Blog

After years of abusing drugs and alcohol, or struggling with the symptoms of mental health disorders, emotions like sadness can feel new and overwhelming. Sadness is what it is. In order to move past sadness, we have to move through sadness. Make Room For Sadness To Be, Because It Is Sadness is a natural emotion we all experience because we are healthy human beings. Only people with severe psychiatric disorders are constitutionally incapable of feeling sadness or connecting to it. For everyone else, sadness is something we experience on different levels. Sadness can come from grief, loss, acceptance, empathy, and even compassion. We cannot deny sadness no matter how we try. Sadness is often a healing emotion which allows us to understand the difficulties in life. Let Sadness Be, Because It Is Trying to change or deny our sadness is harmful to our self-esteem and emotional wellbeing. When we try to shame or guilt ourselves out of feeling an emotion we send yourself negative messages. Instead of allowing ourselves to authentically experience our emotions and process them in a healthy way, we tell ourselves it isn’t okay to feel sad, we shouldn’t be feeling sad, there is something wrong with us for being sad- all of which translate to you’re not good enough and you’re not okay. It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to feel sadness. You can still be yourself while you experience sadness. Identify Sadness In Your Body, Because It’s There Our emotions aren’t just invisible chemical processes in our minds. Emotions are energy which flow through the body. Trying to stop ourselves from feeling stops the natural flow of energy which can cause us even more emotional pain or cause physical illness. Identifying where sadness lives in your body can help you use holistic healing methods to release that energy. Releasing the physical energy of sadness can help you release the emotional energy. Give Yourself Time, Because You Deserve It We are so quick to judge ourselves for being sad. We think we shouldn’t be sad, so we criticize ourselves and push ourselves to “get over it” as quickly as possible. Grief is a process. Loss is a process. Sadness is a process. As we learn in recovery, we can only change one day at a time. Give yourself the patience, empathy, kindness, and compassion you would show to a friend. Avalon By The Sea promises trusted treatment with trusted results. Home to two primary care facilities for substance use disorders and mental health disorders, Avalon provides exceptional residential treatment for healing mind, body, and spirit. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

Watching a friend struggle with alcoholism can be tough. If you think your friend might be an alcoholic here are some signs and a few suggestions on what you can do to help them. They’re Drinking More Than They Used To Alcoholism comes with an increasing tolerance. One of the marks of developing chemical dependency is having to drink a greater amount of alcohol more often. At first, this is to achieve a similar or greater state of intoxication than previously. Eventually, this becomes a matter of staving off symptoms of withdrawal. They Don’t Look So Great When They’re Not Drinking Chemical dependency on alcohol sickens the body. Withdrawing from alcohol can include symptoms like shaking, sweating, insomnia, fatigue, and vomiting. As a result, if your friend is trying “not to drink” they might look sickly. Their Life Is Falling Apart And The Drinking Is No Coincidence When chemical dependency on alcohol develops, it can take priority in someone’s life. Unable to perform while under the influence, they also aren’t able to perform without being under the influence. Consequently, they fall behind in their obligations and responsibilities. Likely, they are experiencing problems in their relationships or have abandoned healthy relationships for unhealthy relationships with people who are also alcoholics. They Keep Drinking Even After Things Get Bad The negative consequences of alcoholic behavior are obvious in late stages. Despite repeated consequences, they continue to pick up a drink and get loaded. Alcoholism changes the way the brain processes judgment. They have become incapable of choosing anything other than alcohol. How To Help Your Friend

Addiction and alcoholism are mental health disorders which spin out of control. One loses their ability to manage themselves, manage their lives, and manage the way they drink alcohol or consume drugs. Recovery usually comes to fruition when someone realizes their lives have gotten completely out of control. Recovery is supposed to create the hop that life can be managed. Is control ever completely returned? It depends on who you ask and what their spiritual beliefs are. Surrender is a major spiritual part of recovery. Many believe that they gain control of their lives by surrendering it to a higher power. They don’t want control of their lives again because they don’t feel they have the real ability to maintain it. It’s a spiritual paradox- in order to gain control, you have to give it up. For those who are less spiritually inclined, the answer is essentially yes. By learning relapse prevention techniques, creating a solid recovery lifestyle, and healing the mind as well as the body, it is possible to maintain ‘control’ over drinking and drug use. Control in this case would simply mean that you do not give into cravings, impulsive decisions or any other choice making which would lead you to choose drugs and alcohol again. For many, that is an acceptable amount of control and more than they could ask for. Feeling “in control” is an illusion, when put in the larger perspective. Stand in front of an active ocean, waves lapping on the shore, and try to stop a wave. You won’t be able to. Many things in life are simply out of our control. Learning to accept these things is what helps us maintain our personal sense of control and helps us stay sober by understanding we cannot control everything, or everyone, any of the time. For those out of control moments, there are a few simple actions you can take to gain control of your energy, your thoughts, and your behaviors.

