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When we talk about personality disorders, we mostly refer to borderline personality disorder (BPD), avoidant personality disorder (APD) or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) – but histrionic personality disorder deserves acknowledgement too, because it affects so many people. This disorder is considered a “Cluster B” personality disorder because it’s considered a highly erratic, dramatic and emotional disorder. If you’ve been diagnosed with this disorder, know that you’re not alone – and that help is available. Those with histrionic personality disorder (HPD) tend to have a distorted image of themselves; their self-esteem is often based on others’ approval, and thus they tend to feel as though they need to “act out” in certain ways to get attention. In 2017, writer Fatima Dereye shared her personal story of HPD via Affinity, a website that publishes content on various topics, such as arts & culture, politics, feminism and more. She stated, “…When I am in a group of friends, I cannot stand being ignored. I will shake, feel anxious and sense that everyone is against me.”

Therapy is an incredibly important part of addiction recovery because it gives you a chance to face some of your internal battles, but it can be really nervewracking if you don’t feel all that comfortable sharing details of your life with someone you don’t quite know yet. Comfortability in therapy takes time, but once you’ve reached a steady dynamic with the person you’re working with, you’ll feel much better moving on to more deeper parts of your mind. In 2017, writer Jas T explained how uncomfortable he felt in therapy via The Mighty, a website that publishes relatable stories on addiction, mental illness, recovery and more. He stated, “Before my first-ever meeting, I was so anxious about seeing the college psychologist that I had a panic attack. I still remember my first few meetings. I did not say a single word or all I could say was, ‘I don’t know’. It was mostly my psychologist doing the talking.” If this is something you’re currently going through, know that you’re not alone – and there are some tips to help you ease into the idea of therapy. Tip #1: Write out what you’d like to talk about, or even just how you’re feeling before entering the session. By doing this, you’ll be a bit prepared for what you’d like to work on. It gives you session a foundation to build off of, and you don’t even have to feel nervous about what to say because you already have it prepared. If you’re too uncomfortable explaining it all outloud, you can even have your therapist read it themselves. Tip #2: Jot down thoughts or realizations as bullet points. This may help you before, during and after your sessions so that you can get a clear sense of what you’re experiencing in therapy. It will also hep simplify some of the thoughts you don’t want to forget. Tip #3: Find a therapist you feel comfortable with. If you don’t feel comfortable with your therapist, ask to try a different person. Get to know your therapist and spend some time building a dynamic with them. It may feel awkward at first, but it’s completely normal.

Many people glamorize methamphetamine for its ability to produce bouts of energy and feelings of euphoria, but not enough emphasis is placed on the potential short and long-term dangers of this drug. In 2016, researchers conducted a study to explore how methamphetamine tends to become used – and they found that out of society’s perception of normalcy, how easily accessible it is, and how popular it has become amongst people looking to feel “good”, it’s become much more a drug of choice than originally thought. Short-term effects tend to include an increased heart rate, loss of appetite, disturbed sleeping patterns and violent behavior, alongside hallucinations, psychosis, convulsions and more (especially when high doses are taken). Meth is highly addictive, and it’s unlikely that a person would only use this drug once or twice without beginning to develop some sort of dependency on it. The long-term damages are irreversible, and that’s one of the most tragic outcomes of this addiction:

Meditation is one of the most effective holistic approaches out there – and despite the many, many benefits of implementing it into your daily life, you may find that it’s incredibly hard to do. Perhaps you’ve tried sitting down and closing your eyes, only to find that you’re mind continues to wander; maybe you’ve been able to stay focused for a brief period of time, but then you find yourself bored, tired or in pain from sitting in an uncomfortable position. Meditation is incredibly beneficial for those in addiction recovery, but you may be wondering you can possibly benefit from it when you’re unable to concentrate the way you’d like. If you’re a beginner to meditation, don’t worry! This is a common concern and there is much to say about how a person can get the most out of meditation. First, what is meditation?

12-Step support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) receive much of the spotlight when it comes to addiction recovery, but did you know there are alternative groups that a person can become involved in? A common thread amongst non-!2 Step support groups is the open concept of religion and spirituality, whereas many 12-Step support groups promote these areas as being vital to healing and growth. As Very Well Mind emphasized in 2017, those who do not find prayer and other religious messages to be of importance may find non-12 Step programs to be more their style; each person is different, however, and not one model of support can truly fit everyone – that’s where various non-12 Step programs come into play.

Relapse holds a lot of weight when it comes to fears and stigma, and many people in recovery want to avoid relapse at all costs. Relapse is defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as, “…A return to drug use after an attempt to stop.” If you’ve recently entered recovery, you may be hearing intimidating messages from friends or family about relapse – but most of what people tend to believe regarding this topic is false. The more we can educate ourselves on what relapse is, how it normally tends to effect people and how common it occurs, the better our chances are of taking preventative measures – and of approaching recovery one step at a time. Take a look at the most common myths our society tends to hold about relapse, followed by the truth:

Not everyone who seeks out treatment feels completely ready for it – and in many instances, it’s normal to feel apprehensive about the entire process. Addiction recovery tends to be one of the biggest accomplishments of a person’s life because it changes their entire life around in the best ways possible – and who doesn’t feel pressure upon immediately walking into something like that? If you’ve been feeling unsure about seeking help, or feel like you may need help but you may not have that serious of an issue yet to seek help, motivational enhancement therapy (MET) could greatly help you weigh out your options. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that MET is, “…A counseling approach that helps individuals resolve their ambivalence about engaging in treatment and stopping their drug use.” Rather than telling a client what they should do, motivational enhancement therapists simply hear what a client has to say and allows them to come to their own conclusions. There are a lot of concerns that you may want to talk through in therapy, such as:

Relapse is an incredibly scary part of addiction recovery, because nobody wants it to happen. All of these stigmas and beliefs about relapse – such as that a person has failed recovery, a person is weak, a person won’t be able to get back on track – make relapse even more intimidating, even though they aren’t true. Relapse is a considerably normal part of addiction recovery, but by understanding what relapse is and how it affects a person, you may be able to take some preventative measures as you navigate this journey of sobriety.

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.