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Addiction recovery is such a sensitive, vulnerable process – because with so many factors at play, a person requires an integration of treatment methods personalized to fit their needs in order to achieve optimal results. Treatment centers used to focus strictly on Western methods of treatment – such as through medication and intervention programs to address substance use disorder (SUD) concerns. Over time, however, it was noted that not everyone responds well to solely these types of treatment – and by integrated a variety of other approaches, those seeking treatment may be able to receive more personalized care. Holistic approaches to addiction recovery have been widely used in the Eastern world – massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga and more are seen as not only excellent ways to help a person heal from the tolls addiction can have on the mind, body and spirit, but they also help a person take preventative measures from developing other mental illnesses along the way. A 2014 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research explains that it’s this bridge between the Eastern and Western medicine that resolves many gaps for people in recovery. Of course, these holistic approaches to treatment can be a little worrisome for those who are unfamiliar with them. In 2017, Amy Cook, a contributor to Thrive Global, explained that holistic modalities such as aromatherapy can help reduce symptoms of depressiona and anxiety, and at the very least, provide an incredibly relaxing effect on a person who may be quite stressed from everything they’ve been going through. Julie Aiken, CEO of Ameritech, a healthcare college, explained, “Patients may be experiencing trauma that impairs their psychosocial health and certainly spiritual distress. A holistic nurse will assess the whole person and direct care individually for the patient that will facilitate the patient’s innate healing abilities.” With a combination of both traditional and holistic treatment practices, those in recovery are bound to reap the most benefits.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that in 2016, 4 million people aged 12 and older qualified as having cannabis use disorder (CUD) – which tends to develop when a person has become tolerant of marijuana and needs to take more in order to feel the same “high” effects. Despite so many people meeting the criteria for this, most people don’t consider marijuana to even be an addictive substances – after all, it’s natural, right? Despite this common belief, the reality is that marijuana is just as addictive as any other drug that produces that feeling of being “high”. Even if a person doesn’t achieve physical addiction, they can reach psychological dependency – which still represents a major concern that not enough people address. In 2015, Kitty Gray wrote to Vice explaining that her daily ritual of “waking up and smoking marijuana” developed into full-blown psychological dependency. She stated, “If I need to eat, sleep, relax, be amused, calm down, forget a horrible experience, practice self-love, run errands of any kind, watch TV, or create something: I smoke.” While marijuana can have beneficial effects – as previous studies have emphasized the therapeutic benefits of marijuana for certain medical conditions – it seems as though recreational use can become a bit addictive for some people, especially when things get out of hand. What’s holding most people back, however, is the belief that they can “quit” anytime they’d like – and this strong belief is what draws people away from seeking help. How do you know if you’re struggling with marijuana dependency? Take a look at the following signs:

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance explains that mood disorders are highly treatable – but until a person recognizes their symptoms and seeks help, they may find that their life becomes more and more unmanageable. Symptoms of prolonged sadness, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, irritability, anger, pessimism, loss of energy, inability to concentrate and so much more can already have a significant impact on a person’s daily life – but how can a person manage these symptoms while also recovering from an addiction? A major component of this is being treated for both a mood disorder and a substance use disorder (SUD) at the same time. Mood disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder (BPD) and others require specialized attention, but focusing only on a mood disorder over an SUD can make symptoms of the other condition worse. At Avalon Malibu, we treat both at the same time – and by taking a holistic approach to wellness, we’ll explore with you everything that can be done in treatment to optimize your mental, physical and spiritual health. The management of a co-occurring disorder typically involves a number of different aspects of treatment:

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has emphasized that nearly 21-29% of patients who are prescribed opioids misuse them, and between 8-12% of patients go on to develop an opioid use disorder (OUD). Opioid prescriptions are used to treat pain – whether from an accident, an injury, or a medical issue .Whether used from prescriptions or used recreationally, however, the mind and body become used to the euphoric effects that opioids create, and that’s part of what can make the healing process in recovery quite uncomfortable. If you’ve been struggling with opioid addiction, it’s important to know that your mind and body are going to go through certain changes in recovery – but that doesn’t mean that healing isn’t possible. By learning more about what you may experience in recovery, you can take proper actions to ensure you’re supported in the best ways possible during this transition.

Every couple has their problems, but addiction can escalate a relationship to heights they’ve never seen before. When one person in a relationship is struggling with addiction, the entire dynamic can change – and this places the success of the relationship at risk. A 2019 study published in the journal Zero Three emphasizes the effect that this can have on families – such as through parenting and infant experiences – but what about for couples? How do those in intimate relationships manage the ups and downs of substance abuse?

