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Every day in the United States, millions of Americans are battling some form of pain. This pain can range from brief to long-lasting. Whether it’s acute or chronic, pain can feel incredibly difficult to manage. Prescription medications can sometimes help you deal with pain, but it’s incredibly easy to develop a drug dependency if you’re not careful. In some cases, seemingly helpful friends or family members will offer up their medications to help with pain relief. Without medical direction, however, the odds of becoming dependent on these medications increase. The work that you do daily can have a big impact on the pain that you experience. Therefore, practicing proper ergonomics can have a very positive impact on your life, potentially eliminating the need for pain medication.

Stress is uncomfortable and it’s often hard to deal with if we’re not aware of healthy coping strategies. For many in addiction recovery, stress is something that sparked substance abuse, to begin with. Therefore, if proper stress management is lacking, it’s likely you will return to substance abuse to relieve the pressure.

For decades, healthcare professionals have explored different ways to help treat things like mental illness and addiction. Unfortunately, these struggles often co-occur. For example, a person that is battling with substance use disorder (SUD) may also suffer from depression. Addiction recovery is about treating the whole self, meaning that all aspects of well-being need to be addressed to sustain sobriety. Since everyone has unique ways of learning and responding, creative treatment techniques must be employed. Psychodrama can be incredibly beneficial, as it allows people to express themselves in new ways while gaining insight into different perspectives.

Valium, or Diazepam, falls into the category of prescription drugs known as benzodiazepines. Known on the streets as benzos, these drug types have a sedating effect. In the medical world, Valium is often prescribed by doctors to help with symptoms including muscle spasms, seizures, anxiety and panic attacks. As with many prescription medications, however, Valium can become a drug of choice for abuse if it’s using isn’t carefully monitored. If you or someone you know is abusing Valium, the issue shouldn’t be taken lightly. Valium abuse can be fatal, and seeking support is often a matter of life and death.

Bipolar disorder affects millions of people across the US and demonstrates a variety of symptoms. Some people primarily experience challenges with energy levels. Others suffer from intense feelings of anxiety and isolation. Regardless of the specific experiences, living with bipolar disorder can be extremely difficult, especially if resources and support are lacking.

Recovery from substance use is often only talked about in terms of detoxification, therapy, and medication. However, there are so many more treatment modalities available. Specifically, holistic interventions have grown to become an excellent addition to recovery because they add another dimension to treatment without being intrusive. There are many types of holistic activities that can enhance one’s recovery experience, including meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic services, massage therapy, yoga, and more.

If you were to ask anyone with anxiety, they’d probably tell you that it’s often a major source of negativity in their life. Some have even described it as an “aching” in their soul. Managing this experience without proper treatment can feel overwhelming and unbearable.

Addiction is a challenge that countless people face. However, it’s important to note that many people struggling with substance use simultaneously struggle with other mental health issues. Often, these disorders are what perpetuate the addiction, as substances can be used to self-medicate their symptoms. Unfortunately, when mental illness goes undiagnosed, the sufferer can find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of drug and alcohol abuse that they may feel hopeless of ever overcoming.

One of the most crucial areas of addiction recovery is learning to practice presence and mindfulness. Addiction has a way of stealing attention from the beautiful pieces that make up a life. Consequently, it’s common to get caught up in altered thinking and miss out on everything beautiful, right now. Maybe you find yourself consumed with the obsession to use drugs and/or alcohol. Perhaps you are constantly preoccupied with concerns as to exactly how you will get your next drink and/or drug. If you’re in the final stages of addiction, you may find yourself flooded with thoughts of hopelessness and fear. Whatever your experience, the result is the same: As the ability to experience awareness of, and gratitude for the present moment decreases, perspective on life becomes increasingly negative.  Choosing a holistic approach to addiction recovery provides you with the opportunity to address the many mind, body and spiritual factors that influence who you are and how you view your life. Reconnecting to your joy by tuning into the present moment supports your ability to thrive in your recovery and your life as a whole.

Look around and you’ll notice that social media is at every turn. Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest newsfeeds flood our screens and our minds as we move through each day. While social media can be a compelling tool for radical movements, self-actualization, community, and communication, it can also have negative impacts if it’s used too frequently.

Human beings are made up of a complex inter-webbing of thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns. When addiction is involved, all of these factors affect your experience. Addiction arises out of a combination of circumstances, including stress, mental health, genetics, trauma, and family environment. Focusing solely on healing the addiction can result in missed opportunities to heal the many pieces of your addiction puzzle. Combining traditional treatment with holistic healing methods offers a way to support recovery in all the aspects of your unique story.

Although commonly confused, mood disorders and personality disorders are inherently different. While some symptoms may overlap, each diagnosis has its unique characteristics, therefore requiring specific treatment. If you or a loved one have recently been diagnosed with one of these, it’s important to educate yourself. Having a solid understanding of the disorder is a crucial step towards recovery, as it allows you to seek out proper resources and support.