Mindfulness doesn’t have to be a crutch for difficult moments. Use mindfulness during a break at work or a lull in your day to give yourself an extra boost of serenity.

Recovery is about learning to express our emotions in a healthy and articulate way. Instead of harboring resentments, holding grudges, and withholding communication, we learn to engage in healthy conversations which keeps both partners in a relationship informed. “Passive aggression,” writes Mindful, “is a symptoms of the fear of conflict. While someone’s passive aggressive behavior may make you instantly feel like you’re in the middle of a fight, that’s what he or she is trying to avoid.” Recovery also gives us the tools to resolve conflict. When we become more secure in ourselves and our ability to express emotion, we are able to approach conflict without fear or insecurity. However, when passive aggression becomes part of the equation, it can stir up fiery emotions which root back to childhood. The article explains that “Passive aggressiveness often stems from one’s childhood experience with anger.” For example, children who witness big anger, or violent rage, are likely to grow up fearing the expression of anger in any form. On the contrary, in a childhood where anger simply wasn’t allowed, children are likely to grow up not being able to acknowledge anger or its underlying emotions. Whatever our beliefs about anger, we are prevented from learning that experiencing anger is okay and it can be communicated in a healthy manner. Anger which is passively held against a partner threatens your personal recovery and the recovery of your relationship. Reaching a resolution or any kind of closure is hard to do, the article describes, “because the anger is always simmering, never rising to the surface to be confronted.” Relationship recovery operates on the same timeline as personal recovery from addiction, alcoholism, or mental health disorders- one day at a time. In the early stages of recovery, you are becoming familiar with your own emotions and learning how to cope with the emotions of others. It is likely that you are going to experience conflict with your partner. Stay committed to working together in relationship counseling and together outside of relationship counseling. As time passes you will find that you don’t have a tolerance for passive aggression any longer and healthy communication becomes the norm. Relationships can play an integral role in recovery. The treatment programs for substance use and mental health disorders at Avalon By the Sea include relationship counseling and practical group sessions for building healthy relationship techniques. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston University School of Medicine sought to discover if the reward system works differently for alcoholic women as opposed to alcoholic men, as well as if there is a different in contrast between alcoholic brains and non alcoholic brains of men and women. They found that the structure of the reward system in alcoholic women is larger than alcoholic men, as well as nonalcoholic men and nonalcoholic women. Compared to nonalcoholic women, the reward system structure in the brain of alcoholic women were 4.4 percent larger. In contrast, the reward system structure of alcoholic men was actually 4.1% smaller than nonalcoholic men. An increasing amount of research is showing that women are more vulnerable to alcoholism than men. Recent research found that the gender gap between men and women alcoholics is closing as women are drinking more than males and developing alcoholism at a younger age than men. Treatment for alcoholism in a clinical setting is often highly individualized to meet the unique needs of each client. Alcoholism is not a generalized issue, as this research proves. Rather, it can be different from one person to the other, one gender to the other. For the study, researchers gathered 60 total participants who underwent serious survey and MRI testing. Alcoholics had been in recovery for anywhere from four weeks to more than thirty years. The study revealed more than the importance of highlighting gender differences in alcoholism. Many alcoholics in recovery initially struggle with an existential conflict of whether or not recovery is “worth” it because they are unsure if it actually makes a difference. Plenty of research using brain imaging science exists to prove that the various methods used in treating alcoholism work to heal the brain. This particular study found that each year of sobriety the recovering alcoholic participants had “was associated with a 1.8 percent decrease in the size of the ventricles in the brain suggesting that recovery from damage to the brain due to alcoholism is possible.” Few things need to be heard by those in recovery more than “recovery is possible.” Men and women alike need to understand that overtime, their brain will recover, their lives will change, and maintaining sobriety for a lifetime is possible. If you or a loved one are struggling from alcoholism, help is available. Avalon By The Sea offers residential treatment designed to promote transformative healing of mind, body, and spirit. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

