HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPONSOR FOR YOUR RECOVERY
The nature of substance addiction makes it a brutal disease. Recognizing your problem and entering treatment is really only the first step of what is likely to be a lifelong process of recovery. Maintaining sobriety after leaving an addiction treatment center or rehab facility can be just as difficult as making the decision to seek […]
GRIEVING FOR THE LIVING ADDICT
Have you ever been looking at someone who’s standing in the same room as you, living and breathing, and caught yourself grieving their loss? Sometimes people can change so much that it feels as though they’re no longer the person you knew or loved. You might be in the middle of a conversation with them […]
AGING AND ADDICTION
Addiction isn’t just a problem for the young. It’s actually more common in people 55 and over. There are several reasons an elderly person might turn to drugs or alcohol, such as depression, loneliness, and financial problems. About sixty-three percent of the elderly people who are experiencing some kind of serious addiction problem has been […]
SIGNS OF ADDICTION
It is not always easy to identify the early signs of addiction. Perhaps a family member you know is suffering from the symptoms of addiction or is undergoing the painful process of withdrawal and remission. Perhaps you yourself are a former abuser or addict. No matter what category you fall under, one thing is guaranteed: […]
MEDICATION-ASSISTED THERAPIES FOR ALCOHOL ADDICTION
Because alcohol can physically alter one’s brain structure and functioning, attempting to refrain from alcohol use can lead to extremely serious and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms. While not everyone experiences withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking, those who experience once are likely to experience it again. Indeed, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be so severe […]
WHAT IS ECOTHERAPY?
Clinically speaking, ecotherapy, also known as nature therapy or green therapy, is the applied practice of the field of ecopsychology, originally developed by Theodore Roszak. In many ways, however, ecotherapy is simply a prescription to spend time outside. Ecotherapy is based on the idea that people are both connected to and impacted by their surroundings, […]
BENEFITS OF EXERCISE IN YOUR RECOVERY
Those individuals who are deep into their addiction seem to forget about the important activities that are needed for emotional and physical happiness. It is imperative for the addict to repair the damage that they do to the body and mind due to the overuse of drugs and alcohol. It is very beneficial to find […]
PRESCRIPTION STIMULANT ABUSE POPULAR IN THE IVY LEAGUE
Prescription stimulants, specifically, medications like Adderall and Ritalin that are used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), When used as prescribed, these medications are generally considered to be both safe and effective. Researchers and addiction professionals, however, have been growing concerned that many people are not using the medications as prescribed. A recent study confirms that their […]
WHAT IS NAR-ANON?
Nar-Anon is the family component of Narcotics Anonymous; similar to the relationship between Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous. Like Al-Anon, Nar-Anon is also a 12-step program for family and friends who have been affected by another’s substance abuse. The program relies on group sharing and teaching seminars that can help people regardless of whether their loved […]
A GUIDE TO THE DETOX PROCESS
The first step to recovery from addiction is one of the hardest steps that someone will experience during their journey: the detox process. What is detoxification? Detoxification has been defined as eliminating drugs from the body while keeping withdrawal symptoms under control. While going through a supervised detox program, people can avoid extreme symptoms of […]