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Many people who have recently completed long-term, residential treatment programs are unsure of what step they should take next. The right treatment center should provide after-care support to help them decide what plan will best suit their needs, and some may choose to enter a sober living home. Sober living homes are living environments for individuals who want to abstain from alcohol and drugs. Many who seek out sober living homes have been in treatment, but you can also enter one without having recently exited a residential treatment facility. Sober living homes are not housed by the government, and individuals who live there must pay costs just like others in apartments and homes. A 2010 study conducted by researchers from California found that individuals who lived in sober living homes found 12-step meetings and social support to boost their motivation of abstinence within the community. Sober living communities provide an adequate transition for those looking to gain more independence in their sobriety. Often, sober living homes are located in an area that doesn’t promote addictive behaviors or triggers that could lead towards them. With sober living homes, most residents share a sort of “dorm room” with another resident and they have a “house manager”, someone whom they can reach out to should they need any assistance. The sober living home may also offer an opportunity to live in a less restrictive form of housing, such as sharing a house with a roommate. The following are expectations that most sober living homes expect residents to uphold:

Hydrocodone is an opioid medication prescribed to help people manage their pain. Used for short or long term purposes, hydrocodone may also be prescribed to treat other conditions such as chronic cough, pain from cancer, and arthritis. Other brand names that may be marketed as hydrocodone are: Vicodin, Lortab, Norco, Xodol, Zydone, Maxidone, Zamicet, and more. Hydrocodone is classified as a schedule II drug, meaning that it can be highly misused. If you have recently been prescribed hydrocodone, make sure that you have spoken with your doctor regarding proper doses and any symptoms that may be of concern. The United States National Library of Medicine states that hydrocodone is a semisynthetic derivative of codeine or thebaine, alkaloids that are derived from poppy seeds. Hydrocodone is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in healthcare facilities. By attaching to opioid receptors in the brain, hydrocodone reduces pain and creates feelings of euphoria. Side effects of hydrocodone often include anxiety, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, dry mouth, and ringing in the ears. Extended or prolonged abuse of hydrocodone can be very dangerous, with serious side effects including bowel obstruction, breathing problems, slowed or irregular heartbeat, severe allergic reaction, trouble urinating, vomiting, and more. Dependency is also a risk factor with hydrocodone, as taking more than prescribed and for longer periods of time can cause the body to become reliant on the medication to feel calm, relaxed, and for feelings of happiness to arise. Mixing hydrocodone with other medications/drugs such as Percocet, can be highly dangerous. Always speak with a doctor before mixing any medications, even if they are “all-natural” supplements. Hydrocodone can be easily misused, so always make sure that you keep close contact with your healthcare team to ensure you don’t become dependent or addicted on the medication.

No matter your circumstance, it’s always important to consistently challenge and improve yourself. Recovery is a wonderful time to focus on this, as therapy can provide the tools and support that you need. Forbes Magazine has provided several wonderful ways that you can become a better version of yourself:

According to Psychology Today, gestalt therapy is “a client-centered approach to psychotherapy that helps clients focus on the present and understand what is really happening in their lives right now, rather than what they may perceive to be happening based on past experience.” With gestalt therapy, clients are asked to re-enact or re-experience them rather than simply talk about them in therapy. Therapists who use this form of therapy try to increase their clients’ awareness and expect them to use their own seeing, feeling, sensing, and interpreting through their experiences. The therapist emphasizes self-actualization, and self-respect, self-motivation, and self-growth can be added dimensions to the treatment. Gestalt therapy is process-oriented and client-centered, meaning that all focus is on supporting the client in realizing, learning, growing, making decisions, and more. Gestalt therapy helps to treat depression, anxiety, self-esteem, relationship issues, migraine headaches, back spasms, and more. Science Direct notes that gestalt therapy is holistic and experiential, and allows for increased choice and flexibility in every aspect of daily life. If you participate in gestalt therapy, your therapist may say:

Addiction takes a toll on everyone, but teens are at increased risk. The long-term damages of addiction are widely known – significant anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, violent behavior, memory loss, learning deficiencies, hallucinations, and more, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Researchers have compared the brain’s reward response system in adult and teen rats, and may have pinpointed some differences for what places teens at higher risk. As adolescents are growing, so are their brains. As researcher Bita Moghaddam of the University of Pittsburgh, stated, “The brain region that is very critical in planning your actions and in habit formation is directly tapped by reward in adolescents, which means the reward could have a stronger influence in their decision making, in what they do next, as well as forming habits in adolescents.” Teens often exhibit risk-taking and impulsive behaviors, which is often in part because their brains are developing and thus placed at higher risk for making decisions that could lead toward addiction. Studies have also shown that adolescents are more susceptible to stress, mental illness, and addiction than adults, because they are still developing their decision-making and reasoning skills. The nucleus accumbens, the part of the brain that react with “happy” reward chemicals when doing things that ensure our survival such as eating, is even more reactive in adolescent brains as they form habits and learn that doing certain things produces more pleasure. If gone awry, this could include drugs, sex, and/or alcohol. To prevent adolescents from reaching addiction, we must make sure that as a community, we are educating and reinforcing messages against it. Reminding our youth of the dangerous consequences via academic resources and subjective experiences can help teens understand the true implications that addiction has. Secondly, referring our teens to help and other resources such as counseling can be beneficial in helping them work through something rather than lean towards addiction to cope. Lastly, serving as an example is one of the best ways to show teens both what it looks like to recover and to achieve sobriety.

There are a variety of methods used to treat depression, including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy – medication in addition to one or more of these forms of therapy can also be beneficial. Science has shown that an alternate form of therapy involving magnets has been shown to protect individuals from the symptoms of depression. According to the Scientific American, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) isn’t a new form of therapy, but it does prove a viable option for defense against this mental illness. The U.S. News states that this is a form of brain stimulation therapy, which involves activating or inhibiting the brain directly with electricity. With TMS, a small electromagnetic coil is placed against a person’s head at a certain location, most often the left frontal cortex of the brain because that is shown to be less active in people with depression. There are two types of TMS: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS). With rTMS, a wand is attached by cable to a wall outlet and the magnetic field travels through the hair, skin, and skull. Dr. Joan A. Camprodon, director of neuropsychiatry and neuromodulation at Harvard Medical School, told U.S. News in an interview, “The brain’s neurons act as a pickup coil and turn the field back into electricity, which forces the neurons to fire.” With tDCS, two wires with electrodes extend from the smartphone-sized device containing a 9-volt battery to the head. While both methods deliver electricity, each do it in a unique way. Harvard Medical School states that TMS is for people who have tried standard treatment methods and they haven’t worked. They do not suggest TMS for people with mild depression or newly diagnosed moderate/severe depression. No anesthesia is needed for this form of treatment. In a study that involved 301 men and women who did not respond to up to 4 antidepressants, 1 in 7 participants who underwent TMS got relief from their depression by the 6th week, compared to 1 in 20 who underwent what looked like TMS but didn’t wasn’t. With many different forms of treatment available, you must find what works best for you. If you haven’t sought out treatment yet, speak to someone today. By seeking help, you can determine what helps your depression the most and you can be on your way to a happier, healthier way of living.

Whether you’re in recovery or not, you may be trying to formulate Valentine’s Day plans either by yourself or with others. Valentine’s Day can bring about a lot of stress and anxiety if you hold certain expectations about the holiday and how it should go. Many people enjoy going out to eat with their friends or significant other, while others may decide to host something at home or simply make a nice dinner for themselves. No matter your circumstance, gift yourself this Valentine’s Day with food that will boost your mental health and recovery.

Medications are often used for people with mental illness because it helps them clear their mind and focus solely on their recovery. Some medications come with side effects, which can be particularly challenging, however. Side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, nausea, and more. Medications work differently with each person, and not everyone needs medication. According to Mayo Clinic, the following are the most common forms of medications that individuals may take for their mental illness:

With Valentine’s Day right around us, there is the inherent pressure to be in a relationship. Many people view Valentine’s Day as a couple’s holiday, and whether you are in a relationship or not, you’re probably thinking about it. For those of us in recovery, relationships can be a vague concept because we are currently spending most of our time focusing on developing tools that we need to succeed. Perhaps you’ve considered dating, or you may even be contemplating if now is the best time to be with your significant other. No matter the circumstance, the question remains: is being in a relationship appropriate while you’re in recovery? Each person’s situation is different, but generally, it is suggested that the first year of recovery should be complete focus on that and nothing else. Several sources have provided reasons for this, including:

The National Retail Foundation, as explained by ABC News, has stated that Valentine’s Day is expected to reel in about $18.2 billion. This equals to an average of $136.57 per person each year on Valentine’s Day candy, cards, flowers, and more. Jewelry is a very common gift, and sources say 20% of consumers are expected to buy jewelry, measuring up to $4.3 billion. Two hundred and fifty roses are produced each year for Valentine’s Day, and approximately 190 million greeting cards are sent out each year. Valentine’s Day can be difficult for those in recovery for a few reasons: 1) the pressure to be in a relationship even if the person is focusing on their recovery, 2) the pressure to buy gifts, which many people in recovery can’t afford, and 3) the pressure to celebrate through drinking, which many in recovery are working against. The additional stress of deciding and finding the “perfect gift” can leave many stressed, anxious, and depressed; there’s no question that Valentine’s Day brings in a lot of money, gifts, and pressure, but is this what it’s all about? If Valentine’s Day feels too forced or overly consumeristic, change your perception of what Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about. History dating back to about 269 C.E. shows that St. Valentine was killed, confused with other people, and removed from the General Roman Calendar, according to The Guardian. Folklore surrounding Valentine’s Day is quite brutal, but society has taken pieces of the story to fabricate a consumerist story and whether you choose to abide by this is completely up to you. Whether you’re in recovery or not, decide for yourself what Valentine’s Day means to you. Is it a day for self-love and self-care, or is it a day for you to appreciate those in your life? Is it a magical day for you to spend with your significant other, or is it just another day? If you decide that it’s just another day, there’s nothing wrong with that. Many single people and couples hold the belief that love should be celebrated every day of the year, and Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to validate that.

A common myth is that people with addiction must hit “rock bottom” before they will seek help. While this might be true for some, it certainly isn’t true for all – and it’s important that we change our perspective and not make this the default. Many who have an addiction and seek healthcare are hoping that someone will see them for what they could be in the future – to see their potential, their light, their spirit, their improvement. Although this goes for healthcare professionals, this also brings front and center an important discussion about how we can view those we love with an addiction. CNN raises an important concern: there has been no evidence to support that the level of consequences a person undergoes before seeking help is related to their chances to succeed in recovery. With this, each person’s definition of “rock bottom” is different – for one person, “rock bottom” might mean losing a close relationship whereas for another, becoming homeless could spark them to seek help. If consequences have no effect on chances of recovery success, then shouldn’t we provide support and offer help much sooner? CBC further notes that initial treatment, utilization of every possible resource available within the community, and medical support should all be implemented to best take care of our loved ones. Whether you have an addiction or your loved one does, remember that anyone can seek treatment and get help early. You do not have to wait until “rock bottom”. Some people with addiction are in denial regarding their addiction and this is what leads to them going through major life events to show them they need help, but others attempt sobriety and find that it’s the right choice for them before they even reach “rock bottom”. One woman described her realization to seek help from addiction as this: “After a series of drinking fueled incidents, I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t take the lying, deceit, guilt, and shame I was putting myself and my family through anymore. One night, while I was on the couch, I had an overwhelming sense of heaviness on my heart that I had never experienced before…I knew without a doubt that once and for all I needed to be honest with my husband about my drinking.” The woman described above didn’t hit “rock bottom” in the sense that society often refers to; she didn’t lose her home, her family, her job – she got tired of the pain that addiction caused her, and she reached out. “Rock bottom” doesn’t have to happen to you. Realizing is enough.

A common myth is that natural drugs are not dangerous because they do not consist of any synthetic ingredients or harmful additives. Although some “natural” drugs such as marijuana have been said to be safe, natural drugs can be just as dangerous as any other drug. Understanding the dangerous effects of nature’s medicine could meaning saving your own life or preventing serious health consequences. For example, tobacco is grown on a plant whose leaves have been dried, broken down, and smoked for thousands of years. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that cigarette smoking causes approximately 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. Cigarette smoking has also been shown to increase the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and more. Some may question this, as one may think, “Cigarettes have added chemicals, and natural tobacco is different.” This is false – the U.S. Food and Drug Administration claims that, “the tobacco plant itself contains chemicals right from the start, including highly addictive nicotine.” Natural chemicals that are dangerous include nicotine, cadmium, and lead. Marijuana has been another contested subject, as many have argued that it has not caused nearly as much danger as other legal substances, such as alcohol. Our brains continue to develop until the late 20s, and smoking marijuana in adolescence increases the risk of becoming psychotic and/or developing schizophrenia. Individuals who already experience psychiatric symptoms before beginning marijuana use. Marijuana users have also been shown to be at an increased risk for developing depression, anxiety, and memory deficits. Psychological dependence is also a risk, with many people exerting symptoms of this as they view smoking marijuana as the only way to “have fun”. The same goes for herbal remedies – although many are natural, they can cause health issues. CBS News reported aconite, an herbal supplement used for inflammation and joint pain, as a dangerous medicine that can cause nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure and heart rhythm disorders. Bitter orange, chaparral, colloidal silver, coltsfoot, comfrey, country mallow, germanium, greater celandine, kava, lobelia, Yohimbe, and belladonna are several herbal medications that can be extremely dangerous – even deadly. Always speak with a physician before taking any natural herbs or medications and seek immediate medical assistance if dangerous side effects occur.