Professional help for addiction is available but not every person is ready to take the leap. It is an important step in the journey, but a person has to be ready to take it. Other decisions they have to make might include where to get treatment, how long to be in the program, and the…
The body needs to get rid of drugs and other things from the system. Detoxing is key for individuals battling substance use disorder. To try and begin counseling people with substance abuse while the toxins are in the system is not going to work. That is basically setting them up for relapse. Drug detox is…
Dating in recovery is one of the biggest challenges there is at this sensitive time in life. It is not as if relationships are banned, but recovery is about focusing on healing from addiction. After all the work and effort, a relationship can throw everything off. If it does not work out, it may result…
Heroin and other drugs do not directly cause a high for people. It is the effect of these substances on neurotransmitters that cause feelings of pleasure or euphoria. The chemical substances the body uses to send signals and get things done suddenly are lighting up in the brain. Manipulating these is dangerous. It is essential…
Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) can happen to people going through withdrawal from substances. After detox, the second phase of withdrawal kicks in. Depending on how long the person used drugs, the second phase can last for weeks, even months. PAWS is a collection of symptoms that persist after all physical traces of drugs have left…
Social circles change when people are in recovery. There is a new opportunity to move forward and find new people and friends. One of the biggest hurdles when making a change is surrounding yourself with people who are positive influences. Not all social circles are positive. Toxic friendships and relationships can drag down recovery. Find…
Psychiatrists evaluate people with diagnoses to support a treatment plan for recovery. They may need to carefully monitor their detox and rehab journey to ensure there are no contradictions with other medications and the side effects are tolerable. Talk therapy can happen with a psychiatrist or a psychologist, individually, or in a group setting. Just…
Having a few drinks or doing drugs occasionally is some peoples’ way of relaxing. When that is gone in sobriety and recovery, it can feel difficult to sleep at night. Sometimes it is hard to shake those old coping mechanisms and embrace the third way. While it is common for people with sleep disorders to…
This little thing called ‘mid-year burnout’ is wreaking havoc on people across the United States. Five to six months into the year, around the end of summer, comes this feeling that most people don’t anticipate. After writing down all those goals for the year, with an assessment during summer, it may become clear, few, if…
Therapy is a helpful way to work through triggers that may be harmful in recovery. When they come on stronger than ever, it is good to have some strategies to deal with them effectively. It starts with outlining how to navigate them when they hit and what to do if they are too strong to…