Treatment

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India thousands of years ago, and it remains in wide use today all over the world. Considered a form of alternative and complementary medicine in the U.S., many of the principles of Ayurveda have nevertheless come into the mainstream, with physicians trained in modern medicine incorporating some of the practices into their own roster of treatments for various conditions. Ayurveda is particularly suited for helping people with a substance abuse disorder tune in more closely to their physical and spiritual condition. It embodies a holistic approach to healing that addresses mind, body, and spirit, which is increasingly regarded as the best way to treat the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of substance addiction.

Have you ever wondered why your memory doesn’t work like it used to, or why you have greater difficulty concentrating and paying attention? Have you or your friends and family noticed that you have difficulty organizing your thoughts, or finding the right words to express yourself to others? Do you struggle to maintain a stable mood? A Neuropsychological Evaluation (NPE) can help answer these questions and provide you with a detailed assessment of the inner workings of your brain - including strengths and weaknesses, which in turn will assist in  developing a more effective treatment plan for your specific problems. And the best part? Avalon is now proud to offer this comprehensive evaluation to each one of our mental health clients - making us one of a very select few treatment facilities in the country to provide such a service as a part of their intake process.

Introversion and social anxiety are commonly considered to be roughly the same thing, and those who understand neither may simply call it "shyness." But introversion and social anxiety are not the same thing, although they may co-exist. Introversion is largely a personality trait, while social anxiety is a mental health issue. Both introverts and extroverts can suffer from social anxiety.

Personality disorders are mental illnesses that involve chronic patterns of unhealthy attitudes and behaviors, inflexible thoughts, and false beliefs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder that's characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a deeply-ingrained need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Beneath the excessive show of confidence, people with NPD usually have an extremely fragile self-esteem and are unable to cope with even slight criticism, according to the Cleveland Clinic. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder often use drugs or alcohol as a way of dealing with with the inevitable relationship problems and other interpersonal issues that result from this disorder, which also commonly co-occurs with other mental illnesses like depression, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder. Due to the complexity of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, one of the most effective treatments for this condition is cognitive behavioral therapy, which can be modified to treat a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse and addiction, which often co-occur with NPD.

Depression is a serious mental illness that saps your energy and reduces your quality of life. Living with depression can cause other illnesses, and it can lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices, including drug or alcohol abuse. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 20 percent of American adults who suffer from depression also have a substance abuse disorder, and 20 percent of people with a substance abuse disorder are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Depression can be effectively treated with both medication and psychotherapy, although the National Institute of Mental Health notes that psychotherapy is typically the best option for mild to moderate depression in adults. Psychotherapy can be administered one-on-one or in a group setting. Group therapy is less expensive than individual therapy, and numerous studies, including one meta-analytic study published by the American Psychological Association, show that there is no difference in outcomes between group and individual therapy.

If you have a partner, child, sibling or friend who is struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, you want to make the best possible choice for effective treatments. It's easy to be overwhelmed with the different treatment approaches available: 12-step, holistic, cognitive behavioral, etc. Is existential therapy a viable option? Keep reading to learn more.

Holistic refers to the idea that the whole is greater than merely the sum of its parts. In relation to holistic therapy for substance abuse, this concept has wide ramifications. Research has showed that addiction is a systemic brain disease marked by compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Of course, there are surefire methods of helping a person get clean. However, even these methods don't always take into consideration the whole individual. The holistic approach to treating substance abuse goes beyond traditional therapies such as those for individual, group, or family through behavioral or pharmacological treatment. Instead, this approach promotes recovery by healing the mind, body and soul.

As you know, depression is like a cloud hanging over everything you do. It alters who you are by affecting how you interact with and treat others. It diminishes the joys of your life and makes you see your future as a drudgery. But, thankfully, there is hope when it comes to treating depression. In addition to medication and counseling (both vital tools of recovery), art therapy has a positive impact on depression.

Substance abuse impacts the lives of every individual in a family. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (1), family members face a variety of challenges and complications when a loved one abuses drugs or alcohol. Finding the right treatment approach is crucial and allows the addicted individual to focus on personal treatment goals. Gestalt Therapy for addiction recovery is proving to be a viable option. Gestalt Therapy is a holistic approach to the recovery process that allows a person to make positive changes by understanding the factors that contribute to an addiction.

A loved one's behavior and thought patterns often change after abusing drugs or alcohol. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (1) says that drugs interfere with the way that the brain communicates and floods the brain's reward system with dopamine. Although the physical reactions to the substance contribute to an addiction, the psychological aspects of an addiction also play a role in the recovery process. During treatment, a loved one must address the emotional and psychological dependence that develops during an addiction. This is why the use of psychology in addiction treatment and recovery is often very effective.

After completing an addiction treatment program, you will want to find the right tools to limit the risk of a relapse. Although the best relapse prevention strategies will depend on your personal concerns, goals and interests, meditation or mindfulness teach you different ways to avoid triggers and limit cravings for drugs or alcohol. Meditation to prevent drug and alcohol relapse is becoming a very popular tool in recovery. According to the National Institutes of Health (1), roughly 50 percent of individuals relapse on drugs or alcohol within one year of completing a treatment program. By incorporating meditation, the risk of relapse reduces, says the National Institutes of Health (1).

Watching your loved one struggle with their drug use, repeatedly trying to stop on their own. You want to help, but you know that you lack the skills and background to truly reach your loved one in a way that gives them the kind of support they truly need. You probably despair at each new low that your loved one descends into while in the grasp of their drug addiction, especially if they have been using drugs several years. Having watched a healthy, bright and promising person become so reliant on something so life-altering and devastating has probably created a feeling of helplessness, causing you to wonder what their future might hold. Or how long their future might be if they don't get some kind of help.