It is not easy to understand addiction in loved ones, especially children. They may behave in ways that seem outrageous or difficult to deal with. Addiction is about compulsive behavior and is defined by the consequences of these behaviors. The person with an addiction is unable to stop consuming substances in spite of consequences. They…
When people think about arthritis, they don’t always think about the relationship is has with addiction and recovery. Arthritis is a term that focus on overall joint health, specifically some of the more debilitating aspects of the disease. Learn more about the role of addiction in joint health and how to support better bones in…
The legal system has a role to play in some people’s lives as it relates to addiction recovery. There are legal issues that may pop up for people who use substances or get in trouble with the law while using substances. The legal challenges can be difficult to navigate in recovery but it is a…
Some children suffer trauma or neglect early on, resulting in negative life experiences later in life. This can become mental health issues or physical health consequences, including difficulty living a full, happy life. Adverse child experiences (ACEs) are experiences children are exposed to in childhood that create struggles later in life, including substance abuse. Trauma…
People use drugs in all sorts of ways. Some might abuse prescription pills by taking too many, some inject drugs, and others resort to snorting for the high it provides. Snorting drugs is a means to get more into the system more quickly. It enters the bloodstream through the nose and can be absorbed quickly.…
Children of parents who struggle with alcoholism are at risk of experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and drug or alcohol abuse. Children of parents with an addiction or substance use disorder can feel uncertain, unstable, neglected, disorganized, and alone. The home environment influences a child’s chaotic feelings. Children feel guilty…
Teens try to fit in with others to be socially accepted and social media plays a huge role in how teens perceive other peers as well as themselves. Teens look for acceptance and getting a large number of “likes” or comments on social media can inflate egos and falsely make someone think they are popular.…
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…