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Stress is the number one trigger for relapse in both primary mental health disorders and substance use disorders. Interestingly, the brain likes stress. The brain is more prone to notice and adapt to negativity in its environment than it is positivity. Many people who learn to cope with stress in negative ways create reward pathways in their brains which change how they relate to stress. Since the brain is prone to noticing stress, someone who isn’t able to cope with it will feel it more strongly. Mental illnesses thwart the ability to cope with stress, without the right tools and treatments. Recovery, on the other hand, strengthen the brain and enforce new neural pathways which help the brain respond to stress differently. Treatment and therapy for recovery focuses heavily on stress reduction and learning to cope with stress when it arises. Recovery is not the absence of stress. Unfortunately, life continues to happen on life’s terms, which often involves the occasional high amount of stress. Fortunately, there are ways to cope with stresses, big and small, without having to turn to harmful behaviors like substance abuse, self-harm, hurting others, or causing more stress.

Anxiety is different from stress. Living with anxiety means living with a mental health condition in which you experience the burden of a persistently overwhelming sense of worrying. Stress can cause anxiety and vice versa. Meeting the symptoms of a diagnosable anxiety disorder means living with the influence of anxiety on your quality of life and ability to function without any stress. Addiction and alcoholism are commonly co-occurring with anxiety disorders. Drinking alcohol and using drugs helps to numb the brain and relieve the pressure of anxious thinking. Becoming a coping mechanism, anxiety and co-occurring addiction can become a dangerous duo. Treatment is available for both addiction and anxiety, as they are co-occurring, or as they are independent. Anxiety doesn’t mean you just have a lot of stress or worry too much. You can learn how to cope with life in a healthy and effective way. These facts come from The Independent:

Recovery from mental health sounds odd to some people. Are mental health disorders things that go away in the brain or do they live on like cancers in remission? Relapse is a word commonly used for the treatment of depression, for example, but the recurrence of depression can’t be found through imaging scans. Recovery from mental health encompasses the critical life changes, therapy, and treatment which takes place mind, body, and spirit. With dedication to therapy, diet, nutrition, exercise, medication, lifestyle changes, communication, and spiritual wellness, recovery is possible. One writer who struggled with narcissism and found a way to recover from it explained her story to Salon. She writes about a significant trauma which happened in her teenage years and caused her relationship with attention and validation to become overwhelming. As a coping mechanism, she increasingly adopted the attitudes and behaviors as well as many of the characteristics of a narcissist. Rather than cope with negative experiences in life, like emotional pain, she became hardened and attached to inflation of the ego. Thankfully, she realized that she wasn’t truly living and needed to change. Realistically, she explains to her readers that doing “the work” isn’t as glamorous as it is made out to be. “I wish I could say it’s amazing to do the work to course-correct from the dangerous entanglements of narcissism. It’s not, but it is worth it.” She describes, “Disengaging and moving forward is lonely and disorienting. You’re constantly tested with new scenarios in which you continue the pattern or not. I have often felt confused, weak or forgotten because I’m no longer a pawn or a player in a high-stakes chess match.” The most challenging part, she expresses, “is the challenge of defining your healthy self and determining how to wield that newfound self-respect and freedom.” Recovering from narcissism demands a certain element of self-awareness and a desire to change. Confronting a painful and traumatic past takes hard therapeutic and emotional work. When the payoff of narcissistic tendencies is no longer beneficial, being stuck within the behaviors can become painful in itself. Having healthy relationships with others is possible. More importantly, it is possible to restore a healthy relationship with yourself. Avalon Malibu wants to see you thrive in a  harmonious balance of mind, body, and spirit. Our residential treatment facility dedicated to primary mental health treatment is located on a beautiful estate overlooking the iconic Malibu coast. For a confidential assessment and more information on our trusted programs, call 1 888-958-7511.

