Addiction

Trading Addictions is unfortunately not a fun, modern twist on the popular Discovery Home produced series Trading Spaces where neighbors decorate each other’s homes. However, the outcomes of both are arguably similar with the end product’s overall success leaning from intolerable to more often than not disastrous. Trading addictions is in actuality a very real…

One of the most important messages we can teach to both addiction recovery patients and the loved ones that make up their support network are that they are not alone. Addictive disorders with co-occurring mental health issues often result in increased feelings of isolation and depression, and one of the most effective ways to combat…

Newfound sobriety can be a bit of a dual-edged sword when it comes to the recovery process for individuals diagnosed with addictive behavioral and co-occurring mental health disorders. On the one hand, patients in addiction recovery will feel immense relief and gratitude as the huge amount of pain and confusion from an addictive disorder and…

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) outlines four stages of recovery for patients with addictive behavioral disorders who also have subsequent substance misuse issues. These include: Withdrawal Early Abstinence Protracted Abstinence Adjustment/Resolution These stages are in no way an exact representation of every patient’s psychological and physical experience undergone in addiction recovery.…

The process of transitioning from being an addiction recovery patient in rehab to living an independent, sober lifestyle needs to begin long before you are discharged. Planning can avoid potential pitfalls and unnecessary triggers and is an integral step to the addiction recovery process. You can not afford to let the “pink cloud” bliss and…

Modern-day addiction recovery treatments have evolved to include a focus not just on addictive disorders, but on mental health and wellness issues, as well. The practice has become so prevalent that readers will find references of dual diagnosis and co-occurring mental health disorders from even the most cursory of Google searches for addiction recovery treatment…

Although there is no definitive treatment method for addictive disorders — no clear-cut path from point A of diagnosis to point B of being recovered — there are guidelines based on the commonalities of previous addiction recovery treatments (especially considering the majority of diagnosed cases involve an individualistic, co-occurring mental health disorder). The Substance Abuse…

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the nonprofit, volunteer-based fellowship of peers committed to enabling sobriety among its members, has practically become synonymous with addiction recovery in America. Since its inception in 1935, AA has been at the forefront of treating addictive disorders by emphasizing addiction as a medical condition and providing a universal treatment model for each…

The impetus for the onset of an addictive disorder and its potential co-occurring mental health issues vary to a large degree from person to person. There is evidence of diagnosed cases where individuals with no history of addictive behavior start using after an injury is treated with an ill-fated prescription to opioid pain relievers, while…