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Diet and nutrition should be a focus in anybody’s plan for recovery when they are living with an anxiety disorder. Foods To Eat For Anxiety Eating foods which reduce energy and create more calm in the mind are helpful for living with anxiety.

Food can make or break your mood. We can see how food changes the way our mind and body chemistry works through some simple examples. Coffee, which is caffeine, a stimulant, revs our engine, bringing excitement to our mind and our body. Sugar, another stimulant, does the same. We become hyper, aroused, highly sensitive. Both substances can lead to a crash, a difficulty staying awake, feeling extra exhausted, and sometimes being particularly emotionally erratic. Another example is water. Without water we become dehydrated, which slows our cognitive functioning, brings our energy level down, and causes us to get cranky. No example is more evident than the phenomenon of “hanger” when someone gets so hungry their mood changes and they become very angry. Our brains rely on the fuel and energy food gives us. In fact, there are essential amino acids which the brain can only receive from food that it absolutely needs to function. Feelings, mood, and emotion all live in the brain, yet we feel it in our stomachs and control it from our stomachs. Multitudes of new research is being devoted to investigating the mind-stomach relationship and how certain bacteria, called “gut bacteria” created in the stomach as the result of eating certain foods affects the brain and how it works. For recovery from mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders like addiction and alcoholism, eating a mood-focused diet is an important tool. The right food can help you manage your emotions, reduce your stress, Here are the most influential foods you can eat to boost your mood, brain activity, energy, and wellbeing: Salmon Salmon has all the omega-3 fatty acids and B12 vitamins your brain and body needs to optimum functioning. Avocado Put salmon and avocado together for a delicious treat. Avocado is a healthy fat, which the brain needs, as well as the bones in the body. Avocado also has high amounts of omega-3 acids. Green Vegetables Leafy greens and many other green vegetables have high levels of magnesium which the brain needs for managing serotonin and the body needs for relaxing the muscles. Berries Berries are packed with vitamins and nutrients. Eating a lot of fruit and berries helps train your body to appreciate a different kind of sugar outside of processed or refined sugar. Craving a strawberry over an ice cream will help the body and brain recover in a healthy way. Avalon By The Sea seeks to heal mind, body, and spirit. Each of our clients works with a nutrition specialist to create a specific diet plan. OUr residential programs include a private gourmet chef serving organic meals designed for encouraging recovery. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

Learning to live with mental health disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder really does mean learning to live with the mental health disorder. ADHD requires a specific way of living which helps manage energy, create organization, and still manage some relaxation. ADHD Needs To Be Organized Getting everything settled in an organized way is important in order to have a clear mind with ADHD. Organization and being settled go back in forth. In order to be settled, someone with ADHD needs to be organized. However, in order to get organized, often someone with ADHD needs to be settled. Creating to do list, using color codes for organizations, and prioritizing activities is helpful in both organization and creating a feeling of being settled, which helps clear an ADHD mind. ADHD Needs To Do Its Own Thing Everyone handles their ADHD in their own way. Those who have ADHD handle themselves differently than other people. ADHD comes with an abundant amount of energy which can’t easily be stopped. Exercising, running, dancing, and any other kind of physical movement can actually lead to the relaxation and focus ADHD needs. For others, constantly moving and doing something might not equate to relaxation. However you manage ADHD, just do it! You know what you need to work with ADHD and create relaxation for yourself, as well as organization and clarity of mind. ADHD Needs Extra Time Most schools offer accommodation for students with ADHD by offering them private testing environments with an extended amount of time to finish the test. Often, those with ADHD need just a little more time to get things done. When you’re planning your day, make room for extra time and plan on getting distracted. You’re learning to live with ADHD and work with it not against it. Distractions happen, accidents happen, mistakes happen. Forgetfulness is common with ADHD because the mind is moving so fast. ADHD Needs Patience Remember that you’re dealing with ADHD- erratic, unpredictable, and spontaneous. Some days will be easier than others! Have patience for yourself, especially when others around you seem to lost track of their patience for you. Use the tools above and each day will be a productive success. ADHD is one of the most commonly co-occurring mental health disorders with addiction and alcoholism. Often, it has gone undiagnosed and has become unmanageable. Avalon By The Sea excels in dual diagnosis treatment, providing quality residential care for mental health and substance use disorders. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

Your time in treatment is all about you. Part of working on you involves making friends and creating connection with those around you.

Mind, body, and spirit- this is the most simple definition of what approaching something from a holistic standpoint means. The holistic approach is being used to treat all areas of mental health, from addiction and alcoholism (substance use disorders) to depression and anxiety (mood disorders) to bipolar and borderline (personality disorders). Any kind of mental health disorder, it has been discovered, doesn’t only affect mental health. Instead, most treatment providers have discovered that mental health issues affect both physical health and spiritual health as well. Holistic treatment means creating an integrative plan for each client which assesses all three areas of mind, body, and spirit. Their mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing, and spiritual well being have to be treated at the same time in order to ensure a greater chance at lifelong recovery. Isolating just one area of treatment negates the other areas of treatment. For mental health issues, there can not be any room for neglect. When someone makes the decision to call for help and enter treatment for a significant amount of time in their life, they need to heal. Most often, people who enter treatment are not well, perhaps more in one area than another. Still, in order to fully recover, they have to heal holistically.

If there is any one factor which contributes to the continuation of heroin and opioid addiction, it might be the withdrawals. Symptoms of withdrawals for heroin and opioid addiction are some of the most severe. Body aches to the extreme, flu like symptoms beyond normal, restless legs, and an incessant craving for drugs leave addicts trying to recover so weak and vulnerable, they often return to using drugs. Despite the inherent consequences of using opioids once again- like having to go through withdrawal once again- the relief of opioids is preferable to the symptoms of withdrawal. Anything, most addicts feel, to make the pain and cravings stop. Making detox from heroin and opioids easier is a primary focus of many researchers and treatment providers. If they can reduce the severity of detox symptoms, they might have a better chance of keeping more addicts seeking recovery in recovery. For many years now turning to alternative therapy types like yoga, massage, and acupuncture, have become relied upon practices for reducing pain and increasing wellness during detox. Acupuncture is an ancient treatment method used in eastern traditions. Unlike western medicine, eastern medicine is preventative. Most western medicine seeks to treat the problem once the problem is already present. Acupuncture helps to treat the immediate symptoms of withdrawal while simultaneously equipping the body. Reducing the severity of symptoms helps the body prepare to fight future symptoms with a greater sense of strength as well as ease. Acupuncture works by using acupressure points which correlate to different channels for energy, targeting emotional experiences as well as functions of specific organs. In the philosophy of acupuncture, and most eastern medicine, everything is connected. An unexpressed emotion leads to stagnant energy which can cause dysfunction in an organ. Needless to say, the mind, body, and spirit of a heroin and/or opioid addict is dysfunctional. Acupuncture helps clear old energy, heal the body, purify the mind, and replenish the spirit. Acupuncture In And Out Of Treatment Finding an acupuncturist outside of treatment requires a few simple steps. First, call your insurance to see if preventative treatments like acupuncture are covered. You can find an acupuncture provider within your network. If not, search for acupuncturists in your area. You might be able to find an acupuncturist who specifically works with addiction. If not, call a few acupuncturists and explain your situation. They might be able to come do a treatment in your home if you have chosen to do home detox. Detox is most safely done in a supervised, clinical setting. If you or a loved one have become addicted to heroin and are in need of treatment, Avalon By The Sea is here to help. Our beautiful estate is home to our addiction treatment center, surrounded by the serene coastline of Malibu, California. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call 1 888-958-7511.

