A common buzzword in mental health, lifestyle and addiction recovery platforms, “self-care” has become increasingly popular over the past year – but what exactly does it mean? While everyone could technically define self-care in their own way, Habits for Wellbeing, a website that publishes content related to mental, physical and spiritual wellness, highlights what self-care […]
Author Archives: Alta Loma
We hear of unfortunate cases all of the time; in the news, on social media, through friends and family – it’s devastating, and it happens more than we’d like to admit. Substances have a way of affecting a region in the brain that’s responsible for executive functioning (such as critical thinking skills, assessing consequences of […]
In 2016, researchers published a study in the journal Addiction Recovery & Theory that explored individuals’ recovery journeys. The outcomes of their study revealed that those in addiction recovery go through some incredibly changes, especially when it comes to their social identity – and it makes sense, because the people and groups we associate ourselves […]
In the world of addiction recovery, it becomes an intense, complex dialogue when people begin discussing what constitutes as dependence versus addiction. It’s a rather highly debated topic – because some would say that they’re one in the same. If we turn to highly qualified resources, such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), […]
Mental health is an incredibly important part of our holistic wellbeing, yet many of us neglect this aspect of healing because we can’t physically see it. The way we think, feel and behave all provide incredibly telling signs as to the state of our mental health, which is defined by the U.S. Department of Health […]
Abstinence is a common term used in addiction recovery, but there are often questions as to what constitutes as abstinence and what doesn’t. There are many situations that individuals may deem as “gray areas” – ones that, in certain circumstances, could appear to be opportunities that are okay for “only one drink” or two; for […]
Depression is the leading source of debilitation worldwide – and the World Health Organization (WHO) explains that with more than 300 million people struggling with this disorder, it’s a major contributor to disease as well. For those who battle depression everyday, the hopelessness and darkness felt inside can feel utterly heart wrenching. Many people with […]
Cravings are an incredibly common experience for those recovering from addiction, no matter how long they’ve been in recovery; fortunately, they do fade away the longer a person is sober. Throughout the first year of recovery, cravings can reach their peak intensity – and if a person isn’t careful, they may find that relapse takes […]
When a person experiences two conditions occurring simultaneously, they’re battling a co-occurring disorder – also known as co-morbidity or dual diagnosis. The treatment for this can be complex because there are two sets of symptoms at play – and in some cases, the symptoms may overlap. Many people find that their conditions are difficult to […]
While it doesn’t happen right away, long-term substance abuse of any kind can cause some significant deficits. Alcoholism is a complex and dynamic disease, with so many factors that can influence a person’s vulnerability to it. The types of dysfunction that can derive from alcoholism may range from mild to severe – but by knowing […]