rock exposed by beach waves

Rebuild Self-Esteem in Recovery with These Helpful Tips

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 a…

backlit palm trees with a breeze

Nutrition is an Important Healer: Here’s Why

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…

set setting over the houses at Oceanfront Recovery Laguna Beach

How Can a Person Get More Sleep in Early Recovery?

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 in…

identical apartments on the hill at Laguna Beach

Can Codependent Behaviors Derail Recovery?

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…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Substance Abuse

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…

man surfboarding alongside sea lions at Laguna Beach

You Don’t See It, but Drug Use is Changing You

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…

Is it possible to be addicted to more than one substance?

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…

Signs Your Habit is Spiraling out of Control

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 is…