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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.

Whether you consider yourself the next Adele or you prefer to belt out tunes in the shower, music therapy is a wonderful way to relieve some stress. Previous studies have shown that music therapy – such as lyrical analysis, instrumental playing, music writing, and more – can reduce anxiety, improve healing, improve self-expression and communication, reduce depression, and much more. Symptoms of a mental illness can be very distressing at times, affecting nearly aspect of life. By partaking in music therapy, you’re widening the horizons to learn more about yourself and boost your creativity while also working through difficult emotions that may be hard to face on the surface. A doctoral study completed in 2016 sought to explore the role of group singing in recovery; adults aged 18 to 72 years old participated in a 10-week community group singing program, with the researcher then assessing individual outcomes before, during, and after the program. Results from the study showed that participants found group singing to be beneficial to their recovery in a number of ways:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may include symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, confusion, irritability, and more. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a form of therapy in which a client is guided through various eye movements to help them reprocess traumatic memories in a way that allows the person to move past the event. EMDR has been used widely for symptoms of PTSD, but there are other conditions that it may treat as well. EMDR helps people focus on strengthening their positive beliefs that they wish to adopt rather than focusing heavily on thoughts or memories that are hurting them and preventing them from moving forward with their lives. A 2015 study published in the journal of Brain Behavior sought to explore EMDR’s success with the treatment of depression; a group of 16 patients diagnosed with depression were recruited for the study. Compared to another group of 16 individuals who served as a comparison group, 68% of individuals with depression no longer met the criteria for depression by the end of the study. A follow up period of longer than 1 year was conducted, and many participants still showed less signs of depression and relapses than their counterparts. It seems that EMDR can assist with more than just depression, however. Another study published in 2016 in the journal Psychological Medicine explored how EMDR could help treat psychosis, depression, and social functioning in those with varying levels of schizophrenia. One hundred and fifty-five participants in treatment for psychosis with either schizophrenic disorder or schizoaffective disorder were randomly placed in sessions of 8-week long EMDR treatment or a waiting list to serve as a comparison group. The researchers found that of the participants who completed EMDR sessions, significant reductions were experienced in paranoid thoughts and depression directly after treatment and even 6-months later. Hallucinations and social functioning did not improve nor worsen, however. Much research is still being conducted to find out all of the ways that EMDR can assist clients, but as you can see, it can treat more than just PTSD. If you believe you may be a suitable candidate for treatment and EMDR therapy, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

Celebrities have been more open now than ever regarding their struggles with mental illness and addiction. Their stories have inspired and motivated people all over the United States to seek help for their problems; country star Brantley Gilbert is one of them. The 33-year-old who sings “One Hell of an Amen” and “Country Must Be Countrywide” has had back-to-back platinum albums. While the singer has been sober for 7 years now, he reflects on his time back when life was rougher – when he had a completely different frame of mind and when he handled his problems differently. According to People Magazine, Brantley’s road to addiction began soon after graduating from high school, where he was the son of a Baptist preacher. He began drinking a lot of hard liquor and took opiates to relieve some of the pain he experienced from playing football – which soon led to him relying on the medication for relaxation. Once Brantley signed a record deal, he was reaching for bottles and pills any moment he could – he described to People that once he had the chance to pursue music full time, “every day was a party”. It wasn’t until 2011 that Brantley Gilbert had to be hospitalized for pancreatitis; doctors told him that if he didn’t stop drinking, he was not going to make it to his next birthday. In December of 2011, Brantley stopped abusing substances. He called his manager and explained his fears – that he wasn’t going to be able to afford the house that he was having built, that he wasn’t going to be able to perform and shows, and more. Shortly afterwards, country music star Keith Urban showed up and gave Brantley a pep talk. Brantley credits Keith Urban for giving him the motivation that he needed to jumpstart his recovery. Since living rehab, Brantley hasn’t dabbled with any of the substances he used to. He has a beautiful family and is focusing on his music, the love of his life, and raising their child. No matter who you are, challenges will always occur – after all, that’s a major part of life. Recovery is possible, however. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center so that you can begin your journey to recovery today.

Whether you’re in recovery for a substance use disorder (SUD) or a mental illness, maintaining an intimate relationship while focusing on yourself can be challenging. Your significant other may be supportive of your recovery or they may not understand it – either of which can have a major impact on your perceptions of recovery and the perceived self-efficacy you have towards achieving your recovery goals. Even in recovery, you can ensure the health of your relationship by engaging in couple’s therapy. In doing this, you and your partner can speak with a therapist about your goals, worries, concerns, barriers, hopes, dreams and more; all these things can impact your recovery (and your family’s stability), and you want to be sure that your family has an action plan for moving forward.