Blog

Addiction recovery isn’t always the easiest feat. As with life, recovery does have its ups and downs – but the point is to learn and transform throughout the process. If you’ve sought out a reputable treatment program for meth addiction, you’ve taken an amazing, courageous step towards living a happier, healthier life. This time is crucial to understanding what recovery consists of, what it may mean for you, and factors that could prevent you from reaching success so that you can be sure to take preventative measures. A 2017 study published in the journal Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy sought to explore perceived barriers of methamphetamine addiction recovery. Two hundred and two stories were analyzed in an online health forum to identify these barriers. The researchers found the following themes:

Emotions are central to human existence. Happiness, sadness, pain, joy, fear, jealousy, shame, guilt, love, anger and more are all very real, very raw emotional experiences. Many times, however, we don’t always know the safest way to express these emotions – this is what may lead to the development of a mental illness or to an addiction, as some people try to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. Whether you’re currently in a treatment program or not, music can serve as a tool to help you express your emotions or even to bring about an emotion that could support a better mindset for your well-being. A 2018 study sought to explore sadness and music – in particular, how people experience crying when listening to music. Eight hundred and ninety-two participants were involved in the study, with two underlying themes: a “sad” class and an “awe” class. Individuals who classified as the “sad” class tended to feel sad, upset, and depressed when listening to music; people in the “awe” class tended to feel euphoric, happy, amazed, and inspired. The research indicated that people more open to experiences found themselves in the “awe” class, while those with high neuroticism (tendency to lean towards negative thoughts and emotions) found themselves in the “sad” class. While it’s true that the way you think has an affect on the way you listen to music, you can use this to your advantage in your recovery. When it comes to mental illness and/or addiction recovery, music therapy can serve two functions: 1) as a tool to help you understand and make sense of what you’re feeling and 2) as a tool to help motivate you and keep you uplifted as you work towards your recovery journey. For example, the next time you’re feeling distressed, play music that calms you and gives you positive emotions. What do you experience? Did you feel that this type of music reduced your distress? If not, try diverse types of music to see what works best for you. Music can be a very healthy form of self-expression and self-exploration – you may even use music as a coping mechanism during tough times. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about music therapy and treatment programs that could assist you on your journey to recovery. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

From sharing our occupation to the time we die; our lives are centered around our social identities. Mother, brother, friend, neighbor, writer, doctor, teacher, engineer – all of these are social identities that help us relate to others and describe our role in society. Take a moment to consider the identity labels that you or others place on yourself. What do these labels say about your values, beliefs, and attitudes towards life? How well do these labels portray who you really are or who you want to be? Social identity is more than just helping others learn about who we are – it’s a message of how we view ourselves, too. When it comes to your recovery, your social identity says a lot and it’s bound to change as you work towards your recovery. A 2015 study titled “Social Identities as Pathways Into and Out Of Addiction” explored the transition of individuals from the “substance user” identity to the “recovery” identity. Twenty-one adults in a drug and alcohol community were interviewed. The researchers found that some participants felt they lost their identity around the time their addiction started, but later found it when they were in recovery. As one participant stated, “In my good bits, I excel, really excel. I was playing basketball too, got drafted for the Northern Tigers….and then everything just went *poof*”. Other individuals stated that addiction provided them with an identity – a sense of social belonging. One person stated, “I learnt by being naughty I could have friends that actually liked me, that wanted to be with me.” These people talked about how difficult it was for them to transition into recovery because of their social identity, but many participants also noted that once their social identity transitioned from one of substance use to one of recovery, it became a little easier to be around people who also reflected that social identity. Participants stated that once they were in recovery, they felt a sense of purpose and a meaningful role within the community. Ultimately, this helped them to move on. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about programs that could assist you on your journey to recovery. Sometimes change is for the better. In this case, it always is.

Time and time again, research has shown that depression causes behavioral and physical symptoms. These often include 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 deeply affect daily life. According to a study published in the journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, approximately 69% of people who meet the criteria for depression also experience aches and pains. If you’ve been struggling with symptoms of depression, the right treatment center can help you heal – mentally, physically, and spiritually. A 2015 study published in the Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences sought to explore the effects of massage therapy on students; 30 student volunteers with depression were randomly selected to either massage therapy or regular therapy as a comparison group. Swedish massage therapy – a relaxing, full-body massage involving massage oil and lotions – was conducted on the massage group 3 times a week for 8 weeks, 30 minutes each session. Both the massage and non-massage group were then given depression inventory surveys. Results from the study found that for depressed participants, massage therapy showed significant improvements to their depressive symptoms. As stated by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), 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. Many reputable treatment programs offer massage therapy that can be completed alongside traditional treatment programs activities. As previous research has shown, massage therapy benefits the mind, body, and spirit. 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 a reputable treatment center to learn more about massage therapy and treatment programs that could assist you on your journey to recovery. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

