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…
Everyone has, at some point or another, taken bad advice. Maybe they took their own or someone else’s, but they took advice that did not add value to their lives. A little thing called ‘optimism bias’ gives people a sense of hopefulness things will work out, even when things don’t look so good. When people…
With sobriety and recovery, there is no one journey. Everyone will experience something different while they travel the path to healing from addiction. Some people feel confident while others lack self-esteem and struggle to pull themselves up. There are some ways to begin restoring lost confidence in recovery. Try thinking about these three things to…
Society is about positive psychology and culture these days. While it seems like a good idea to stay positive, think positive, and achieve results that are positive, that is not the only way to live. It may not even be the best advice for people in recovery. There are some really, truly, hard days, and…