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Whether you’re hosting, attending, or neither, New Year’s can bring about stress. On top of cooking or hosting a party with friends and family that you may not have seen for a long time, it can also be stressful to think of all the goals that you’d like to accomplish this upcoming year – especially if you have anxiety and a fear of failure. With the right mindset however, anxiety and stress does not have to hold you down at the start of this next year. Here are several wonderful tips that you can use to get through it and stay focused on your addiction recovery:

After a traumatic event has occurred – even years after it’s happened, it’s not uncommon for a person to struggle with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For many people, it’s a recurring experience that involves waking up from a terrifying dream, while having been sweating and their heart racing quite fast, then unable to fall back asleep because their nightmares shook them so much. The person who experiences this could range from an older man who’s served in the military, to a young woman who’s experienced a traumatic situation. Trauma and PTSD truly don’t discriminate – but this can make it incredibly difficult for a person to recover if they don’t seek help. Unfortunately, nightmares can occur for many people with PTSD; as the mind and body are trying to recover, those terrifying moments of the traumatic event are stored in memory and all senses can find themselves emerging again the minute the mind recollects the memories of the event – even suddenly. Those who’ve been diagnosed with PTSD tend to experience a wide range of other symptoms alongside their disorder, such as:

Addiction takes a person away from embracing the present moment. When addiction is present, it becomes much easier for a person to go on this endless chase of substance abuse, losing sight of close connections, financial health status, physical health status, career aspirations, goal setting, hobby exploration, and more. Thoughts become centered around using rather than about anything else, and with that, a person’s priorities change. Hobbies, friends, family, work projects, and more can all fade away as addiction takes over, and recovery is all about bringing these things back.

Throughout the course of a relationship, a number of trials and tribulations can arise. If you’re with a significant other who has been struggling with addiction, you’re both bound to experience some major ups and downs – some of which can cost you your relationship, either purposefully or not. By recognizing some of the main obstacles you’re both facing, you will be able to work through them more effectively in therapy sessions at Avalon Malibu; addiction recovery can take a major toll on the relationship but by being proactive and learning about what you’re each going through during this extremely challenging time, you’ll both be better prepared to work together through this.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is experienced by many adults – and children – throughout the United States. OCD is considered a mental health disorder that includes obsessions (unwanted thoughts) and compulsions (repeated actions). Oftentimes, television shows try to depict OCD in certain ways – such as a character knocking on the door a certain number of times or needing to wash their hands a certain number of time before being able to move on. However, it’s important to note that obsessions of OCD can be much different from what tends to be depicted.

Addiction is a complex disease that brings about compulsive behaviors to use, and with this comes great vulnerability in finding other things to become addicted to in recovery – even if a person has no intentions of this happening. For many people new to recovery, it’s a process of learning how to live life without substances; it’s hard to break habits, and over time, the mind and body become acclimated to having a drink or using drugs during certain times of the day, around other people, or in certain situations. For those in recovery, it’s about “re-learning” how to live life without certain substances – and learning how to not pick up new addictions in place of the old ones.  Experts have found that those in addiction recovery need to give incredibly careful consideration to what they consume, especially if they have addictive potential.

Many Americans explain yoga as something that you “do”, but this isn’t quite the case. As it was originally developed into, yoga is a natural state of being – it’s a spiritual discipline that involves breath control, simple meditation, and the incorporation of certain bodily postures to promote health and relaxation. So many people throughout America are practicing the art of yoga each and everyday, and for a number of reasons: flexibility, general conditioning, stress relief, improvement of overall health, and physical fitness. If you’re currently in addiction recovery but are contemplating yoga and are nervous to get started, the reality is that so many other people can do it: why can’t you?  Perhaps you’re in addiction or mental illness recovery, and you’re questioning your flexibility. You may think you’re too big, too old, or “too much” of something to be able to practice yoga – if this is the case, you need to immediately push those thoughts aside because they’re not true. Unless you’ve got a serious health condition that could cause you harm, anyone can practice yoga. The best part is that there are many types of yoga, such as:

If you struggle with depression, then you know how it feels to be isolated and wondering where you fit within this world. Depression is a harmful disease that involves changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, self-esteem, and more. Other physical signs of depression may include migraines, joint pain such as fibromyalgia, digestive problems such as constipation and bloating, chest pain, back pain with tension in the neck, and more – all of which can make daily life more and more difficult if not treated. Previous studies have shown that most people with depression experience aches and pains; if you’ve been struggling with symptoms of depression, Avalon Malibu can help you reach healing at the levels of your mind, body and spirit. Research has shown that depression can grealty help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, and can help with pain management as well. While depression can make it challenging to get out and receive massage therapy, it’s a very conducive type of treatment because it essentially involves healthy human touch – and this alone can prove to be very relaxing for many people in recovery. Massage therapy can relieve stress, reduce anxiety, manage lower back pain, reduce muscle tension, relieve tension headaches, improve balance, lower blood pressure, and much more. Avalon Malibu offers massage therapy that can be completed alongside traditional treatment programs activities; if received on a consistent basis, massage therapy can really help a person experience healing over time. In a relaxing setting, you will be able to release all of the pent up stress, energy, and tension acquired from life’s obstacles. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu about seeking treatment for addiction recovery as well as mental illness. Depression can be a heavy weight to carry, but you don’t have to carry it alone – help is available.

A personality disorder is a form of mental illness that can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life; it can make relationships, careers, and daily life challenging if not treated appropriately. Many people who suffer from a personality disorder may show symptoms but may not recognize that they’re experiencing a disorder. By understanding the different characteristics that can take place, you can better assess if you or a love done needs help:

Many people with mental illness are limited in their ability to find and create a rich, meaningful life either due to the heavy stigma that's placed on them by society, not many opportunities for growth, or because the symptoms of their mental illness prevent them from carrying out certain aspects of their daily life. When it comes to recovery, it’s crucial for a person to be able to make sense of their experiences. If you’re ready to get involved in a program that will support your mental, physical and spiritual health, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. Research studies have previously explored leisure activities and how they’ve aided in a person’s success in addiction recovery. There are so many examples of activities that can be relaxing for a person who is working on their sobriety, such as hiking and other recreational activities, running, quilting, volunteering, storytelling, and more. If a person becomes involved in more leisurely activities, they’re likely to experience an enhanced way of life in a multitude of ways:

Heroin is a drug made from morphine – and is typically consumed by injecting, sniffing, snorting or smoking it. When a person consumes morphine, it immediately binds to opioid receptors located in the brain. When this happens, a number of physiological symptoms are impacted – such as heart rate, sleeping, and breathing. Heroin is an illicit opioid that produces effects like dry mouth, heavy feelings in the arms and legs, severe itching, nausea and vomiting, clouded mental functioning and more; heroin is incredibly addictive and can become extremely dangerous for a person if severe addiction is developed yet no treatment is sought. For those who do want to recover from heroin addiction, it can be incredibly hard if their significant other – or close friends – are still battling with it. Many people who experience this find that their lives continued to be disrupted because the occurrence of heroin continues to interfere with their daily life, even if they themselves are not using it anymore. Heroin can completely change the way a person thinks and behaves; many people who’ve abused heroin have described it as something that pulls a “warm feeling” over them, with little to no worries. Of course, this may sound euphoric – but the effects last only for a short period of time, and there are a myriad of unpleasant effects that can occur if a person were to ever recover, such as:

So many people have read the warning labels on medications, to not be taken with alcohol, yet there are so many of us who still continue to do this harmful practice. The common belief is that alcohol either helps intensify the effects of the medication, helps the person relax more, or both. However, what many people don’t realize is that it could become a dangerous combination, depending on how much alcohol and what type of medication it is. Nearly half of people who drink alcohol with medication are at risk for having a bad reaction – so understanding the reality behind this situation could prevent a person from undue harm.