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January 2025 marks the first national Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month – an inaugural observance dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges of addiction and the resources available for recovery. Launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services...

As a father, your traditional role in the family is to be the protector and the provider. You're also often expected to provide both financial and emotional support, but knowing how to approach a child who's struggling with addiction can be difficult. It's hard to...

Being a mother is a tough job. Your children look to you for guidance and daily care. This can be tough to achieve if you're under stress and struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. In addition, when a parent struggles with addiction, it affects the family as a...

Recovery from drug and alcohol addiction is a courageous journey filled with challenges . It's also one rife with profound opportunities for growth and transformation. Studies show that those in recovery who adopt a mindful, present-centered approach to life can...

Addiction rates are high among individuals with bipolar disorder (BPD), a personality disorder characterized by impulsive behavior and alternating episodes of depression and mania. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report the prevalence of substance abuse...

Developed by two psychologists to help people improve their understanding of themselves and others, the Johari Window is a type of heuristic tool that examines the biases and criticisms we may or may not be aware of that motivates our behavior. The Johari Window is...

It goes without saying that addiction recovery is no quick process. For most people, it requires a ton of time and emotional energy. That's because addiction is never really a superficial problem — the roots of this disorder often go really deep so untangling them can...

A form of therapeutic horticulture that has been shown to significantly increase a person's sense of mental well-being and satisfaction, gardening is one of the best activities recovering addicts can use to reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress. Research indicates...

Concentrating solely on your mental health during addiction recovery often leads to forgetting about the importance of staying hydrated during your recovery. While detox eliminates all traces of drugs or alcohol from the body, and residential treatment programs...

Addiction is complicated. It's a serious mental health condition that causes people to repeatedly engage in behaviors- even if it's harmful and they want to stop. Part of the reason that addiction is so challenging is that it operates in a cycle that is difficult to...

Graduating from a recovery program means you have stayed sober for three months or longer. You have received counseling, therapy, relapse prevention training, and many other beneficial services intended to help you avoid using again as you transition from inpatient or...

Do you know someone who is always optimistic and upbeat, no matter how dire the situation seems to be? Have you ever been told by a perpetually cheerful family member to "just smile and forget about it" after you have just been informed it will cost $2000 to repair...

A dual diagnosis is the diagnosis of two or more health problems existing at the same time. This term is most often used to refer to individuals with substance addiction and at least one mental illness. The clinical word for dual diagnosis is "comorbidity", which is...

Much has been written about the emotional difficulties of those suffering from addiction. There's also some information on the effect addiction can have on romantic relationships, friendships, and parent-child relationships. However, the siblings of those struggling...

When we talk about addiction, it's often taken as a given that overcoming it is a positive experience and our lives would be immeasurably better once we do so. However, it's not always obvious what our lives would look like once we quit substance use. For instance,...

Delta-8 THC, or Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol, is a psychoactive substance that can be extracted from the cannabis plant. Its structure is similar to that of Delta-9 THC, which is the chemical that produces a chemical high when using marijuana. Although those two...

It goes without saying that addiction recovery is a time of great emotional turmoil. People often find that they've been using alcohol and/or other substances as a way to suppress difficult feelings. Thus, once they no longer have substance use to utilize as a coping...

Substance abuse and addiction are often mistaken as the same thing, but the two are very different. Both can have negative effects on your health, work, relationships and well-being, however, understanding the difference can help you determine whether you need...

Addiction recovery is a challenging journey for anybody who enters it and unfortunately, it's a journey that has to be repeated for many. An estimated 40-60% of those who finish recovery relapse. As such, it's important to take time to relax and recharge. Relaxation...

For anyone who's ever made their own mood playlist, it's no secret that music can make you calm, can help improve your mood and can speak to you in ways nothing else can. Seventh century playwright William Congreve once wrote, "Music has charms to soothe the savage...

Cannabis has long been touted as one of the safest illicit drugs there is and because of that, states across the U.S., as well as several countries, have legalized its use and possession. While there are beneficial applications for cannabis, it does have a dark side...

Shame is a common feeling for those in recovery for a variety of reasons, but it can be dangerous: When they're struggling with addiction, some people use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate and "escape" negative feelings and emotions. When shame is prevalent in...

Grief encompasses more than the natural reaction to losing a loved one. You can also experience grief when a beloved pet passes away, a marriage ends, or you feel remorseful over making bad choices. Many people in addiction recovery must cope with a sense of grief...

Recovery is by all means a deeply emotional process. Research shows that sobriety is often accompanied with changes in both negative and positive emotions, which can be both disorienting and incredibly rewarding for newly sober people. Reading about others' journeys...

Discipline is important for anyone trying to get their life back on track after addiction. Having clear expectations of your relationships, asserting your needs and desires, and drawing firm lines when needed are all elements of having "strong boundaries" in recovery....

Scientists have debated the relative importance of nature and nurture for hundreds of years. Currently, the broad agreement is the majority of human trains are caused by both genetic and environmental influences. This is certainly true for the predisposition to...

Nothing can beat help from a professional when you're struggling with a mental health condition such as addiction. But, as you progress into recovery, it can be nice to build a community of support you can lean on. You may want people you can come to for minor...

Getting a good night's sleep is important for everyone, no matter what — it improves physical health, focus, attention to detail, and cognitive function, among a long list of other benefits. But, research shows that sleep hygiene can be especially important to keep...

If you or someone you know has ever dealt with a substance abuse addiction, you know that chaos and the unexpected are typical during the throes of an addiction. Luckily, with recovery comes a lot of routine and structure. However, the journey through addiction and...

Addiction can impact anyone regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, or more. Approximately 21.2 million Americans have a substance abuse disorder, yet in 2018, only 11% received the treatment they needed. This is particularly sad because addiction is...

Certain events will impact an alcoholic's life before they voluntarily enter an alcohol addiction recovery program. Alcohol abusers go to great lengths to avoid seeking professional help until they are jobless, homeless, lost their driver's license, and no longer have...

Chronic insomnia drives many people to use alcohol or drugs just to fall asleep. Although a glass of wine, a mixed drink, or prescription sedatives like Xanax may help you fall asleep, chances are you won't stay asleep through the night. Taking any psychoactive...

Most people are well-aware that alcohol has something to do with premature aging — but many aren't sure what the exact effects are. Because of this, many frequent drinkers tend to underestimate the severity of the issues alcohol can cause. Here we've summarized some...

Nearly 20 million U.S. adults suffer from alcoholism, binge drinking, and so-called "functional" alcoholism. Beer, wine, and hard liquors are central nervous system depressants that disrupt brain chemistry, damage brain cells, and impair the functioning of all major...

It's not uncommon to consume a few drinks before a social event or while out with friends to help you feel more relaxed and to help take your mind off problems and issues. In some circumstances, alcohol can act as a stimulant to make you feel talkative and happy....