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The impact of trauma on the human brain can be profound as some areas of the brain can suffer physical changes from the traumatic event. The effects of experiencing trauma can lead to low quality of life for some due to the physical and mental impacts it has. There have been several studies that have shown that trauma can lead to memory loss and affect a person’s ability to recall memories. It’s not that the memories do not exist; they are just buried deep within the brain where they are not consciously accessible and in fact, these memories can create subconscious behaviors.

Sometimes, toxic habits turn into addictions. Casual, social drinking may turn to drinking daily by yourself. Using substances to self-medicate can quickly turn into an addiction. Using drugs floods the brain with dopamine, causing the brain to seek ways to find that feeling again. When this occurs, someone may continuously seek out substances. The brain tells an individual it needs more dopamine, resulting in regular substance use to feel high. The habit provides a physical or emotional function, eventually resulting in addiction. There are ways to retrain our brains not to be compelled to use. However, it is not an immediate outcome. A person must take small steps to create patterns. It takes an average of 66 days of repeating the same behavior to make a habit. Therefore, it may take around 66 days to break that habit. A person must identify their triggers to avoid them. Recognizing these cues is the first step in breaking addictions. Keeping a journal of your cues and learning what triggers which cravings may help break the habit cycle.  Replace old habits with new ones. If you have a habit of using because you are stressed, practice mindfulness instead. Mindfulness is as easy as practicing breathing exercises or meditating. Meditation may be challenging to practice in the middle of a craving. However, you don’t have to close your eyes and sit still to meditate. Taking a walk through the park or around your neighborhood are effective ways to meditate. Ask yourself what you need at that moment. Do you need to destress, or do you need to use?

There are several ways to support a family member in recovery, even if they cannot commit to formal therapy sessions. Understanding why a family member may have begun to use substances can be very hard. Sometimes, parents feel like they may have done something wrong. However, this may not be true. There may be many reasons why someone chooses to use substances. A person’s environment, psychological traits, and stress levels all play significant roles in using alcohol or drugs. Learning about your family member’s addiction with a non-judgemental attitude is key to helping them reach the point of recovery. Seeking help for young adults struggling with substance use as soon as possible is critical. People who start using drugs or alcohol early in life run a higher risk of becoming addicted. Research suggests that children experiment with drugs based on their perceived risks of using. If a child grows up in a household where substance use is normalized, their risk assessment will be higher than usual. Families need to learn about different substances and their long-term negative impacts on health together. Understanding the details about family-based recovery models and their ideas of non-judgmental support is vital to the recovery process. It’s hard to positively influence family members if there is a misunderstanding of our loved ones’ process. An open communication flow is critical in any relationship, and many family-based treatment models incorporate communicative skills into their sessions. Having open communication with a family member who uses substances is also vital to their recovery. Free communication channels mean that they may come to you with issues they have tried to hide before. If a substance user feels like they will be judged or given harsh punishment, they may keep complicated matters to themselves, making open communication and a foundation of trust essential.

Neurofeedback is the use of electronic instruments to learn more about a person’s body’s physiological functions. This includes the functions of the brain, which is called neurofeedback. The concept is based on neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt through reorganization. In neurofeedback therapy, EEG tests monitor brain waves and how a person reacts to certain stimuli. Over time, the brain can become conditioned to respond differently to the same stimuli. Neurofeedback and conditioning of the brain play a significant role in relapse prevention.

It is common for those who use substances to use more than one at a time, known as polysubstance abuse. Treatment for multiple substances is more tedious than treating addiction to a single, particular drug. However, there are many techniques for treating polysubstance abuse. There are several reasons someone may engage in using multiple substances, such as genetics. Some people are exposed to multiple substance use somewhere in their childhood. A parent’s substance use can influence how their children see substance use and contribute to developing substance use disorder (SUD). There are also social factors that play into polysubstance abuse. Many teens engage in polysubstance abuse to experiment with drugs or as a result of peer pressure. However, they are not mature enough to use proper risk assessment when using multiple substances, nor do they possess adequate drug interaction knowledge.

Many people who suffer from substance use disorder (SUD) or mental health disorders experience instability. It can come in many forms; financial instability, emotional instability, or behavioral instability. When entering recovery, you may begin stabilization immediately, including doctor-patient monitoring, detox, or therapy. Stabilization helps aid people in recovery for the long term.

Some people are comfortable with predictability. They find it easier to cope if they can rely on a routine or some kind of constant in their life. When change happens, it can be hard to understand or assimilate. If there is any constant in life, it is actually that there is change. Some people are seeking out behavioral changes as a part of their recovery from substance abuse or mental health disorders. Actively seeking ways to change can be stressful and hard to manage, therefore finding the right kind of care during this critical time may be imperative.  Even after we receive treatment, we may have to deal with the changes during the early recovery process. Many treatment facilities will give its clients the tools during the aftercare planning process to help them manage and cope with life stressors. Many treatment programs will offer guidance to enter into an intensive outpatient program after residential treatment to provide the support and guidance needed to deal with the life changes that occur post-treatment. Joining an intensive outpatient program or any type of group therapy sessions after treatment is important because they provide opportunities to build strong support systems for the early recovery process.  Group therapy provides a space where you can allow yourself to feel vulnerable and process emotions caused by past and current significant life changes as well as actively interact with others who have not only experienced what you have gone through, but also experienced the changes that are happening in your early recovery journey.

Gestalt therapy was developed initially as an alternative to standard psychotherapy. It is a type of experiential therapy that focuses on an individual’s experience in the present moment and emphasizes the importance of self-responsibility in the recovery process. The holistic approach of Gestalt therapy has been found useful by many therapists. The sessions do not have rigid structures and allow the patient to use creativity to understand their emotions.

Having healthy self-esteem and feelings of self-worth are some of the most essential characteristics that you could have. Self-esteem is defined as the way we view our worth or value and it directly impacts our decisions and thought processes. Some studies link low self-esteem to many mental health disorders and low self-esteem may also influence people to abuse drugs to avoid feelings of low self-worth.

Mindfulness, simply stated, is the practice of gaining self-awareness. It is derived from ancient trans-Himalayan philosophies of contemplation and cultivation of awareness. Research has shown that frequent mindfulness exercises practice produces substantial changes in trait-like predispositions to being mindful in everyday life, even without being engaged in meditation. Many mindfulness practices are used in recovery therapies. Some are meditative, and some are more active approaches to mindfulness. Though, one technique seems to be both the easiest and most challenging for some to master—the art of being still.

Research suggests that both acute and prolonged use of drugs can affect a person’s brain responses. Some substances can exacerbate an already existing mental disorder. For instance, in people with a genetic disposition towards psychosis, using marijuana increases the chance of experiencing a state of psychosis. Marijuana is often viewed as a less destructive drug and has become increasingly more socially acceptable. However, there are implications of severe side-effects of marijuana use and mental health disorders. Diagnosing co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders can be difficult. The symptoms can often mimic each other, and providing treatment can be challenging. It is crucial to find a tailored treatment when dealing with co-occurring disorders. Many facilities offer inpatient treatment, which may be essential to treating mental health and substance use disorder (SUD). The great attention that inpatient provides is beneficial in treating co-occurring conditions. The best practice is to treat both disorders simultaneously. Treating them separately can be arduous, and one condition may take precedence over the other. When mental health is treated with SUD, relapse decreases due to awareness of mental health triggers. SUD and mental health disorders go hand in hand. You may be dealing with co-occurring conditions without realizing it. Some substances only exacerbate mental unwellness, and mental health may lead to drug use. A treatment program can address any mental health issues to provide the most effective care. Most recovery treatment models can be tailored to meet a person’s needs, and the addition of mental health counseling can only be positive in the long run. It is essential to research facilities before deciding to ensure they have the tools and resources to deal with co-occurring disorders.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is often used to treat PTSD and other forms of trauma. EMDR focuses on the process of memory recall. During EMDR sessions, you relive traumatic or triggering experiences in small doses while the therapist directs your eye movements. Over 30 controlled outcome studies have shown positive outcomes with EMDR therapy. Some of the studies have shown: