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Anyone can become addicted to alcohol or drugs. The disease of addiction affects people of every age, race, gender and economic status. However, a few genetic and environment factors can boost the likelihood of developing an addiction, and family life is one of those key factors. A tense family situation or lack of family involvement can increase the risk of addiction and make the path to recovery more difficult. In other cases, family support can be instrumental in helping an addicted person during treatment and recovery. Family therapy can help an addicted individual and their loved ones strengthen their bonds and communicate more effectively.

Losing someone you love or something you valued is a very painful experience. At times, you may feel like the sadness and pain will never get better, and you'll experience a huge range of emotions. These reactions are normal after a major loss. Grieving is a slow process that can last for months or years, but a few healthy coping strategies can help you deal with the pain and allow you to move on.

When the temperatures cool and the days get shorter, it's not uncommon to feel a bit of the "winter blues," but for some people, the onset of winter brings a more serious form of depression: a condition is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). People afflicted with SAD are likely to experience symptoms of the disorder from the beginning of fall until the weather warms up in the spring. If you think you might be struggling with SAD, effective treatments are available to help you keep your mood stable all year long.

Substance abuse and drug addiction have become increasingly widespread over the last couple of decades. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the aggregate cost associated with substance abuse and addiction in the U.S. exceeds $712 billion, making drug use one of the most prevalent socioeconomic issues of today. With drug addiction being such an issue of concern, people who suffer from addiction (and their loved ones) are looking for the best possible treatment options available. One of the oldest and yet consistently successful treatment modalities for drug addiction is psychodrama. Psychodrama is a form of therapy in which the individual experiences correction by re-experiencing certain events combined with active expression and role rehearsal.

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India thousands of years ago, and it remains in wide use today all over the world. Considered a form of alternative and complementary medicine in the U.S., many of the principles of Ayurveda have nevertheless come into the mainstream, with physicians trained in modern medicine incorporating some of the practices into their own roster of treatments for various conditions. Ayurveda is particularly suited for helping people with a substance abuse disorder tune in more closely to their physical and spiritual condition. It embodies a holistic approach to healing that addresses mind, body, and spirit, which is increasingly regarded as the best way to treat the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of substance addiction.

Have you ever wondered why your memory doesn’t work like it used to, or why you have greater difficulty concentrating and paying attention? Have you or your friends and family noticed that you have difficulty organizing your thoughts, or finding the right words to express yourself to others? Do you struggle to maintain a stable mood? A Neuropsychological Evaluation (NPE) can help answer these questions and provide you with a detailed assessment of the inner workings of your brain - including strengths and weaknesses, which in turn will assist in  developing a more effective treatment plan for your specific problems. And the best part? Avalon is now proud to offer this comprehensive evaluation to each one of our mental health clients - making us one of a very select few treatment facilities in the country to provide such a service as a part of their intake process.

If you've ever had an anxiety attack, you were probably certain that death was imminent. Anxiety attacks are all too common for people who suffer from a panic disorder, which causes debilitating fear and anxiety that manifests through these attacks, which can be frequent and may not have a discernible cause. Around six million adults in America suffer from panic disorder, which, according to the National Institutes of Health, affects women twice as often as men. Anxiety attacks typically begin to occur in late adolescence or early adulthood, and although not everyone who experiences these attacks has panic disorder, anxiety attacks can nevertheless vastly reduce your quality of life.

Almost everybody has a fear or two. For most individuals, these fears are relatively minor. However, when a fear begins to interfere with everyday life and causes severe anxiety, it's called a phobia. If you suspect that you're suffering from a phobia, you're not alone. An estimated 19 million Americans have some type of phobia, with twice as many women affected as men. Fortunately, treatment for phobias is extremely effective, and you can successfully manage your fears with the help of a mental health professional.

Water is the source of life, and incorporating aqua therapy into an addiction recovery program can bolster the function of both mind and body to promote healing and restore balance. Aqua therapy is comprised of various types of exercise that are performed in the water, and it's widely used for physical rehabilitation and for emotional healing, particularly in an addiction recovery setting.

It's not easy to go through addiction treatment, but some of recovery's biggest challenges occur after you leave the rehab center. Everyday life is filled with stresses and pressures, but a strong network of friends and loved ones can help make the transition easier. The issue of friendships can be tricky when you're in recovery. You may be apprehensive about reconnecting with old friends, and you may not be sure how to cultivate new friendships. It takes a bit of work to re-establish old relationships and develop new ones, but the rewards of healthy friendships justify the effort.

Xanax addiction is rapidly approaching epidemic proportions in the United States. One of the challenges in battling this epidemic is the inability to effectively identify the signs and symptoms that are commonly associated with it. Without being able to recognize the symptoms of Xanax addiction, it is impossible for loved ones to take action and intervene. Because Xanax is used as a common short-term treatment for anxiety disorders, it is easily accessible, presenting a high potential for addiction.

Over the years there has been a wealth of data compiled concerning the consumption of alcohol by women during pregnancy. For decades, the general consensus has been that it is best for pregnant women to abstain from alcohol consumption; however, the emergence of new studies places the question surrounding alcohol consumption and pregnancy back at the forefront of medical discussions. Although some studies have surfaced that suggest that moderate consumption of alcohol by pregnant women does not increase the risk of neurodevelopmental issues in the fetus, the predominance of evidence to the contrary is clear in the expression of the need for pregnant women to abstain from alcohol consumption. While Americans appear to be more conservative when it comes to drinking during pregnancy, alcohol consumption during pregnancy is far more pervasive in Europe. There seems to be a common perception in Europe that “moderate” drinking during pregnancy is okay.