When most people think of addiction and recovery, they think of the hardships – withdrawal during detoxification, letting go of past pains, cutting off people who are no longer conducive to recovery, and much more. As with anything worthwhile, of course there are hardships – but there are also many, many bountiful positive elements to recovery as well. The more you focus on these positive elements, the greater the opportunity you have of bringing them into your life; in a very basic sense, it’s about the mindset that you hold. Your perceptions influence your actions, and your actions influence what leaves and comes into your life. According to the University of Pennsylvania, positive psychology is important to look at because it draws on individual and community strengths that bring about hope, resilience, strength, growth and more in realms of recovery, love, social relationships, work endeavors, and other life experiences. By focusing on positive psychology when it comes to recovery, we can tune into the strengths that we currently have – in doing this, we hold much higher chances of success. A 2014 study published in the journal East Asian Archives of Psychiatry sought to review past research on positive emotions and positive aspects of recovery such as “creativity, optimism, resilience, empathy, compassion, humor, and life satisfaction”. When it comes to mental illness recovery, these positive elements have been shown to increase the well-being of those with depression, substance use disorders (SUDs), psychosis, and much more. How can you incorporate these into your daily life? A major source of these positive elements is mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). All of these can provide you with healthier ways of thinking about and dealing with challenges of life such as distressing thoughts or situations. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about programs that could assist you on your journey to recovery. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a manic-depressive illness, and involves unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out daily tasks, as defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). There are several diverse types of BPD with the following being the main three: Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder. Each disorder is characterized by varying levels of intensity and duration of symptoms, with either manic, depressive, or both being the main focus. If a person with BPD experiences a manic episode, they may have racing thoughts, a sense of “being on top of the world” or invincibility, difficulty concentrating, impulsive behavior, and more. Manic episodes with BPD can be dangerous if a person is not taking prescription medication. Psychotic symptoms can be experienced with bipolar psychosis, which involves hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or touching things that aren’t there) or delusions (believing in things that aren’t there) as well as irrational thoughts/speech and an overall lack of awareness. If a person with BPD is experiencing mania and is angry or irritable, they may become aggressive and violent – mania can give individuals a feeling of “superhuman” power, which can become dangerous if not de-escalated quickly. While having BPD alone doesn’t increase the chances of a person becoming violent, there’s primarily a risk if BPD mixes with alcohol or drug use and high emotional stress. Some situations can trigger intense mood swings which, if not medicated, can cause a person to act more dangerously. Manic episodes can significantly affect various aspects of a person’s life, however. A 2014 study published in the journal European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience found that manic episodes account for poor work adjustment for those with BPD; racing thoughts and impaired functioning in attention and organization can make it particularly difficult for a person to complete projects and stay on task. In addition to work life, those with BPD may have difficulty in romantic relationships as their partner attempts to understand their mood swings and motivations. For all of these reasons it is essential that a person with BPD seek effective treatment. BPD in and of itself is not a dangerous disorder – it can, however, get out of hand if combined with the wrong circumstances. If you have been diagnosed, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about various treatment programs and which one may be the right fit for you.

Whether you’ve been with your significant other for a few weeks or a few years, addiction can find a way to sneak into your lives. Perhaps it started off with a little bit of drinking or drugs here and there – you both may have thought to yourself that as long as you do it every now and then, it should be fine. Over time, though, your use becomes a little more frequent, and you both begin using substances a little more than you originally planned to because you weren’t achieving the “high” you once experienced. This turns into dependency, which can eventually become an addiction for either one or both of you. Before you even know it, addiction has control over you in a way that you can’t explain nor keep up with. Addiction does happen in many relationships; sometimes it occurs with one partner, other times both experience it. No matter the situation, it does affect the relationship in major ways. It changes the dynamic between both partners, which can change everything if the right steps aren’t taken. A 2016 study published in Frontier Psychology emphasized that romantic love in and of itself is an addiction with symptoms of euphoria, tolerance, emotional and physical dependence, and more. Both love and addiction have similarities, both of which can affect one another. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) notes the following ways addiction can damage intimate relationships:

Author Alexandra Katehakis wrote in her book titled, “Mirror of Intimacy: Daily Reflections on Emotional and Erotic Intelligence” explained dissociation as this: “The problem with checking out so thoroughly is that it can leave us feeling dead inside…the process of repair demands a re-association with the body, a commitment to dive into the body and feel today what we couldn’t feel yesterday because it was too dangerous.” Dissociation, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is defined as “problems with memory, identity, emotion, perception, behavior, and sense of self.” Often when people experience dissociation, they experience a period of disconnect from themselves and/or the world around them. In a sense, they “check out” – it may seem like they’re daydreaming, lost in a book or movie, and more. Dissociation often kicks in to help a person get through a very traumatic event, such as being the victim of a crime or enduring a natural disaster. A review study conducted by researchers from Germany described the experience of trauma and dissociation as “Freeze-Flight-Fight-Fright-Flag-Faint”, referring to the 6-step process of fragments in which a person responds to an upsetting event until they get to dissociation.

