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One of the most challenging yet worthwhile components of addiction recovery is learning about how we tend to cope with stressful situations and finding ways to apply healthier stress responses to them. For many in addiction recovery, stress is something we’ve always tried to avoid – either by not acknowledging it, by physically leaving the situation, or by numbing the pain with substances.

Addiction doesn’t always come by itself. We’re all made up of different genetic makeups, different backgrounds, histories, experiences, mental health issues and more. For many people, addiction comes alongside mental disorders – and sudden bouts of anxiety or overwhelming fear can lead to panic attacks, which can make us feel as though we can’t think or breathe. Our palms become sweaty, our vision is blurred, and before we know it, everything around us is spinning. If you’ve been trying to make sense of what you’ve been going through, it can be helpful to understand the difference between panic attacks and panic disorder.

Even if we’ve been taught the healthiest ways to handle distressing situations, all the lessons we’ve learned can go out in an instant the minute we’re having a bad day. Our blood temperature rises, our face gets hot, we become more irritable or sad, and before we know it, we’re doing something we’ll later come to regret. This happens to all of us at one point or another – but addiction recovery is a vulnerable process and the wrong coping mechanism could lead us into relapse. If you’re ready to take hold of your mental health, it will help to identify what you may be doing that’s not helping you before you can learn what will.

The opioid epidemic has sparked a lot of discussion on how we can monitor prescription drug abuse, but Americans are leaning towards illicit opioids, too. For instance, many find themselves transitioning from prescription opioids to heroin because of the ease of accessibility and affordability overall. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimated that 72,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in 2017; and the biggest increase in deaths was due not to prescription opioids or to heroin, but to fentanyl – a deadly, synthetic drug.

As you’re getting your body prepared to be in the best shape possible, you’ll have to take on new habits that support your mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Recovery isn’t just about treating the addiction itself – it’s about restoring what you’ve been missing all these years to live a happy, healthy life. Physical health is incredibly important because your body serves as the foundation that gets you to where you need to be; without physical health, you would be unable to heal effectively. Stretching is a great way to boost your immune system and prep your mind for rejuvenation. According to UC Davis, stretching is beneficial for a number of reasons: it promotes flexibility, it improves our posture, and it prepares our muscles to fight injuries should they occur. In addition to this, stretching increases blood supply – which means that nutrients are better able to reach the places where they need to go. Stretching is great for your holistic health in the following ways:

When you’re in the throes of anxiety, it can feel as though the entire world is falling apart. Your fears take over, your head starts spinning, and all these thoughts come flooding in – with no way to stop it. It’s easy to hear from friends or family to “calm down” or “it will all be okay” – but will it? Countless times, you’ve tried to “wish” your anxiety away – but unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. For many in addiction recovery, anxiety is a staple symptom of coming to grips with major change. Detoxification can bring about these symptoms, or anxiety itself could be something that you’ve been struggling with for quite some time. Either way, it feels like it’s hard to manage; thankfully, there are a number of effective coping skills you can utilize to improve the levels of anxiety that you have – and one of the first coping skills you should try is mental distraction. Mental distraction has been defined as, “The technique of focusing on something else when your mind is preoccupied with anxious thoughts that are not proving productive.” Mind.org, a UK-based organization, has noted that small-scale distraction techniques, such as the ones we’re about to show you, can greatly help break the inertia of anxiety running its course:

According to a study published by the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), around 25.3 million Americans experience some form of pain each and every day.  This pain can range from brief to long-lasting, and once it’s started, it’s hard to manage. Prescription medications can sometimes resolve this issue, but it’s easy to become hooked on them if you aren’t careful. Some misuse their prescription drugs, while others end up taking drugs from friends or family members that aren’t even theirs in an effort to reach a level of comfort, they so desperately desire. The work that we do every day can have a big impact on the pain that we experience, and this is where ergonomics steps into play. In addiction recovery, it’s important to focus on the activities we pursue in our daily lives so that we can get a better idea of how to control our environment in the best way possible for our health. Ergonomics, defined by the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) as “what kind of work you do, what kind of tools you use and your whole job environment”, can help us take a look at your daily activities to assess what changes will most benefit the level of pain you experience. Addiction recovery shouldn’t be solely about treating the addiction – this disease affects the mind, body and spirit, and so should be treated as such. Ergonomics helps us look at a wide range of movements that you perform on a daily basis to dig into the root cause of your pain. Movements such as bending, walking, lifting, sitting, getting out of bed, climbing stairs, getting out of a chair, exerting personal care, taking part in leisure activities and more are all rely on movement – and by honing in on some safe ways to go about these tasks, we’re less likely to have as many issues with pain as we did before.   Don’t wait any longer to start working towards your holistic health. Speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu about incorporating occupational therapy into your addiction recovery program today.

“He or she only cares about themselves…they are such a narcissist.” We’ve been hearing different variations of that phrase for quite some time now, as the term “narcissist” has been taken over on social media to serve as a quick insult. This isn’t the first time that mental health issues have been used incorrectly in the public forum, but misuse is likely to occur when explanation behind these disorders isn’t provided as much as they should be. The truth is, narcissism isn’t bad. In fact, we all have it to some degree – and we shouldn’t stigmatize that term nor the disorder so much, because it only makes it more challenging for those around us to seek the help they need.

Recovery is a difficult road to process without proper support. In addition to this, “we don’t know what we don’t know” – and without having the knowledge to understand what type of questions we need to be asking in treatment, we’re likely to make some daily mistakes that actually aren’t contributing well to our overall health. During the first few months – and even in the first year – of recovery, you’re going to find what works for you and what doesn’t. You’ll likely hear a lot of tips from those who’ve been in recovery for a long time, as well as some advice from those who are also new to recovery but have been doing some research. No matter where you’re at in the recovery process, you have to consider what decisions you’re making on a daily basis – and whether that’s improving or hindering your addiction recovery journey.

Thomas Merton, a monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar once stated, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” For centuries, people have used art as a way of communicating thoughts, ideas, and feelings. From the time we created stone carvings to now, we’ve found that artwork is a beautiful way to explore different modes of expression. Even today, one of the biggest struggles we face is communicating our emotions. We were either raised to hold our pain deep inside, or we drowned out that pain with substances or another form of addiction. Art can help us get back to that place of vulnerability – to that place of authenticity, where we can discover more of who we are and make more sense of our life experiences. Those in addiction recovery have much to gain from art therapy. In 2015, a study published in the International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice assessed 59 individuals for their mental health and addiction recovery after participating in weekly outreach sessions related to art and craft activities. Researchers found that participants improved on all areas that were assessed: Learning and Skills – art therapy truly ignites almost all of our senses. We’re touching different materials, we’re moving, and we’re learning new skills to achieve our desired outcome. Levels of confidence – when an art project is completed, those in addiction recovery often feel proud of themselves. It’s a creation that shows just how talented they are – and it’s a beautiful reminder that they have something wonderful to offer this world. Sociability – with art projects, those in recovery are able to connect with their peers as they work together on making something meaningful. Simply assessing pieces of art can inspire those in recovery to talk to one another – which could be the start of an incredible support network. A 2015 thesis titled “Colorful Recovery: Art Therapy for Substance Abuse and Addiction Treatment” highlights that art can build a sense of spiritual connection as well as reducing shame, anxiety and other painful feelings that may linger throughout treatment.

Around this time of year, Valentine’s Day can be triggering for those in addiction recovery. Billboards depict champagne and large gatherings, while television shows and commercials begin highlighting romance. For a person who is focusing on themselves and their sobriety, where do they fit in? It is for this exact reason that Valentine’s Day can become triggering – especially if those in recovery find themselves focusing on what they don’t (or can’t) have over what they do have. Relapse is a common buzzword in addiction recovery, and that’s because many people try to avoid it at all costs. Relapse occurs when a person reverts back to previous addictive behaviors – and for many, this turn of events is followed by guilt and shame. Valentine’s Day can trigger relapse for people in a number of ways:

If you were to be told, right now, that you’re about to enter an acupuncture session, what would you envision? For many Americans, acupuncture seems like a terrifyingly painful experience. A popular practice in the Eastern world, the Western world is still learning to become more open to holistic modalities such as acupuncture. Countries such as China have used acupuncture for preventative health measures for thousands of years - with the main difference between Eastern and Western practices being the approach. Western practices consider medicine to be used as a cure or relief to maladies, while Easter tradition utilizes medicine as a means to practice wellbeing.