Sometimes we feel more than what we let out into the world, and writing therapy gives us an opportunity to explore it through pen and paper. Even on a more personal level, writing can help alleviate a lot of stress – a 2016 study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior found that even writing expressively through Facebook and using various social networking activities online can help alleviate symptoms of depression. Those in addiction recovery may find that writing therapy can open many gates to thoughts and emotions they’ve suppressed over the years, but what happens when that gate just doesn’t seem to open? Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems experienced with writing therapy:

We don’t always realize that we’re hurting those around us when addiction is active, and as we sober up, we begin to become more aware of this. It’s shocking, it’s painful, it’s devastatingly real – especially when we hear from those around us that we’ve hurt them, but even more once we let it sink in. There’s no turning back the time, and this may very well be one of the hardest lessons we’ll have to learn in recovery. We can’t go back to a previous time before our relationships with loved ones were broken. We can’t undo the damage that’s been done – and sometimes this truth can make a person feel absolutely horrible. It was previously stated on the American Psychological Association’s webpage that when people feel guilt, they: “…tend to focus on behavior. Guilt is more proactive.”

When we walk into therapy, we typically don’t know what to expect. All that we know is that we have a lot of issues that we want to work on – because in the past, we’ve used alcohol or other substances to cover up the pain we’ve been experiencing. This pain may have derived from recent events, or could date back all the way to childhood; nonetheless, it weighs heavily on the mind, body and spirit. Therapy is an excellent place to explore our thoughts, emotions and sensations – because it’s a safe place where people can talk out how they’re feeling with a third party who respects them and wants to help them work through these issues. If you’ve recently begun your journey to recovery, know that therapy can be one of the most transformational aspects of your life if you let it- - and the right therapist will be able to serve as a roadmap to take you where you need to be (given that you put in the work, of course).

Holistic treatment modalities have shown time and time again to be effective alongside more traditional addiction recovery practices like therapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Yoga, meditation, chiropractic services and acupuncture are all forms of holistic treatment because they’re non-invasive – and that very reason alone is a huge source of comfort for those who worry about pain or discomfort. Acupuncture is a recognized practice in the Eastern world, but has made it’s way out West over the past decade as researchers have discovered it’s practical implications along with it’s more healing, therapeutic outcomes for those in addiction recovery and beyond. Margarita Alcantara, a woman who has struggled with addiction, explained her experience with acupuncture via Mind Body Green. She stated, “Not only does [acupuncture] reduce the cravings, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and need for pharmaceuticals, but it helps create a more optomistic and synergistic attitude towards the process of recovery, and has been reported to improve program retention.” Dr. Andrew Weil, an internationally recognized expert on medicinal plants and alternative medicine, explains that acupuncture can benefit those with anxiety, depression, nausea, vomiting, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines and even degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. There are many benefits of having acupuncture done, especially for those in recovery from addiction:

Warning: This post may contain trigger warnings. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. Celebrities tend to pave the way in our society – they guide the latest trends, speak up on the latest issues and emphasize certain behavioral patterns that become integrated into our culture. Celebrities are incredibly influential – and while we don’t always know the intimate details of their lives, the work they produce can have such an incredibly important influence on us. Mental health has been more widely discussed amongst celebrities, as more and more are coming out about their own personal struggles with mental health issues and how they manage the symptoms they experience. Demi Lovato, for example, has been very open about not only her struggle with bipolar disorder (BPD), but also with her journey through addiction recovery, relapse, sobriety and more. Unfortunately, we’ve lost many amazing celebrities this past year due to mental health concerns and/or drug-related overdoses. We’d like to commemorate some of the precious souls that we lost in 2018:

Anger is a natural human emotion, and it’s not always bad; there have been many momentous occasions in which anger has propelled a person to stand up for their rights, to take action against a wrongdoing in the best way possible, or to create something that sparked change in the world. Anger does have a dark, dangerous side, however – and for many people recovering from alcoholism, anger can feel like a festering, infectious tornado that just keeps building and building until something is about to break. This is for many people a beginning phase of sobriety – because while sobriety can bring about increased energy, sharpened mental focus and more, there’s still a major change that the mind, body and spirit are going through – and that’s where “dry drunk” comes into play. In 2018, Ben Freeland shared his story of struggling with his first year of sobriety. He explained to Medium some of the positives of his first year in sobriety, along with the negatives: “…A sharp contraction in your social life, newfound awkwardness in longstanding relationships with friends and family, and, of course, the rage. The unfettering, unrelenting, oftentimes blinding anger. The kind of rage that makes you want to put your fist through absolutely everything.” “Dry Drunk Syndrome”, more clinically called “Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome”, is characterized by many as:

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that was primarily created to help treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). With DBT, the focus is still placed on problematic thought patterns with an aim to develop newer, more beneficial thought patterns – but in addition to this, a person is led to practice acceptance and validation in the changes that take place throughout this process. Many disorders – such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and more – can come with “black and white” thinking, which makes it challenging for a person to accept all of the “gray” areas that come with life. A 2016 study published in the journal Behaviour, Research and Therapy found that DBT does help improve the emotion regulation challenges that many people (such as those with BPD) face. With technology becoming such a prominent feature in health fields, apps are starting to emerge which can further support a person’s recovery both in and out of treatment. A 2018 review highlights this app called Pocket Skills, which essentially helps individuals engage in DBT and practice the skills learned through this in their own environment. Pocket Skills seems to cover a variety of areas that may be beneficial for someone looking to apply what they’ve learned in therapy, such as: