Recovery

For the overwhelming majority of patients, recovery from addiction will be a life-long process that consists of a variety of treatment methods to maintain long-term sobriety. Any co-occurring mental health issues should also be treated in addition to substance use disorders. Although initial treatment methods involving detox and extended stays in rehab facilities lean more…

Substance use disorders (SUD) are considered a family disease. The actions of someone with SUD might disrupt their lives, and the negative consequences of their actions can impact their family. Parents, partners, and even children are each affected by a family member’s SUD. We may seem to be focusing on the negative aspects of addiction;…

Much of the focus in recovery ideology is placed on those in recovery, but friends and family members of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUD) should also be considered when discussing treatment options. The stressors of loving someone struggling with SUD can be difficult to manage, and the litany of questions that plague friends…

Depending on the type of illicit substance involved in an addictive disorder and the frequency with which a person misused the substance, those in recovery can expect to experience both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms that range in severity and duration. There is no exact measure of time, length, or severity for withdrawal symptoms that…

Going Back to School as an Adult in Recovery   Much of the focus in early recovery is spent on learning how to stay sober, and once the needs of that goal have been sufficiently met, many in recovery may feel a void in their lives. In these instances, the importance of patients re-evaluating their…

In both initial treatment and during ongoing sobriety maintenance, addiction recovery is a process that many individuals begin by entering a treatment facility. We often refer to treatment as a process because there is no cure for addictive disorders. This disorder more closely resembles a chronic illness or autoimmune disease in that remission is undoubtedly…

In a healthy romantic relationship, an equal partnership full of empathy, understanding, and compromise can often be a complex challenge in its own right. A healthy relationship almost sounds like the ideal practice for learning how to maintain sobriety. However, the complexity and stress in these partnerships can be compounded when addictive disorders or mental…

Communication is the cornerstone of any successful working relationship. The majority of all disagreements stem from some form of miscommunication. Individuals mishear one another, intentions are misconstrued, and body language can be misinterpreted. Communication, which is meant to bridge the gap between separate people, can easily head off the rails as complications abound through misunderstandings,…

Fear and the induced states of anxiety stemming from those fears are interwoven into the fabric of addictive behaviors and the recovery process. Fear of the new, different, and unknown has the potential to spark unsound behavioral reactions for everyone. For individuals with addictive disorders, there tends to be an even higher degree of fear-based…