The relationship between low self-esteem and addiction has been established for a very long time. People who use drugs, especially women, may have low self-esteem which can lead to behavioral addictions like eating disorders and compulsive buying. Alcohol or drugs may mask insecurities but they don’t help a person’s self-esteem get better. Rebuilding Self-Esteem When…
Nutrition is an important part of recovery for people with addiction and mental health issues. Many people who suffer from addictions and mental health issues suffer from poor nutritional habits, which can further complicate their mental health and physical states. The negative impacts outweigh the positive side of learning how to eat better for overall…
Most people experience sleep issues in early recovery, leaving them cranky, unable to function, and reaching for the wrong types of foods for a boost. Lack of sleep can also put recovery at risk. Learning how to get more sleep in recovery is important for healing and growth. Why Sleep Matters Insomnia is more common…
Codependency is a term used when people struggle with substance use and seek the approval of others to find self-worth, validation, protection, and identity. Codependency develops before a person even realizes it has happened. This may negatively impact recovery by not making a priority of taking care of themselves. Learn how codependent behaviors can derail…
Professional treatment for addiction is a key part of recovery. While it is not the only decision people must make regarding rehab, other decisions have to get made that support a healthier recovery. One of the decisions is how to make a transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment. Structure and support may be more necessary…
Many people suffer with a mental health condition, which can increase the risk of developing a substance use disorder or addiction. Often, one or more underlying mental health illnesses co-occur with a substance use disorder or addiction. When anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and ADHD are untreated, a person might self-medicate with drugs or alcohol…
Making the decision to get help for your addiction is one of the best decisions you will ever make. The road may not always be smooth and easy, but sticking it out and really applying yourself to the concept of addiction recovery and all it entails is the key to really turning your life around.…
Drug and alcohol abuse destroys the brain. By sending mixed signals to your brain’s neurotransmitters, drugs effectively trick your brain into craving more and more of them, as they wreak havoc on organs and bodily functions. This craving turns into full scale dependency– a term that indicates that the body has transitioned from simply enjoying…
Yes. Known usually as “polysubstance dependence,” addiction to more than one drug is possible, and it is unfortunately becoming more common as access to illegal substances becomes more and more open. There are typically two instances in which an addiction to more than one drug occurs. The first typically happens when an individual suffers from…
Drug use is an unfortunate epidemic that affects millions of Americans. Ranging from casual use to severe addiction, individuals from all walks of life suffer the dangerous effects of consuming toxic substances on a daily basis. There are some, however, who very much believe that their drug habit is completely under control, and that there…