What does a surgeon do when a patient presents their addiction history and there’s no effective alternative treatments available? Such is the conflict coming upon many surgeons today in the face of the opioid epidemic. Addicts in recovery learn how to live life on life’s terms. Sometimes that can include a traumatic injury, experiencing physical pain, or having to undergo serious surgery. Opioids are part of anesthesiology, they’re prescribed before and after surgery, and they’re taken home as a prescription to treat pain. When taken as prescribed, only as long as the pain exists, it isn’t considered a relapse for a recovering opioid addict. Unfortunately, chemical dependency is chemical dependency. Once a chemical is reintroduced there is a high risk for relapse, especially if someone is in the early stages of addiction and recovery. NPR wrote on the subject. Doctors feel that when they come into this situation, they should have an addiction specialist ready. “If a surgeon or anesthesiologist were treating a patient with serious diabetes, they’d consult an endocrinologist. Addiction...is no different.” Citing Dr. Stuart Gitlow, past president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the article emphasizes an important point. Doctors can’t control what their patients are going to do with their opioid prescriptions, or what they will do after the prescription is done. What doctors can do is work with patients, and an addiction specialist, to create a plan of action for safety and recovery. “The biggest question is what to do to ensure this patient’s safety going forward during the period for which he’s experiencing pain…” Problematically, “...there aren’t enough addiction specialists to meet the need,” the article explains. 2.5 million Americans are estimated to be addicted to either heroin or prescription opioids. To work with those 2.5 million people, there are only 5,000 addiction specialists available. Most addiction specialists work in treatment and therapeutic settings, not hospitals. Hospitals are often criticized for not being the place to treat addiction, yet emergency rooms are criticized for not doing enough to treat addiction. For those in recovery anticipating living with an opioid addiction, there is a simple philosophy which resonates throughout sobriety: don’t pick up no matter what. However, when opioids are introduced to the blood stream it’s easier said than done. Work with your sponsor and your immediate treatment team or support network to develop a plan of action for staying accountable while taking opioid drugs. Attend meetings, even if they’re online or on the phone. Let someone help you manage your medications. Stay honest about any cravings you are experiencing. Continue communicating about everything. Avalon By The Sea is dedicated to helping clients learn how to live life in a healthy and sober way. Incorporating life skills into clinical recovery in addition to holistic healing. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

There are ten distinct personality disorders which fall into three categories. Each personality disorder and category of personality disorders comes with a specific set of symptoms. Though the symptoms are specified, they can have general commonalities with each other, from one category to the next. Cluster A Personality Disorders Cluster A personality disorders are described as “odd”, “bizarre” or “eccentric” personality disorders. Included are:

Psychosis and psychopathy, or being psychotic, often get confused. Mostly, this is because of a harmful image portrayed by the media regarding psychosis and psychopathy. Psychosis is a set of symptoms which can spread across various mental health disorders, which are labeled as psychotic disorders. Antipsychotic medications, for example, are often prescribed to people who have such conditions. Psychopathy is another distinct mental illness in which one is completely detached from moral reality. The two are different and understanding the difference is critical to ending misconception, advocating against false presentations in the media, and helping a loved one who might be struggling with a severe mental illness

Napping is really good. Ask anyone who takes one. A good nap can mean the difference between an okay day and a fantastic day. The body needs sleep. In fact, the body loves sleep. Taking a nap is a special way to work a little extra sleep into the day. Whether you are getting a full 6-9 hours of sleep a night or struggling to get close to 6, a nap can help you feel rejuvenated. Naps have been proven through research to provide an extra mental boost, help with sleep, and enhance focus. Unfortunately, napping can get out of hand. Too much extra sleep can cause insomnia and throw off your energy for the day. There is an art to napping. Learning to nap in an efficient and productive day can help you to lead with your best foot forward during treatment. Treatment and early recovery can include a lot of napping. During the therapeutic process, the body and the mind are exhausted. Napping can feel like it is essential for the soul. After years of exhausting the body’s natural resources, napping during the early months of recovery are a wonderful way to make up for that. However, many undergo the criticism that they nap too much. Sleeping is certainly better than drinking or using drugs. When taking naps and sleeping gets in the way of actual recovery, it becomes a problem. Napping can be part of the work to heal. Avoiding group therapy, sleeping through meetings, or not doing homework from a therapist is problematic.