Is it a mental health condition or a mental illness? A mental disorder or a brain disorder? Should the way we describe mental health make a difference in how a condition, disorder, or illness is treated? More importantly, should the way we describe mental health make a difference in how a person is treated? Unfortunately, in a society full of shame, stigma, and stereotype, the labels we use make all the difference in the world. Perceptions based on terminology can greatly influence the way one is treated outside of treatment and the way treatment gets funded by the government or covered by insurance. One Psych Central contributor argues that it’s a matter of what happens to a person versus who a person is. She emphasizes that physical illnesses, diseases, and disorders are perceived as issues which happen to a person, like an action taken against them. For example, someone diagnosed with cancer is not called cancerous. Yet, someone who is diagnosed with depression is called depressed. She elaborates, “We get heart disease, but we are bipolar. We get cancer, but we are obsessive-compulsive. Heart disease and cancer are separate from us. Bipolar Disorder and OCD are us. Indeed, many people mistakenly believe that those with ‘mental illnesses’ typically have no insight or understanding as to what is going on with them.” Previous ideologies regarding the body’s ability to reproduce and heal itself didn’t go far beyond muscle and tissue. The brain is both muscle and tissue with the ability to regenerate. Addicts, alcoholics, and those with other primary or co-occurring mental health conditions change their brains. As the article points out citing research into neuroplasticity, the mind can change the brain. Numerous brain studies have revealed that changing habit, learning new things, and creating new behaviors doesn’t just change the way one thinks or acts but ultimately changes the chemistry of the brain. Neural pathways are altered entirely. “To me,” the author writes, “this is clear evidence that our brains are not who we are. They are an organ in our bodies that to some extent at least, can be trained.” It is for this reason realizing recovery is possible is paramount. Recovery from mental health “illnesses” “disorders” and “conditions” is possible because changing the brain is possible. If you are in need of recovery from a mental health condition which has disrupted your ability to control your life, help is available. Avalon Malibu proudly serves as one of California’s only certified primary mental health treatment facilities. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call 1 888-958-7511.

Each month there is a new breakthrough in psychopharmacology for the treatment of mental health disorders. Alcoholism and addiction, substance use disorders, are constantly being tried against various medications. America loves medications, for good reasons. For many people with many different conditions, medication works. Resolving treatment to a simple pill is a convenient answer which can be mass produced and help millions of people. Most treatment professionals agree, however, that a medication is only one part of a recovery program. Therapy, diet and nutrition, as well as lifestyle changes are essential for recovering from any kind of mental health condition. Creating a balance lifestyle of mind, body, and spirit is essential for creating the meaning and changes in life which will support ongoing recovery. Eating disorder recovery finds this to be especially true. However, for eating disorders, there is rarely talk of a medication. Recent headlines have indicated brain stimulation might help with bulimia and anorexia nervosa. In recent years, there has been talk of surgeries to help with binge eating disorder, as well as the suggestion of stimulant medications like Vyvanse, used for treating ADHD, to suppress the appetite. Yet, medications and eating disorders don’t seem to be associated. Refinery29 explains that understanding of how eating disorders work in the brain is still scarce. Only recently did some researchers find that eating disorders might live in the area of the brain where habits are formed. Additionally, eating disorders are difficult to study. The article writes that “it can be difficult to tell whether the differences in brain activity that you see in ED patients versus a healthy control group are truly due to the disorder or are actually due to malnourishment.” Another complicated contributor to the ambiguity of eating disorder treatment is that many patients don’t want to give up their behaviors out of fear. When people seek treatment they have either decided they want to live a different way, have been forced into treatment by family, or recognize their mortality should their behaviors continue. Eating disorders can create an unhealthy fear of gaining weight. One of the most influential factors which drive people away from treatment is the fear of gaining weight and not being able to participate in disordered behaviors any longer. Medications can cause weight gain, which could pose an immediate red flag to patients. Therapy and treatment, with a gentle guidance to lifestyle changes and thinking processes do help with eating disorder treatments. Studies are finding that once someone goes to treatment for an eating disorder, their recovery sustains long term. Avalon Malibu offers a residential treatment program for eating disorders which includes nourishment for the soul, the body, and healing for the mind. For a confidential assessment, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

