Children may not always understand the principles of substance use disorder (SUD), but they will realize when a parent is absent from their lives. Toddlers and young children may not be equipped to handle conversations involving addiction, even when substance abuse is presented as a disease equatable to a bad cold or other physical illness. […]
Category Archives: Family
20
Sep
Sep
Substance abuse in adolescents can hinder physical and social development, increase the risk of mental health disorders, and lead to dangerous or reckless behaviors such as engaging in unprotected sexual activity, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Studies report that “the earlier teens start using substances, the greater their chances of continuing to […]
Family, Mental Health
How Do I Tell My Significant Other That I Need Time to Focus on My Mental Health?
06
Sep
Sep
The path of recovery is never straight. As you move forward in your recovery from substance addiction, you will encounter obstacles that require total mental and emotional focus to overcome. A healthy romantic relationship also deserves equal and constant attention from each partner. You may find that simultaneously maintaining your relationship and pursuing recovery is […]
02
Sep
Sep
Sharing your personal journey in recovery can be extremely difficult. Your experiences are just that: yours. You never have an obligation to invite others on your journey. However, if you want to share your story with friends and family, make sure that you are prepared mentally and emotionally. Telling friends and family about your addiction […]
02
Sep
Sep
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) finds that genetic makeup can account for half of the risk of developing a substance addiction. A genetic predisposition coupled with an unhealthy environment such as a high-stress workspace may greatly increase your chances of developing a substance addiction. If a parent or relative struggles with addiction, it’s […]
01
Sep
Sep
Addressing mature topics with younger children can be daunting, but when a parent, sibling, or close relation struggles with substance addiction, the need to explain addiction may present itself. Explaining addiction to a young child may seem impossible, but providing them with the information and support they need in the early stages of life creates […]
31
Aug
Aug
With schools being closed and millions of Americans unemployed, families are forced to spend a lot of time together. With the current rise in cases and delayed re-opening, families will have to stay together longer than expected. Do what you can to alleviate family burnout and avoid strained relationships during the pandemic and beyond. How […]
21
Aug
Aug
For years, researchers have tried to determine the genetic causes of addiction and develop technologies or medications that diminish inherited predisposition to Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Often these researchers include sets of twins in their studies. Identical twins share 100% percent of their genes, while non-identical twins share 50% of their genes. Twins raised in […]
14
Aug
Aug
Reserving time to focus on yourself is critical in early recovery. As you progress, however, you can switch autopilot on and dedicate more of your time to others. Your family loves you, and they understand that you needed to focus on yourself when you started in recovery. Now that you are mentally and emotionally stronger, […]
09
Jul
Jul
One of the hardest parts of living with someone who struggles with addiction is that change doesn’t come easy. The way that addiction affects the inner workings of the brain makes it incredibly difficult to overcome. The person in question likely has little control over realizing that they have a problem to begin with – […]