Nobody likes drama. Drama is in fact such a touchy subject that people go out of their way to emphasize the fact that they don’t like drama, don’t “do” drama, or aren’t about drama at all. Typically, such people tend to create or invite a lot of drama into their lives. However, they bring drama around, they seem to do it with a gusto. Some people seem to need to be the center of attention. Whether they are being bright and positive or dark and full of rage, however they are expressing themselves, they do so fully. Histrionic personality disorder is a diagnosable issue in which someone is only able to process or cope with their feelings in a very dramatic way. Drama, and people who are dramatic, tend to have a decent idea of who they are. Their theatrical productions and reactions are rooted in their character as being dramatic; as opposed to being rooted in a lost sense of self. Flaring up into extremes of emotion and expression is often the sign that there is no center in who someone is. Without a baseline foundation to work from, all reactions will be excited. Excited emotions aren’t just on the outside for those with histrionic personality disorder. Experiencing frequent mood changes, emotional instability, and an inability to effectively communicate emotions without causing a scene, are all common. Some professionals feel that the label of histrionic personality disorder is a cover for post traumatic stress disorder. U.S. Health And News cites that the histrionic reaction is rooted in not being heard. Certain traumatic experiences rob someone of their ability to express themselves, be believed about their witnessing or enduring trauma, or take away their voice. As a result, they learn to make themselves extra loud, extra known, and extra acknowledged. Their drama truly is about not being able to stand a moment out of the spotlight. Without the attention, they likely revert to a fear caused by trauma. Treating any kind of mental health disorder usually involves a look at trauma. Involving trauma treatment in the therapeutic healing process is necessary for assessing and confronting underlying issues which lead to “disordered” behaviors. By identifying core sources of conflict and allowing them to heal, true change can occur in someone's life. If you or a loved one feel your emotions and reactions are out of control causing a negative influence in your life, help is available. Call Avalon Malibu today for information on our trusted residential treatment programs providing care for primary mental health conditions. 1 888-958-7511.

The answer is yes. The answer is no. Many report feeling an instantaneous sense of relief when they pick up the phone and make the call for help. Getting on the plane, arriving at the treatment center, walking in the doors, and getting settled all feel like divine interventions, guaranteeing a better life ahead. Surrender is a powerful tool in recovery and doesn’t just happen in the beginning. Throughout your entire life you are going to have opportunities to surrender. By definition, surrender means to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority. When people don’t surrender to recovery they do not feel the relief that recovery provides. Continuing to fight in recovery is fighting the wrong opponent or enemy. Submitting to the authority of recovery means giving into the simple fact that drinking and using is no longer the answer. Abstinence is the new authority and in order to recover, it has to be obeyed. This is a fight many do not give up. Yet, most don’t realize, when they fight recovery, they truly fight themselves. Addiction and alcoholism are often developed as coping mechanisms to deal with shame and guilt. Where that shame and guilt comes from is different for each person. Some may have experienced it through trauma and abuse in their pasts. Others develop it through their chemical dependency upon drugs and alcohol. Shame can come from untreated mental health disorders, eating disorders, and other sources. When they turn to drugs and alcohol, they turn away from themselves. Without any healthy tools for reconciling with who they are and using practical applications of techniques to change problematic behaviors, they become lost. For most people, it doesn’t get better until they decide to start clearing away the debris and start finding themselves again. In order to start the search, they have to give up the fight. Every single day in recovery, when you are committed to surrendering to a new way of life, it gets a little bit better. Doing the work of making significant changes to your life is hard, there’s not doubt it about. No doubt about this, either: it’s worth it. More importantly, you’re worth it. If you’re ready to do the work, the work is ready to be done by you. Healing is waiting. Change is possible. It’s going to get better.   Call Avalon Malibu today for information on our residential treatment programs providing excellence in care for mind, body, and spirit. Our trusted treatment programs provide total healing and transformation for clients with primary mental health disorders as well as primary substance use disorders. For more information, call 1 (888) 958-7511 today.