Women for Sobriety offer group support to those who need a community of people with similar problems or experiences. Self-help groups can provide much-needed support, but they are typically best when used in addition to a reputable treatment program. As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), self-help groups often provide an “added layer of community-level social support to help people achieve and maintain abstinence and other healthy lifestyle behaviors over the course of a lifetime.” When deciding on which self-help group to add to your treatment regime, it’s important to look at each group and determine which one most closely aligns with your beliefs, values, and attitudes towards recovery. Don’t disregard non-12 step self-help groups, however; a 2018 study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment sought to explore whether or not non-12 step groups were just as successful as 12-step groups – 651 participants were involved, and the study showed that either one provides a number of benefits. Prominent levels of participation, satisfaction, and cohesion among members were found, making it ultimately a choice determined by you. At this point, you may be wondering, what are the differences? In your research, you’ll notice that some groups emphasize religion while others don’t – you’ll also find that some programs are more structured in agreed-upon ground rules or promises, while others are a bit more open. All in all, what truly matters is that you attend something that is conducive to your recovery – something that uplifts, motivates, inspires, and provides you with the support you need to get through challenging times. Some treatment centers host self-help groups at their location, meaning that you can talk to the coordinators at your treatment center to see about attending one of them in addition to your daily structure of therapy and activities.