Most people are dissatisfied with the way they look and feel that this is a serious consideration for how they feel about themselves, what they deserve in life, and how they conduct themselves. Where exactly do body image issues come from? Pressure From The Media “The media” always gets a big dish of the blame when it comes to body image issues. “Media” can include: social media, movies, magazines, tv shows, and even music. Any kind of mainstream messaging can create a body image issue. For example, it only recently came to light in the last few years that magazine covers and models in advertisements underwent digital alteration. People can photoshop themselves on their phones now before posting to social media. Pressure From Other People Other people like parents, romantic partners, friends, bullies, or family members get their inspiration to criticize someone’s body from somewhere. Most often, they are insecure in the way they look themselves and take that out on other people. As a result, they create the same fears and beliefs in others. Studies have found that mothers who criticize their bodies in the mirror in front of their daughters contribute greatly to their daughters developing body image issues of their own. Low Self-Esteem Low self-esteem can be natural for someone who generally feels insecure, shy, or anxious. It can also be caused by just about anything. Bullying, trauma, abuse, mental health conditions, or any kind of event or influence can cause a focus on the body. People are not born with an insecurity about their body. They have to learn that there is a way a body “should” look and that their body doesn’t look that way. Insecurity can cause body image issues. In order to avoid feeling insecure, to manifest insecurity, or to create a hyperfocus on it, a person can become obsessed with their body image and live in negativity about it. Eating Disorders Body image is a primary focus in eating disorders. Perfectionism is a leading problem which is isolated in how one looks. Deep fears about eating, weight gain, being judged by others, reaching a certain size or number on the scale are all tied to body image issues. Body dysmorphic disorder is a specific body image issue in which someone is unable to see past their perceived physical flaws. Convinced their flaws define them, they have difficulty socializing and being around other people. When body image issues become obsessive, they can interfere with your ability to live your life. You can learn to love yourself again and heal the pain of negative body image. Avalon Malibu offers residential treatment programs from our beautiful estate along the California Coast, specializing in mental health treatment to heal mind, body, and spirit. For a confidential assessment and more information, call 1 888-958-7511.

Many people don’t. Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, is a complex brain issue in which the mind and the body become dependent upon alcohol. Confusion, shame, and stigma make understanding alcoholism difficult. Would someone choose to become dependent upon alcohol? What could possibly cause someone to drink that way? Why can’t they just stop? Alcoholism is perplexing to those who have it, those who don’t have it, and those who are trying support their loved ones in treatment. How Does Alcoholism Develop? Alcoholism starts from a few different places. First, it can be genetically inherited. Alcoholism or a tendency towards chemical addiction can be passed on through generations of family. Genetic predisposition is always a factor in alcoholism. Alcoholism can also develop because of a pre-existing mental health condition. Mental health disorders like personality disorders and mood disorders have a higher risk of substance abuse including alcohol. People find relief in the effect of alcohol and turn to it as medicine. Lastly, alcoholism can develop due to the excessive abuse of alcohol. However, this source is controversial. Two people can drink in a similar problematic way and only one of them will develop a chemical dependency. Is Binge Drinking A Form Of Alcoholism? Binge drinking and alcoholism are not the same. Over time, binge drinking can lead to the development of alcoholism, but it is not a guaranteed lead. Binge drinking is a form of alcohol abuse, however, which can have underlying issues similar to alcoholism. Though genetics and co-occurring mental health conditions aren’t as prominent, someone might struggle with low self-esteem or difficulty managing their lives. Why Can’t Alcoholics Stop Drinking? Excessive alcohol consumption impairs the brain in many ways including key functions like judgment, considering consequences, and quantification, like knowing how much is too much. Alcoholics essentially lose their natural autonomy in choosing to stop drinking. There are also factors of physical dependency, as well as psychological dependency, which keeps someone from stopping drinking. According to their brain and their body, they need to drink. Can Alcoholics Really Stay Sober? Millions of alcoholics around the world have found a recovery program which works for them. By going to treatment, seeking long term therapy, and creating lifestyle changes, they do not need alcohol any longer. Having identified their underlying causes for abusing alcohol, treating their co-occurring mental health conditions, and finding new meaning in life, they are freed from the bondages of alcoholism. As long as they continue to work their program, they can stay sober for the rest of their lives. If you are struggling with alcoholism, there is hope. You do not have to struggle alone. Avalon Malibu can provide the healing you need to find peace in your life, free from a dependence on alcohol. For a confidential assessment and information on our residential treatment programs, call 1 888-958-7511.

