The opioid epidemic keeps getting worse every year. In 2107, more than 47,000 people died of opioid-related overdoses. With growing awareness of the problem, there are now more treatment options than ever. However, for many people, fear of withdrawal is a major obstacle to seeking treatment. Opioid withdrawal is almost never fatal but it is […]
Category Archives: Treatment
22
May
May
Residential addiction treatment is a great way to start recovery but it’s still just a start. In treatment, you learn healthy coping skills, you have time to break old habits, you get started making healthy lifestyle changes, and you get therapy for any co-occurring mental health issues that might underlie your addiction. After treatment, you […]
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 […]
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
Rumination is a negative thought pattern where you keep thinking about bad things that happened in the past or bad things that might happen in the future. You might keep thinking about past mistakes, perhaps a time you did something embarrassing that you wish you could undo. You may replay arguments, thinking of things you […]
03
May
May
It can be hard for someone with a substance use disorder to even admit to having a problem. Addiction is tricky and it deploys all kinds of defense mechanisms to protect itself. Admitting to having a problem is a big step but some people who admit having a problem are still reluctant to enter treatment. […]
02
May
May
When many people think about addiction treatment, the first thing they think of is group therapy. Group therapy is a regular session of a small group, usually a dozen or fewer, moderated by a therapist or counsellor. They discuss issues, ask questions, and give each other feedback. Some people are understandably nervous about group therapy […]
