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Neuroscience has given mental health treatment an unprecedented edge. Never before has there been such an intimate understanding of the brain, how it works, and how it doesn’t work. *It seems as though a new neuroscience report is coming out every day. The world is more literate in regards to the brain inside their heads than they have ever had the opportunity to be. Inspiration for these endeavours is a combination of desperation and capability. Science is advanced, especially neuroscience. Equally, there is a mental health crisis all over the world. People are struggling with their mental wellness. Very many of them are turning to destructive substances like drugs and alcohol to medicate a problem they don’t understand. The more we can understand about mental illnesses, the better we can treat them. New promise for bipolar disorder comes from South Korea where researchers have specified a protein in the brain which interferes with moods and emotional reaction. Reporting on the breakthrough, Medical News Today writes: “There appears to be a neurochemical chain reaction that leads to the disease. The synapses that do not have enough PLC?1 are unable to fulfill their inhibitory function properly in excitatory neurons, because the BDNF is not working properly either. This causes a disproportion between excitatory synapses and inhibitory ones, eventually leading to bipolar symptoms.” In more simpler terms, some synapses in the brain are lacking a specific protein, the PLCy 1. Those synapses aren’t able to do their jobs in helping calm down excited neurons, leading to an imbalance of excited neurons and inhibited neurons. Bipolar disorder is often called manic depressive disorder. Think of manic as “excitatory” and depression as “inhibitory”. A collection of dysfunctioning synapses in each of these categories could be the cause of bipolar systems. Conclusively, the researchers found, the lack of PLC y1 is the cause of manic behaviors. Treating Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder can be treated pharmaceutically with prescription medications of different kinds. Lithium was a long standing treatment for bipolar and is sometimes used today. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers are more frequently prescribed. To properly treat bipolar, there needs to be a thorough diagnosis process by a psychiatric professional. Residential treatment programs are helpful for those who have been off medication and need help to stabilize, learn practical coping techniques, and heal any wounded emotions. Avalon Malibu provides residential treatment for clients with a primary diagnosis of Bipolar disorder. If you are struggling with bipolar and substance abuse, we offer dual diagnosis programs as well. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call 1 888-958-7511.

Heart damage is a little known side effect of eating disorders. After years of binging, purging, and restricting cycles, the physiological effect of eating disorders takes a toll on the heart. When someone who has lived with ongoing eating disorder issues suddenly dies of a heart attack or heart failure, their cause of death is rarely labeled with their eating disorder. As a result, heart problems remain a hidden and deadly secret for eating disorder recovery. Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia is an eating disorder with the typical traits of starvation, restriction, and extreme compensation for food. Malnutrition and the actual physical state of starvation is common for those struggling with anorexia. The heart slows down during phases of starvation and restriction to create a condition called “bradycardia”. Heart failure is a high risk for severe cases of anorexia. Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia nervosa does not rely on restriction as much as it relies on purging. Someone with bulimia will not necessarily binge. When they do, they turn to purging to relieve themselves. Through dehydrating diuretics, or exhausting vomiting, people with bulimia can turn to extreme exercise and putting stress on the heart. “Tachycardia” is a condition where fluid loss makes the heart beat faster, causing someone to faint or have heart problems. For people whose bulimia includes purging and extreme exercise, they are in a constant state of dehydration, lacking in electrolytes which can cause arrhythmia. Arrhythmia can cause cardiac arrest. Binge Eating Disorder People with poor eating habits are aware of the damage they can cause their hearts. Cholesterol problems, clogged arteries, heart stress, blood pressure, and more can result from a poor diet like binge eating disorder. Constant changes in metabolism can make the way the heart functions change, causing a heart attack. EDNOS Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified can also have an effect on the heart. Any extreme changes in dieting, exercise, and food consumption will affect the strength and integrity of the heart. Staying Heart Healthy Treatment programs for eating disorders are placed under careful medical care. Doctors, cardiologists, and dieticians are always on hand to help restore the body and heart to a natural state. Avalon Malibu provides primary residential treatment for eating disorder recovery. Our private chefs help create heart-healthy meals according to each client's needs, determined by their work with dieticians and nutritionists. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call 1 888-958-7511.

If you’re thinking to yourself, what do you mean I have to tell someone I’m dating I have a mental illness? You’ll be happy to hear these statistics cited by The Guardian in an article about how-to and how-not-to tell someone you’re dating about your mental illness. A 2013 study by two charities called Mind and Relate, 77% of people living with a mental health disorder told their partners in an active, rather than passive way. Only 5% of those people reported that their relationship ended because of this information. Surely the partner was horrified and just hiding their fear. 74% of the partners reported they “weren’t fazed”. This is good news. Getting to that conversation and having it with confidence and emotional articulation is a different story. The Guardian author suggests these tips for talking with someone. Remember, you have nothing to be ashamed of regarding your mental illness. Hundreds of millions of people around the earth live with mental health disorders every day. Not all of them make the decision to seek help and start a life of recovery for themselves. You have something to be proud of when it comes to learning how to live with mental illness in a healthy way. You Should Tell Them At Some Point You’ve worked hard in treatment developing the tools you need to manage your mental illness and yourself. Difficult days can still happen and you might not always do it perfectly. That’s okay, you aren’t supposed to. You don’t want to catch your partner off guard or let a bunch of projection stuff slip and hit them where they don’t deserve it. Instead, be honest with them and let them know about the powerful journey you’ve taken. Emphasize the daily program you work to take care of yourself and your commitment to mental health. Be Honest, Within Reason You don’t have to reveal every single detail of your entire life story at once. However, be willing to answer their questions and tell your story, within reason. You don’t owe them any kind of explanation. If they have insecurities about your mental health, it isn’t about to you to make them feel more secure. Encourage Them To Do Their Research If they are interested in learning more, rather than be the encyclopedia of your condition, encourage them to do some research for themselves. They’ll be able to create meaning for themselves, come up with questions, and probably find an article or two about dating someone living with a mental illness. Avalon Malibu knows that one day, you are going to have healthy and meaningful relationships. We are here to provide the best possible care we can for individuals with a primary mental health diagnosis at our beautiful residential treatment center overlooking the stunning California coastline. For a confidential assessment, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.

What does borderline mean? Simply defined, a borderline is just a line marking a border. With borderline personality disorder, there is something disordered about that line. For those who have borderline and those who are the loved ones of someone with borderline, that can mean two very different things. First, there is a lack of distinction between personality types, hence lacking a borderline. Borderline and multiple personality disorder are no longer the same thing. However, people who have borderline personality disorder experience rapidly shifting mood swings, emotions, and even perspectives depending on their mood. People who live in relationships with those who have borderline personality disorder feel like they can never be sure as to what to expect next from their loved one. Second, there is typically a lack of boundaries for people with borderline. They are known to receive boundaries like a personal offense. Part of what is “disordered” about borderline is that they tend to take things deeply personally, meaning they have a difficult time discerning the point where they end and other people begin. Not understanding or being able to maintain healthy boundaries can create an immense amount of emotional pain for someone who is already living with a devastating insecurity. Unpredictable Emotions Without a clear distinction between emotional states and weak emotional regulation skills, living with borderline personality disorder can feel like walking on a minefield. How someone with borderline thinks and behaves is entirely dependent upon how they feel. Unfortunately, there is never a guarantee or prediction to how they will feel. What they can rely upon is knowing that when the emotions come, they come on intensely strong. Feeling Exhausted And Being Exhausting One of the hardest parts about living with borderline is the constant feeling of unmanageability. Though some people with borderline can have co-occurring narcissism or narcissistic traits, others are keenly aware of the effect their changing moods has on others. Especially for those they love, people with borderline feel a significant amount of guilt for their uncontrollable behaviors. Treatment And Coping Behavioral psychotherapy types like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy have proven to be extremely helpful for treating borderline. Giving people the tools they need to regulate their emotions, cope with emotional intensity, and create strategies for communication can be life-changing. Borderline was once considered untreatable. Today, through therapy and treatment more people are finding ways to live with their condition. Avalon Malibu is a certified mental health treatment facility providing trusted residential care to individuals with a primary diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. If you are in need of treatment and are ready to heal, call us today for a confidential assessment at 1 888-958-7511.

Bipolar is perhaps one of the most widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental health disorders. Previously referred to as manic depressive disorder, bipolar is primarily characterized by shifting moods or “mood swings”. There are two different types of bipolar: bipolar I and bipolar II. Bipolar one has moods that shift frequently, whereas bipolar II has moods that shift every so often. Additionally, the mania and hypomania are experienced differently in each type of bipolar. Bipolar I will have severely high mania whereas bipolar II will have what is called hypomania. Mania is considered an “up” swing, followed by depression which is considered a “down” swing. People who live with bipolar feel as though they do not have any control over their emotions and moods. Once they get into a manic state, they feel great, if a little out of sorts. When that manic state comes to an end and heads toward depression, they come crashing down and can even become suicidal. Bipolar depression and clinical depression are two different kinds of depression, though they can share similar symptoms. Mania and Depression The symptoms of both the mania and the depression can be difficult to manage. Feeling out of control of one’s emotions and behaviors is triggering, frustrating, and overwhelming. Bipolar disorder is frequently co-occurring with alcoholism and addiction because of the way it soothes a variety of symptoms. According to Yahoo Finance, “It's estimated that as many as half of bipolar disorder sufferers also struggle with some form of addiction. The extreme mania and depression of bipolar disorder makes it easy to see why turning to drugs or alcohol is a natural choice; warding off the lows and enhancing the highs can be accomplished almost immediately by self-medicating.” Though self-medication can be relieving for a time when someone is abusing drugs and alcohol while living with bipolar, they are likely making matters worse. Popular prescription treatments for bipolar like Lamictal do not interfere well with substances like alcohol. Self-medicating “may only exacerbate the brain chemistry that makes bipolar disorder so overwhelming in the first place.” Treating both bipolar disorder and addiction is essential for full recovery and long lasting sobriety. Without assessing both processes in the brain, one might never be sorted out from the other, causing an ongoing interaction. Avalon Malibu is one of California’s only primary mental health treatment facility. Our estate houses both our mental health and substance use disorder facilities, making dual diagnosis treatment easy and accessible. For a confidential assessment, call 1 888-958-7511.

Eating disorders are complex and complicated mental health issues which can become life threatening without treatment. Supporting a loved one who has an issue with one of life’s necessities, food, can be challenging. Help Them Stop Talking About Weight Since weight and body image has been such a hyper-focus for so long, it might feel like a natural area of conversation to bring up when your loved one is in treatment and recovery for an eating disorder. Learning not to focus on weight and body image is something they are working very hard at. Even if they had reached dangerously low weights through anorexia nervosa and you want to comment they are looking healthier as they gain some weight- try to avoid these comments in the beginning. On the other hand, if someone had gained a dangerously high weight through an eating disorder like binge eating disorder, try not to comment on how thin they are looking. Underneath the surface of obsession regarding weight and body image are serious psychological issues they are working hard to sort out. For now, encourage them to keep working so hard in treatment. Leave The Guidance To The Therapists Getting a call from a loved one in treatment is a special yet also a frightening moment. You want to support them and help them in every way you can. Making sure those ways you chose are healthy is important. Remember, that though you are a parent, a spouse, or a dear friend, you are not a licensed professional certified in treating eating disorders. What you can do is:

Social media gets a lot of attention because our lives are becoming increasingly intertwined in it. You can sign up for just about anything with a Facebook account login. All channels of social media somehow connect to one another so you can post across multiple platforms. Your phone can ring all day with notifications and alerts regarding activity within your social media world. Soon, Facebook has leaked, there will even be virtual reality hangout rooms where you can interact with your friends in a virtual space, interacting with mixed media and more. What about real space, where real people live? Reports of the way social media affects the human brain are varied. Some reports reveal that social media engagement, from receiving a “like” on a photo to scrolling through a news feed can activate our brains the same way drugs like cocaine do. Other reports have found that social media can boost our self-esteem. Contrastly, reports have found that social media is devastating for body image and confidence. Every list of sleep recommendations includes staying away from social media before bedtime. Productivity suggestions emphasize not getting on social media first thing in the morning. It seems there’s no right way to balance social media use and continue to maintain mental health. According to On The Mind, these are some of the key ways we are affected by social media use: “Likes” Various research has found that the power of the “like” function, or any other function on social media which indicates a positive reaction to something we posted, stimulates the brain. It creates a reward circuit pattern, not unlike drugs and alcohol. Essentially, the article explains, we’ve trained ourselves to react to those positive reactions. When we don’t receive the response we think we do, we feel insecure and lose that quick boost of self-esteem we had just achieved. Social Media For Good Social media has produced a lot of positive movements which have helped to shift paradigms and unravel decades old way of thinking. From body positivity to wider acceptance of mental health, trending hashtags and challenges online have helped create conversation that might have taken decades more to have. Social Media For Bad On a similar coin to how social media has promoted unity and acceptance it has also created divides. Hidden behind the strength and security of social media platforms and screens, people can act in ways they might not normally act. Primarily, that means they can become online bullies. Online bullying, broadcasting live videos of violent acts, and other troubling uses of social media have come about, harming people’s lives, costing people’s lives, and more. Avalon Malibu is a residential treatment center for primary mental health diagnosis as well as dual diagnosis substance use disorders. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, or bullying due to your social media use, help is available. Call us for a confidential assessment at 1 888-958-7511.

It doesn’t take a diagnosis of trauma or post traumatic stress disorder to create the experience of living and reliving difficult moments. We see them in our sleep, we see them as we mindlessly stare out the window. In our most calm moments, they creep in and play from a broken remote. Without a way to mae the pain, guilt, shame, fear, and sadness stop we are constantly left victim to negative thoughts, feelings, and memories. As a result we feel discouraged, unmotivated, helpless and sometime hopeless. For individuals who are working on recovery for their mental health through treatment, this is an especially discouraging occurence. Treatment is meant for healing and changing the mind from creating more and more pain. Thankfully, research is particularly focused on how to maximize positivity and increase the potential for efficiency in the brain. Negativity and ruminating negative thoughts are useful in what they can teach us when they don’t hold us back. One study suggests the use of self-guided positive emotional imagery training. Imagery techniques are neither new nor revolutionary. Creating positive visualizations in the mind also doesn’t work for everyone. Some people actually aren’t able to visualize images in their minds. However, for those who can make use of the technique, they find great benefit. Imagery and visualization are tools often used in cognitive behavioral therapy in order to “reframe” painful memories. By painting a different picture- quite literally- one is able to change the way they emotionally relate to that picture. Imagery Processing Techniques Some techniques are easier and more safe to practice alone without the clinical supervision of a therapist. Others might be triggering for underlying trauma.

It’s true. Recovery is a lifestyle change. Changing your life for the better might seem like a difficult choice to make. Here are some of the best reasons why you should choose recovery. Your Story Will Help Others You may not think you have much of anything to offer anyone right now. That’s understandable. You’re at the beginning stage of something you can’t even understand yourself: recovery. Here’s a crazy thing about it: the fact that you are even thinking about getting yourself some help is already a story enough. Should you choose to seek treatment and build a lifestyle of recovery, you are making a decision that millions of people shy away from every single day. Your ability to choose to help yourself and stop the struggling is monumental. Your story starts right here, right now. It is almost guaranteed that there is at least one person out there who can identify with just one part of your story. You’re Going To Keep Getting Better The coolest thing about recovery is that you don’t have to just stop recovering once treatment is over. Recovery isn’t just something you learn how to do, it becomes part of who you are. Recovery is ongoing. You will always be learning, growing, improving, healing, and changing. Who you are today will be unrecognizable in who you will be thirty days, 90 days, six months, or even a few years from now. Great changes come when we are willing to let them happen. You Aren’t Losing Money (Or Respect) Living with untreated mental health disorders can be a lot more costly than going to treatment. Drug and alcohol addiction, for example, can rack up quite the bill. Depression can cause you to lose a job, bipolar can cause overspending, and more. Most importantly, you are losing out on time, memories, and major parts of your life. You’ll Have Better Control Of Your Emotions Recovery is about gaining back parts of who you are. You will be able to feel like yourself again with better tools for managing, regulating, and understanding your emotions. Through therapy and treatment you’re going to learn how to be at peace with yourself, mind, body, and spirit. Recovery is always going to be better than suffering. If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, alcoholism, and a dual diagnosis mental health disorder, call Avalon By The Sea today. Our residential treatment programs are available for dual diagnosis care. Healing is what we do. Call 1 (888) 958-7511 for a confidential assessment today.

30 million Americans use sleep medication. That’s a lot of people who have a hard time falling asleep. During treatment for recovery from a mental health or substance use disorder, sleep can be challenging. Living with new thoughts and feelings, dealing with physical symptoms of withdrawal, and general restlessness can all cause a difficulty falling asleep. Maladaptive behaviors before bedtime and throughout the day can make sleeping more difficult as well- like that 5 pm coffee. Here are some best tips for getting to sleep without the use of a heavy sleeping medication. It’s important to note that using sleep medication during treatment is common and often encouraged. For many people, the medication quickly becomes unnecessary and causes more drowsiness the next day than it does quality sleep.

Obsessive compulsive disorders is one of the lesser understood mental health disorders and dual diagnosis with substance use disorder.

Winter is finally ending meaning springtime is right around the corner. With water starting to warm up and the ice melting away you have access to all new water activities that you didn’t before. What does water have to do with mental health recovery? Everything! For starters, the brain sits in a puddle of a water lie substance and is mostly made up of water itself. Our bodies are mostly water as well and so is the planet. Water connects us to everything that is life. Without water, we cannot survive and neither would most of the planet. Being connected to water is deeply healing. For example, the pH levels in the ocean match your internal pH levels, which can make similar feelings of being in the womb, causing you to feel calm and relaxed. Water helps us feel buoyant, relieving a lot of aches and pains. Water also makes us feel happier. Neuroscience research is diving deeper into water- literally- to get a better understanding of just how healing water is. Everyone likes to be near water, whether they know it or not. Even people with extreme phobias of water can overcome them because water is a wondrous thing. Go Kayaking Ocean kayaking can be extreme in the wrong conditions. On a flat day or in an ocean bay, it can be enjoyable. Find a nearby lagoon, lake, or channel where you can kayak. You’ll propel yourself along and focus on your breath while paying attention to the beauty all around you. Learn How To Surf There’s a reason people get “surf stoke”- surfing is fun! Springtime is a good time to start learning how to surf. Rent a wetsuit a board before heading out to the white water. Practice popping up and learning how to time the waves. Many lifetime surfers find the practice to be very zen and spiritual. Pick Up A Boogey Board If paddling out to the lineup and catching monster wages isn’t your thing, stick to the white water with a boogie board. Body surfing is always fun and is a great way to feel the rush of the power of the ocean without risking yourself getting too hurt. Take A Fishing Trip Going out on a boat across miles of open sea can be a transformational experience. Try taking an offshore fishing trip where you might see dolphins and whales along the way. Try Paddle Boarding Stand Up Paddle boarding is like a hybrid of surfing and kayaking. You can even do yoga on a stand up paddle board. Enjoy the power of the board with the power of your paddling as you cruise along, taking in the beautiful ocean around you. Create A Beach Collage If getting into the water doesn’t sound like your thing, you can still enjoy the bounties the water has to offer. Taking therapeutic walks on the beach can help your back, help your mindfulness practices, and keep you right next to the ocean. Along the way, you can find sticks, beach glass, and shells to collect. Make a beach collage with some sand so you can have a piece of the shore with you at home. Avalon By The Sea boasts its location in its name. Our stunning estate sits atop the iconic cliffside coast of southern california’s famous beach town of Malibu. During the warmer season we engage our clients in therapeutic water activities and beach activities making the most of our beautiful environment. For a confidential assessment and more information on our residential treatment programs for mental health and addiction, call 888-958-7511.