Ketamine is a problem in some parts of the world. Korea, China, and Japan are all having issues with young people abusing or becoming addicted to ketamine. Used as a club drug, the psychoactive dissociate can create a derealized hallucinogenic state. Users feel this puts them in a sort of trance with the music as they detach from themselves. Called the “k-hole” the effects of ketamine are highly sought after, similar to the way club goers in America look to MDMA and ecstasy.

People who live with chronic pain, chronic back pain, and lower back pain, don’t like hearing they are addicted to their pain. Many holistic healers who follow the philosophy of Eastern traditions believe that is true. Bring this up with pain management doctors and receive a stirred response. Pain is pain, many will argue, which needs to be treated as pain. Treating pain in chronic pain patients has been an especially sensitive topic of conversation in the midst of the opioid epidemic spreading throughout America. Most pain management uses opioid prescription painkillers, which are highly addictive. Other doctors feel that pain is not an isolated physical event. According to more holistic perspectives, pain can be caused by emotions, stress, events in the past, and environment. By treating the body, mind, and soul holistically, pain can be managed in a more effective way. Curiously, patients like to hold onto their pain. One would think differently. It happens in a way similar to how an alcoholic both has to and chooses to hold onto their alcoholism. Despite immense suffering and negative consequences, there is some payoff to their pain. Part of the pain lives in the chemical dependency of the brain. Yet, some of that chemical dependency in the brain, which centers on pleasure and reward, is caused by an emotional as well as spiritual need to avoid pain. Emotional pain and spiritual pain can cause as much pain as real physical pain. Brain imaging studies have found that the brain reacts to emotional and social pain in an almost identical fashion to physical pain. For pain management patients, that’s a considerable finding. PsychiatryAdvisor.com reported on a progressive talk given at a recent pain management conference touching on the subject. “Studies have shown that pain management programs rooted in [the biopsychosocial] approach...led to reduced pain, increased activity, and improved daily functioning in patients with chronic pain.” Biopsychosocial programs often include cognitive behavioral therapy, physical exercise, and medication management. The article also lists the use of other treatment modalities including:

Process addictions are difficult to understand and undergo great scrutiny as they are frequently weighed for validity. Sex addiction, for example, is a process addiction, which recently lost its viability as a diagnosable disorder. Process addictions describe compulsive disorders which involve a specific process, like exercise, gambling, and sex addiction. What causes such controversy with process addictions is the way they compare to chemical addictions. Chemical addictions like drug addiction and alcoholism have a specific source: drugs and alcohol. It is more difficult to examine and understand an addiction disorder which does not include the ingestion of substances. Yet, process addictions and chemical addictions act in a similar way. Dopamine, the neurotransmitter in the brain which produces signals of pleasure and reward, is produced in both. For example, when a gambling addict goes to place a bet, they experience a surge in the production of dopamine, despite not having ingested any mind altering chemicals. Additionally, those with process addictions do experience a similar rewarding of the brain, yet not to the extreme of chemical addictions. For example, both sex and gambling addiction experiences a dependency upon their processes to stimulate any pleasure. Likewise to chemical addictions, both processes also create a reward system based on that pleasure. Interestingly, process addictions actually create a tolerance in a similar way to chemical addictions. What starts as a friendly wager on a football game between friends could end up meaning wagers of cars, high risk bets, compulsive gambling, and even lead to illegal bets. Sex addiction also faces a tolerance, needing more extreme forms of sexual pleasure to produce the same kind of thrill. Even compulsions like shopping addiction or exercise addiction are challenged when a tolerance is set. Since their reward system has become obsessed with as well as dependent upon their process, they have to engage in more to achieve the same effect. Unfortunately, process addictions are treated differently than chemical addictions primarily because there is a severe lack in research on them. Most studies done on chemical addiction involve the use of animals like mice and rats in a laboratory. Mice and rats can’t exactly be trained to go to a casino and hit the slot machines or max out a credit card with a shopping problem. For those who struggle with process addictions, their issues are anything but illegitimate. Many treatment centers continue to provide treatment for process addictions because they too tend to have underlying issues and co-occurring mental health disorders. Avalon Malibu is committed to providing quality mental health treatment to those with primary issues needing the loving care and clinical compassion of rehabilitation. For a confidential assessment and more information on our primary mental health residential treatment programs, call 1 888-958-7511.

Smoking cigarettes is bad for you. This has been proven tenfold over the last few decades. Yet, people insist on smoking. Despite teeth staining, smelly clothes, a raspy voice, and the chronic threat of developing a lung disease, people continue smoking. The same phenomena applies to tanning. Excessive exposure to UVA and UVB ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer, which in advanced stages can become life-threatening. Without using hats, sunscreens, or cover ups, people persistently seek sunbathing or tanning beds to maintain the skin color of their choice. Though vitamin D therapy is helpful in treating depression types like seasonal affective disorder, too much can be damaging. New research suggests that the specific impulse to tan could be an indication of an addictive personality and lead to other addictions. Science Daily reports that the Yale School of Public Health found a correlation between substance abuse, mental health, and an addiction to tanning. “...Those who exhibited tanning dependence, also referred to as tanning addiction, were six times as likely to also be dependent on alcohol and three times as likely to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).” Additionally, those who demonstrated a tanning addiction were “five times more likely to exhibit ‘exercise addiction’”. What causes tanning addiction is not yet understood. Early understandings of the brain’s reactions to tanning indicate a surplus in the production of melanin and endorphins. Endorphins are a feel good brain chemical which many people feel when they exercise. Like many “addictions”, the brain associates behaviors and processes like tanning and exercising with reward. Interestingly, tanning and exercise are recommended treatments, in a healthy balance, for mental health conditions like depression, because of the way they produce endorphins and create healthy rewards. Learning to create balance and peace in life when recovering from mental or chemical addictions takes time and healing. The residential treatment programs at Avalon Malibu are designed to clinically guide you toward mental healing while providing other treatments for body and spirit. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call 1 (888) 958-7511 today.

Dependency in mental health conditions takes many forms. People can be chemically AVLN-dependent, counter dependent, codependent, and dependent in other ways. Dependent personality disorder takes dependency to the extreme. For example, many people are dependent upon that first cup of coffee to get them going in the morning. Without it, they might be a little cranky and slower than usual, but they get by. In the case of dependent personality disorder, other people are their cup of coffee and without other people fulfilling their every need, they will not get by. Bustle explains that there is a difference between dependent behaviors and a fully developed dependent personality disorder. People can experience phases or tendencies of being clingy, needy, attached, and demanding. Often these behaviors are in reaction to a difficult emotion, fears and insecurities, or even a reaction to guilt. Dependency becomes a disorder “when it consistently impairs functioning over time, independent of factors like medical conditions or substance abuse,” the article explains. “Specifically, DPD is characterized by a pervasive need to be taken care of by other people,” in addition to, “a crippling fear of being alone.” Not wanting to be alone and calling on friends for support is normal from time to time. For dependent personality disorder, that time is all the time, to a debilitating degree. Bustle lists these as signs of DPD: