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We’re not always given the best coping mechanisms growing up, and sometimes we may see people, life and situations as being more “black and white” than they really are. It’s hard to get out of that mindset – and in most cases, this type of thinking can perpetuate conflicts with loved ones and can even escalate the painful emotions we’re already experiencing. Many people in addiction recovery experience this exact feeling; and, in many cases without the correct support, a person will begin to rely on substances because that seems like the only way out of anger, depression, resentment and other discomforting feelings. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) was originally created to help treat borderline personality disorder (BPD) – a disorder that can make it challenging to see the “in-betweens” or the “gray areas” of life. Oftentimes, however, people without this disorder will face such feelings – and that’s why DBT can be used to help treat a variety of conditions. WebMD explains that DBT addresses a variety of aspects of life that people have issues managing, such as:

In the whirlwind of addiction, it’s hard to identify what’s up from down. Life can feel like an ongoing battle of events, and you may have struggled desperately to come back to surface – only to find that the addiction pulled you back even stronger. Recovery is one of the most transformational periods of growth for a person because they’re finally able to stop and focus on their entire wellbeing – and with that comes a much greater capacity for happiness and fulfillment in life. Stabilization is the most important step to the beginning of a person’s recovery journey, and this is typically through detoxification. Holistic treatment at Avalon Malibu takes into consideration all the aspects that make up a person – focusing on the healing and restoration of their mind, body and spirit. A publication by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes that at this stage, clients are typically scared – so in order to become stable, much support and care is provided.

Do you ever find yourself wanting to control aspects of your environment so that you can feel more comfortable? Do things have to be a “certain way”? Have loved ones ever told you that you’re very “particular” about where certain items need to go or how things need to be done? If so, you may have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s been estimated that around 2.2 million Americans struggle with OCD every year – and if it’s not treated early on, the risk of addiction may be on the horizons. New Scientist, a website that publishes information related to technology, space, physics and health, has highlighted that OCD is much like an addiction within itself; intrusive thoughts and a lack of control over the urges associated with those thoughts can be debilitating in day-to-day life – and when substances become involved in an attempt to lessen the intensity of their distress, another addiction can take place. Intrusive Thoughts is an organization that shares important information related to OCD as well as mindfulness, addiction, family and more – and they recently highlighted a study which found that 23% of participants with OCD also met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD). Addiction – in an addition to OCD – can cause a person to act irrationally; other symptoms may include:

Whether it occurred before addiction began or once it’d already developed, damaged relationships can impact the way a person views themselves and their life. Friend and family relationships can involve ups and downs over time, especially as different situations arise. Unfortunately, families can harbor toxic relationships which only perpetuate miscommunication and unhealthy dynamics; in many other cases, relationships can be broken because of the changes that are displayed in a person when active addiction is involved. If you’ve lost important relationships throughout your life – which many people have – it can feel nerve-wracking to start over in building new relationships. We can’t always get by on surface level conversations – to build a truly meaningful life, we have to develop a strong support system which we can lean on in both times of celebration and need.

Most talk of addiction is centered on opioids, alcohol, marijuana or other related drugs – but barbiturates aren’t discussed as often and this can make it even more challenging to seek help if it’s needed. Barbiturates are depressant drugs used to treat anxiety and muscle spasms, prevent seizures and to help a person sleep; the two primary ways of using these types of drugs are injecting a liquid or by swallowing pills. Medical News Today notes that barbiturates were first developed in 1864 – and since then, benzodiazepines have taken the place of many barbiturates for treating different conditions. Recreational use of barbiturates can place a person at increased risk for addiction. There are several effects that come from barbiturate use for those who don’t need it for medical purposes:

People have used art for centuries to express themselves – and with a skilled therapist, art therapy can be incredibly healing for those in addiction recovery who’ve gone through pain. Trauma, accidents, the loss of a loved one, mental illness and more can make it that much harder to find peace in daily life – and art therapy opens up the platform for a person to express themselves, even if they can’t find the words to describe what they’re going through. Last year, writer Art Acacia told Medium, a magazine that publishes relatable information on mental health and more, that art therapy, “…provides a safe place where patients can explore unpleasant feelings such as anger, sadness, or fear. Feelings that they are otherwise reluctant to talk about.”

Phobias can develop at a young age or well into adulthood, but they nonetheless are difficult to manage – especially if treatment isn’t sought. Mental Health America (MHA) explains that while everyone feels “anxious” or “worried” from time to time, phobias are more extreme. Your heart may race, your palms may get sweaty, thoughts may seem to rush in your mind, and you may want to desperately avoid certain situations out of fear. Phobias can be downright debilitating, and can completely control a person’s life if not taken care of properly.

The music we listen to says a lot about our likes and interests, our personality, our perceptions on life and also how we feel. There are a number of reasons why we may play certain songs or keep the station on the radio for a bit longer – and while sometimes it’s merely to pass the time, it’s often the case that we listen because we either feel a certain way or we want to feel a certain way. Consider the last time you were feeling depressed. Did you listen to positive, upbeat music or did you find yourself leaning towards songs that expressed pain and sadness? Human beings are vulnerable, and we desire to connect with others through emotional messages in music.

Do you know of someone who seems to only care about their needs, only to brush off yours? Do you know someone who acts as though they’re better than everyone else? Narcissism is a spectrum disorder, and a healthy amount of narcissism is okay – but if narcissistic levels are too high, a person may have narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) without even realizing it. If you think that you or a loved one may have this disorder, it’s important to understand why this disorder is often overlooked – and with the right tools and information, you can move forward in the right direction for you or you loved one’s needs. Help Guide explains that NPD is, “…a pattern of self-centered, arrogant thinking and behavior, a lack of empathy and consideration for other people, and an excessive need for admiration.” Others may view someone as being manipulative, selfish, or even patronizing – but it can be hard to tell whether a person has a true personality disorder over someone who just acts on narcisstistic tendies every now and then. Earlier this year, writer Katie Heaney noted a book on The Cut titled, Rethinking Narcissism: The Bad – and Surprisingly Good – About Feeling Special; the author of this book, clinical psychologist and Harvard Medical School lecturer Craig Malkin explained that narcissism is something that we all have – it’s a universal tendency that, in many cases, can help us do well in interviews, dream hard, work towards our goals and more. The disorder itself is when tendencies of narcissism get taken to the extreme – it’s the need to feel special; with this disorder, a person is typically willing to lie, steal, cheat, or do whatever it takes in order to feel at the level where they want to be. If you’re ready to restore your mind, body and spirit from NPD, substance abuse and/or other conditions, please speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today.

Marijuana addiction has been a long-debated topic over the past few years, as many people believe that since it’s considered a “natural herb”, it doesn’t have addictive properties. If you ask a large number of people, however, you might receive different stories; in 2015, writer Kitty Gray shared her story via Vice on how she struggled with marijuana dependency. She explained that for 6 years in a row, she’d deliberately smoke marijuana three times a day; she described her dependence as this: “I can now admit that I’ve been psychologically addicted to weed for the past decade-plus. If I need to eat, sleep, be amused, calm down, forget a horrible experience, practice self love, run errands of any kind, watch TV or create something: I smoke.”    No matter what your relationship to marijuana has been in the past, it’s important to know the facts. While marijuana may not be considered physically addictive, it’s psychologically addictive. Individuals who go through this dependence stage with marijuana tend to think about using a lot – and if they’re not able to use it in an effort to control how they want to feel, they’re likely to become disappointed. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that those who use marijuana frequently already tend to report symptoms like irritability, cravings, restlessness, decreased appetite, sleep issues and more – and this is because the brain adapts to the effects that marijuana produces. The earlier that a person begins using marijuana – especially if they start using before the age of 18 – the more likely they are to develop marijuana dependency as an adult. If you’ve been struggling with marijuana or another substance, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. Recovery is possible – and you deserve to get back control over your life.

As the body heals from the damage caused from substance abuse, it’s common that many people in addiction recovery feel aches and pains. Withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, insomnia, anxiety and discomfort may arise for awhile – but even after withdrawal symptoms have subsided, the body may still experience pain as it heals. Holistic care opens many doors for patients in recovery to heal and restore their mind, body and spirit. Massage therapy is an excellent practice that can bring you many benefits if you’re open to it. Massage therapist Nicole Cutler explained on the main website for the Institute for Integrative Healthcare that massage is beneficial for someone in addiction recovery in all stages: withdrawal, detoxification and abstinence. She stated, “The physical, emotional and spiritual components of recovery all can be directly benefited by the healing power of therapeutic touch. The nurturing contact of massage utilizes skin as the translator of the therapist’s intent.”

Individual psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) can afford us the opportunity to dig deep within ourselves; the therapist-client relationship is so important because it fosters a person’s growth and development in areas of a person’s life they wish to thrive in. Recovery involves so many different aspects of healing and restoration – and individual therapy isn’t the only way those in addiction recovery can grow. Group psychotherapy sessions provide a unique, safe space for individuals to build upon the foundation they’ve developed in other areas of treatment; because it’s a format different from individual therapy sessions, clients can gain different benefits from attending.