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Technology has taken over many of our kids’ lives. While they can gain a lot of information from the internet, the fact is that mobile apps, movies and more can be damaging to a teen’s mental health, especially if the user isn’t properly monitored. All too often, parents battle with limiting their teens’ use of technology, thinking that they’ll grow out of it. The reality is that our teens’ mental health is connected to their physical health. If they’re spending more time staring at screens than outside getting exercise, this could be a recipe for disaster.   Previous studies have found that exercise can help our teens and their mental health in a variety of ways, such as:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment used to help treat conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders (SUDs), and so much more. Previous psychologists have discovered the main principles of CBT, which are:

Depression can be an incredibly debilitating disorder to have, and those who experience depression may feel isolated and hopeless. If you have been diagnosed with depression, you can probably relate to feeling empty and exhausted. Unfortunately, millions of people around the world struggle with depression. The recovery journey looks different for each person, but it is crucial to move forward and live a happy and healthy life. For some, medications work wonders. Others have found that a combination of therapy and holistic practices, like yoga and meditation, can make a world of difference.

When you view life, people or situations as “all or nothing”, that is known as black and white thinking. For many people, these thought patterns appear from time to time, especially when they’re feeling upset, angry, disappointed, hopeless or frustrated. This type of thinking also occurs quite often for those who have borderline personality disorder (BPD). Understanding why black and white thinking occurs, and how to cope with it, can have a positive effect on the progression of your recovery.

Addiction recovery can be a stressful time. While all change is overwhelming, sustaining sobriety requires massive changes in lifestyle and behavior. Previous studies have found that nearly 4 out of 5 Americans are afflicted with daily stressors. Unfortunately, individuals in addiction recovery have to face these normal daily stressors in addition to those specific to their addiction. These stressors come in many forms, including pleasing family members, ensuring that children are taken care of, paying bills on time and so much more. Often, stress coupled with poor coping skills holds people back in their recovery. Recognizing the ways that stress can negatively impact sobriety is critical, as this awareness can motivate changed behaviors and improve stress management skills.

When it comes to personality disorders, there are often symptoms that seem to overlap – and without a proper diagnosis, a person can find daily life challenging. Many people with personality disorders have difficulty maintaining relationships, as their perceptions of themselves and others can feel quite unstable at times. Despite the unique characteristics of various personality disorders, it’s still quite possible to be misdiagnosed. Unfortunately, without proper care and attention, distinguishing differences between these disorders can prove to be very difficult.  It’s been said before that borderline personality disorder (BPD) and histrionic personality disorder are practically the same, but there are still some key differences that are worth knowing. Take a look at the following differences:

Note: If you are having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters and you are not alone.   Borderline personality disorder (BPD) affects millions of people across the United States, with the majority of cases being women. BPD is typically characterized by an intense fear of abandonment, unstable self-image, self-harm, anger and irritability, and more. Many people with this disorder feel alone and misunderstood by others, reporting a sense of inner despair and utter chaos. Unfortunately, death by suicide is a common occurrence as a result, with a suicide rate of more than 400 times the national average – and this was a statistic presented by the government several years ago. Luckily, there are treatment options that have proven quite successful.

Throughout your recovery, you’re going to find that there will always be something new to learn about yourself and what works/doesn’t work for your healing journey. Luckily, you’ll meet a lot of people during your treatment at Avalon Malibu who will help you to identify and practice positive coping strategies. During this process, it’s important to remember that the small choices you make daily add up, and ultimately, they will either propel you forward in your recovery or pull you back from your goals. As you increase awareness around old behaviors and new ways of living, there are a few basic things to avoid during the beginning of your recovery.

Most people would confirm that blackouts can be somewhat funny and somewhat terrifying at the same time. While the brain is experiencing a sort of mechanical failure, many people still laugh at the idea of piecing together events of the previous night after becoming intoxicated.   Drinking too much and too fast can cause blackouts. These experiences are incredibly common, especially in America, where drinking to excess is of the norm. If blackouts are occurring frequently in a person’s life, this could be a sign that they’re battling with alcoholism. Unfortunately, people are often unaware of this fact, due to how normalized drinking is in US culture. The reality is that when it comes to drinking, the more intoxicated a person gets, the more difficulties they’ll have remembering the events of the night prior.   The morning after a binge or a blackout is often filled with anxiety and regret. In addition to not being able to remember what exactly happened the night before, a person may also struggle with impaired vision, impaired judgment, difficulty standing, walking and more. For those who understand the severe impact of alcoholism, recovery is about understanding not only the harmful effects these behaviors can have on our body and our loved ones but also how they can negatively impact the brain’s processing.

Addiction recovery is a time for you to focus on getting your mind, body, and spirit in the best shape of your life. It’s not just about treating the addiction itself. Instead, it’s about restoring what was once damaged from addiction. Physical health is incredibly important because your body serves as a temple to your life. Without your physical health, you wouldn’t be able to rejuvenate and replenish. If you’re looking for an activity that will boost your physical health – and, subsequently, your mental and spiritual health – consider incorporating stretching into your daily routine.   Numerous studies have found that stretching provides so many benefits to those who do it consistently. Stretching promotes flexibility, it improves posture, and it prepares muscles to recover from potential injuries. Additionally, stretching increases blood supply – which means that nutrients are better able to reach the places that they need to go. Ultimately, stretching is great for several things affecting the mind, body, and spirit.

While many people associate addiction recovery with physical wellness, the reality is that our day-to-day lives are experienced through our perceptions and how we’re able to handle difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. When bad moments occur, we can experience several responses, including an increase in blood pressure, anxiety, difficulty focusing, shaking, and increased feelings of sadness, anger and/or irritability. If we don’t have healthy coping mechanisms, we may even do something that we later come to regret. These are experiences that everyone has, not solely those in addiction recovery. However, for those that are in recovery, it’s smart to start picking up on some healthy coping mechanisms. Doing so can improve quality of life, as well as prevent eventual relapse to substance use.

Acupuncture is an extremely common practice across the world and it offers several healing benefits. For many Americans, however, acupuncture seems like a terrifyingly painful experience. Acupuncture and other holistic practices are more mainstream in Eastern countries, like China. The approach between Eastern and Western practices differs based on use. Specifically, Western culture tends to rely on medicines to treat illnesses, whereas Eastern traditions rely heavily on various modes of medicine for proactive wellbeing. However, the Western world has slowly been evolving to include holistic healing options, due to their many restorative properties.