Stigmas have the propensity to hurt many people – those with mental illness and addiction are often stereotyped as being “crazy”, “manipulative”, “lazy”, and more. Whether perpetuated by depictions in the media or general misunderstandings, the fact is that stigmas hold people back rather than propel them to move forward and make decisions towards living happier, healthier lives. Much of what those with mental illness and addiction want is support – people who love them, support them, believe in them and want to them to succeed. Sometimes these individuals don’t provide these things to themselves, making support one of the most crucial factors to recovery. As stated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), stigmas cause individuals to feel shame about something that is out of their control. The best way that we can combat this is by changing the way we talk about mental illness and addiction altogether. A 2015 study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine emphasized that portraying those with mental illness and addiction as people who have successfully recovered after seeking treatment could be an excellent strategy to combat harsh depictions; when it comes to this population, Americans tend to focus more on the “problem person” than the “treated, recovered person”. If we emphasized that effective treatment is available, and that recovery is possible, consider how many more people would open up and be willing to seek help for their experiences. Previous research has shown that many individuals withhold from seeking help because they fear that nobody will truly care to help them – this depressing reality is often an effect of years of self-stigmatization, discrimination, bullying, and more. If you are a friend or family member of a loved one with mental illness or addiction, actively make the decision to promote their recovery. Rather than shame them, give them guidance and tools on seeking the help they need. Be there to support them through the process. Not only could this support motivate them to seek treatment – it could save their life. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today. Recovery is possible, and it’s never too late.

Heroin is considered an illicit drug that falls into the class of opioids along with prescription pain relievers oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl, and more. In 2015, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), 591,000 people had a substance use disorder involving heroin. In 2016, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that about 948,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year – as you can see, heroin use is certainly still a major concern within the United States; the Rolling Stone states that drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans under 55. Heroin comes in three different forms – white powder, brown powder, and off-white powder. Heroin can be snorted, smoked or injected. When taken, users may experience euphoria, drowsiness, itchiness, irrationality, social withdrawal, and more. As heroin is highly addictive, individuals can easily become hooked, leading to dependency and eventually, addiction. Short-term damages of heroin involve insomnia, constipation, lung complications and more, along with mental illnesses such as depression and antisocial personality disorder. Long-term use of heroin may create long-term imbalances in neuronal and hormonal systems, which may be difficult to reverse even with treatment. Furthermore, a person’s decision-making abilities, ability to regulate behavior, impaired ability to respond to stressful situations. A 2016 study conducted by researchers from Western Oregon University sought to explore risk factors for heroin addiction by interviewing 5 participants in heroin addiction recovery. Results from the study found that participants’ childhood experiences, particularly with parental abuse and social rejection, combined with substance use as a coping mechanism both contributed heavily to the development of their heroin addiction over time. Social support and self-awareness contributed to these individuals’ recovery, providing evidence that both building a positive support network and having the tools and resources to successfully navigate life’s challenges are crucial to success in addiction recovery. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about treatment programs and what might be the best fit for you. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

When you think of relapse, what images transpire in your mind? Most people think of a person with some sort of addiction, reverting back –at least for a brief period of time – to the very substance they are trying to recover from. While this is certainly one type of relapse, mental illness involves relapses as well. Though not discussed as often, mental illness relapses are just as important to know about and to attempt to prevent. As with addiction relapses, however, relapse is natural and should not be considered a “failure” or a “weakness”. Rather, relapse gives us a chance to learn and grow, showing us what may need to be changed in our treatment program or what needs to be emphasized more.

Journalist, playwright, novelist, philosophical essayist and Nobel laureate Albert Camus once said, “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger — something better, pushing right back.” Whether you’re seeking treatment for addiction or a mental illness, it’s important to get you in a state of calm and clarity to start off your journey to recovery. Stabilization means reaching a point to where you feel secure about what you need to do to move forward with your life. For addiction, that’s likely going to first involve detoxification; for a mental illness, this may entail hospitalization. Once you have reached a place where you can adequately think, your healthcare team will work with you to really solidify that stabilization so that you can move forward in the recovery process. Detoxification occurs either naturally or assisted with medication – your body will dispel of the toxins it acquired through active addiction. You may experience withdrawal symptoms, but your healthcare team will be there to support you and/or provide you with non-addictive medication to help ease any pain or discomfort. If you use hospitalization, you will typically have 3, 5, or 7 days to obtain medication and speak with a healthcare team about what you’re going through – with either scenario, you can then move forward with a treatment program. Treatment programs often provide you with the tools and resources you need to get to where you want – and need – to be in order to live a happier, healthier life. This may be either inpatient or outpatient treatment; inpatient is longer and involves you staying, eating, and receiving treatment at a reputable treatment center, while outpatient is often shorter and involves you going home at the end of each day. No matter which option you choose, you always want to make sure that you’ve selected an accredited, reputable treatment center with a proven track record of excellence. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.