Cravings are one of the biggest challenges in addiction recovery. They are typically most frequent and intense early on and they get less frequent the longer you’re sober. However, they never go away completely. A craving makes you feel like you must use again, even if you know, rationally, that you don’t want to. Here […]
19
May
May
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a condition people sometimes develop following a traumatic incident. Symptoms of PTSD typically include re-experiencing the trauma, in the form of flashbacks or nightmares, avoiding things that remind you of the trauma, being unable to remember significant aspects of the trauma, being unable to sleep, startling easily, and becoming […]
17
May
May
One of the main reasons people decide to finally get help for addiction is that they see how it has damaged their relationships. Addiction makes you prioritize substance use above everything else in your life, including friends and family. You may cancel plans, ignore family obligations, or spend the rent money on drugs or alcohol. […]
17
May
May
What you do for a living might have a significant impact on whether you develop a substance use issue or relapse after treatment. Common factors in jobs that increase your addiction risk include high stress, long or irregular hours, dangerous conditions, isolation, and easy access to drugs or alcohol. Sometimes the best thing you can […]
16
May
May
Social support is one of the best predictors of success in recovery. Creating that social support is a central element of good treatment programs, which emphasize both group therapy and family therapy during treatment. Quality aftercare emphasizes preserving that sense of connection and helping people make sober contacts while transitioning back to their normal lives. […]
16
May
May
According to the World Health Organization, depression is the number one cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 300 million people. An estimated 20 percent of Americans will experience a depressive episode at some point. That means most of us will know someone who has struggled or will struggle with depression. It might even be […]
15
May
May
Most experts recommend you have at least a year of solid recovery before entering a new relationship. Recovering from addiction is a big undertaking. You have to learn new, healthier coping mechanism, break old habits, make new friends, make healthy lifestyle changes, and address any co-occurring mental health issues. Then, after treatment, you have to […]
15
May
May
We live in a culture where alcohol is common. At least 60 percent of American adults drink at least occasionally and about one in six American adults binge-drinks four times a month or more. We drink with dinner, we drink watching sports, and we drink to celebrate. With drinking being common and socially accepted, it […]
14
May
May
Since AA began in 1935, 12-step programs have helped millions of people quit drugs and alcohol. AA was far better than the alternatives of the time, which were pretty much limited to jail or being committed to a psychiatric institution. Even now, when people decide drugs or alcohol are taking too great a toll on […]
14
May
May
Addiction affects people of all ages. Although substance use most often initially becomes a problem between the ages of 18 and 25, you can develop a substance use disorder at any age or a substance use disorder you developed at a young age may continue for decades. Since addiction is a chronic, progressive disease, it […]