Mental health stigma is the number one inhibitor to seeking help or treatment for mental health disorders. Are you part of the mental health stigma or advocating against it? Ask yourself These Questions About Mental Health

Medication reliance can be either a relief or a regret. Those who are in need of treatment for depression sometimes avoid getting the help they need because they are afraid of going on medication. Antidepressants are designed to help restore the chemical imbalance in the brain which depression creates, and also creates depression. During the early months of treatment and recovery, medication can be a great tool for managing the low moods and energy of depression. With medication, someone in recovery can focus on what they need to focus on instead of being in a constant state of distraction due to mood, exhaustion, and more. Depression is known for creating a fog in mental clarity, confusion, and difficulty grasping cognitive functions. By clearing the mind and encouraging more energy, one can participate more readily in their treatment. When depression is co-occurring with addiction and alcoholism, it is especially effective. In order to make the most of treatment for addiction, one needs to manage their depression. Without treating both, there is a greater risk for relapse. How Long Will I Have To Take Medication? Medication might be a short term treatment or a long term treatment depending on the severity of depression. Depression as it is co-occurring with substance use disorders can be either a cause or a side effect. Undiagnosed and untreated depression creates a higher risk for developing a substance use disorder. Likewise, abuse of substances like alcohol, which is a depressant, and other drugs can cause depression. Substance abuse alters the way the brain functions and produces feelings of pleasure. You and your psychiatrist or prescribing doctor will work together to determine what you need. Medication for depression is highly individualized. What is best for one person might not be the best for you. By staying honest about your emotional state and experience with cravings, your doctor will best be able to help you manage depression medications. Are There Side Effects For Depression Medication? Any commercial for a pharmaceutical medication will let you know that they all come with a long list of side effects. Some are common, some are rare. Each person reacts to medication differently. How you react to medication might differ from how someone else will react to medication. Report any unusual side effects or changes in health and behavior to your doctor. Avalon By The Sea is one of California’s only treatment facilities providing residential care for primary mental health issues. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

Love feels good. Love feels so good that it is often warned against in the early stages of addiction treatment, especially addiction to opioid drugs. Love produces all kinds of chemicals and hormones in the brain. During the early of phases of treatment when the brain still isn’t quite functioning at capacity, love can become a little overwhelming to the point of becoming a need- a need so great it almost turns into a craving and can even act like an addiction. “Rehab romance” or romantic fraternizing between clients during treatment, is frowned upon because it can meddle the mind and get in the way of focusing on treatment. However, new research suggests that a little bit of love could actually go a long way when it comes to opioid addiction treatment. More specifically, one group of researchers believe that the use of oxytocin could prevent opioid relapse. Relapse is a high risk for those in treatment and recovery for opioid addiction. Cravings are the most severe when opioid addiction is severe because of the intense way opioids change the way the brain manages pain and pleasure. Since love feels so good, the pleasurable effects of oxytocin could help in relapse prevention. Reporting on the research, Inverse cites one of the study’s authors who stated that the “findings in the review suggest the use of oxytocin, the pro-social hormone, could be an effective therapy for the prevention of relapse to drug use in drug-dependent individuals.” For the study, researchers looked at every available piece of existing research on oxytocin and made the revolutionary connection. “Research has shown that the oxytocin system is particularly affected by opioid use because of the role oxytocin plays in addiction,” the article explains. “Scientists believe that addictive behavior may indicate low levels of oxytocin.” Low levels of oxytocin can affect the way someone comprehends their social relations, how they bond with other people, manage stress, and interacts with memory. A lack of oxytocin could be the reason why so many addicts tend to share a feeling of being the odd man out or chronically separate from their peers. Unable to establish a feeling of connection with others can lead to isolation, which is a major red flag for relapse. Therefore, using oxytocin as a treatment method can encourage those feelings of connection, a greater sense of love and attachment, and a deeper desire to stay sober from opioids. Avalon By The Sea offers transformational growth and change through dedicated treatment programs for opioid addiction. From detox to outpatient, we provide our clients with excellence in care from our beautiful estate on the California coast. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

Though exercise addiction is not listed as a diagnosable condition, it does affect people when it becomes a problem. What Causes Exercise Addiction? Mental health issues like a compulsive need to exercise despite negative consequences to the body have deep roots beyond exercise. Most often, exercise addiction is connected to a need for control. Exercise addiction is closely related to eating disorders, with a foundation in poor body image. Poor body image can come from bullying or even simple comments. Body image issues can also result from trauma. The “addiction” part of exercise addiction develops over time. A certain level of pleasure and reward is associated with the compulsive behavior of exercise. Repeatedly, this creates a strong connection in which the brain feels it needs to feel the reward of exercise when there is any negativity. For someone who feels out of control in their life for any reason, exercise becomes a coping mechanism for dealing with the stress of obsessive thinking. Does Exercise Addiction Only Involve Exercise? Since exercise addiction is so intimately tied to eating disorders, it usually is not an isolated effort. Eating disorder behaviors like restriction, binging, and even purging can accompany exercise addiction. Body dysmorphia is also a part of an eating disorder often times, skewing the perception one has of the shape and size of their body. What Are The Effects Of Exercise Addiction?

Experiential learning is one of the most impactful ways of learning. Gaining life skills experience is important during the treatment process. Recovery isn’t just something that is learned and kept in a notebook. Recovery is something lived. The tools and skills learned during treatment one day have to be applied in a real life setting, when there are no peers, no therapists, and no safety of structure available. “Where the rubber hits the road” is where recovery really comes into play. Finding the confidence in oneself to utilize those tools and stay healthy in the world outside of treatment is sometimes a challenge. Addicts and alcoholics have often tried many times to stay sober and be successful in their recovery. Not believing in themselves, they can falter more easily because they don’t believe they have the capacity to apply their recovery to their lives. Ropes courses are an experiential learning tool which helps put confidence to the test in a real time situation. An experiential therapeutic technique, those in recovery are able to see just what they are made of. Full of safety precautions and the guidance of trained therapists, each client pushes their limits and ultimately discovers that they are capable of, quite literally, overcoming any challenge which comes their way. Working with, and against, their minds as well as their bodies, they are able to see that they can work with themselves in support and against their self-defeating thoughts. Research has found that participating in ropes courses “significantly increases the participants’ levels of leadership and work efficacy” for up to six weeks after the challenge. A boost in confidence is precisely what those in recovery need during their time in treatment. They need encouragement to know that recovery is possible and that they are capable of achieving it. Avalon By The Sea offers experiential therapy with ropes courses on a seasonal basis. Our programs are full of unique learning opportunities where clients are challenged to grow. Focusing on mind, body, and spirit, our residential treatment programs are curated to the needs of the client to promote transformative healing. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs of recovery, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

In 2015, a study published in Brain and Cognition examined the reaction of the brain to images of food on social media platforms like Instagram. 63% of the news feeds scrolled through by devoted users of social media are filled with images of food. Today’s food snapshots aren’t just a quick pic of what you’re eating. There’s an entire culture behind photographing food that makes magazines look like amateurs. People go out of their way to bring their sweet and savory creations or dining options to life, evoking envy- and apparently a significant amount of brain activity, in everyone who merely gets to look. According to Fox, “the brain undergoes dramatic neurophysiological changes in response to food images that exacerbate physiological hunger.” In layman's terms, when you’ve just eaten and are scrolling through your social media news feed as you digest, seeing pictures of taste-bud tantalizing food can cause you to feel hungry. For some people, this can be problematic. Those with a tendency toward weight issues, like those who might be clinically obese, were more responsive to pictures of food after eating than those at a healthy weight. Your physical health, specifically your weight, might be directly correlated by how severely you react to pictures of food, despite having food in your stomach. Images alone are not the only problem. For many years researchers have investigated the growing amount of hours spent on social media which can lead to many physical health problems. First of all, technology addiction can lead to a decreased amount of exercise and poor eating choices. Second of all, overuse of social media has been linked to poor body image and the development of eating disorders. Getting Away From Social Media Munchies Have you found yourself raiding the pantry after scrolling through social media? Here are some tips for maintaining a balanced recovery lifestyle when it comes to social media