Many people worry that going through treatment for a substance use disorder will not really work for them. Sure, they might get sober and stay sober for the duration of residential treatment. But then they have to head back out into the regular, everyday world—the place they were when they were abusing drugs or alcohol....Read More
Alcohol Use DisorderAddiction to alcohol can be difficult to face—and it can be easier to reframe your drinking as simply something you do socially or that you happen to enjoy rather than as a problem. But alcoholism, which is known in the medical community as an alcohol use disorder (AUD), is not about good times...Read More
It is so easy to let our minds wander.And when they wander, they often take us on journeys we would rather avoid. Our mind might dwell on past mistakes or disappointments; our thoughts might get tangled up in worry about the future; or our mind might simply drift away from the present moment while we...Read More
What do you think of when going to therapy?If you imagine discussing your childhood while lying on a comfy couch, you’re not alone. This is the traditional Freudian psychoanalysis that’s commonly portrayed on TV and in movies.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for substance abuse is different. CBT treats problems by modifying dysfunctional thoughts, behaviors, and emotions....Read More
Moving forward after relapse is a normal part of drug and alcohol recovery.While it’s natural to complete rehab and think, “I’m cured!” no one is ever really cured of addiction.Addiction shares much in common with progressive, chronic diseases such as cancer. While you’re never really ‘cured’ of cancer, cancer can go into remission. Addiction behaves...Read More
When you think about it, it is kind of amazing how frequently we fail to do something we know we really ought to do, and the roadblocks we face. You know you should go to bed, so you won’t be exhausted in the morning. But you stay up to binge a few more episodes of...Read More
Family Systems Therapy can be particularly beneficial in the context of addiction recovery. Substance use disorder, (formerly known as substance abuse), and addiction not only affect the individual struggling with the addiction but also have a significant impact on the entire family unit. Family members may experience feelings of helplessness, anger, guilt, and anxiety, and...Read More
Trauma and Substance UseThe connection between trauma and increased risk of substance abuse disorders is well documented. As a result, most treatment centers and medical professionals in the addiction field can be described as “trauma informed:” their treatment philosophy and methodology takes into account the experiences that might be undergirding a person’s struggles with drugs...Read More
Some prescription drugs become well known in popular culture, especially drugs related to the treatment of anxiety. Any number of neurotic or anxious characters who appear in comedies—think of any character ever played by Woody Allen, for example—may namecheck a pharmaceutical to get a laugh.Use and MisuseXanax, a drug often prescribed for anxiety, is just...Read More
Often, a big experience or accomplishment in our lives is followed by a moment of indecision or uncertainty. You might call it a “now what?” moment.You just graduated from high school or college, but you don’t have the next thing lined up yet. Now what?You just brought a brand new baby home from the hospital...Read More
