Addiction

Animals have been known to perform miracles in emotional healing. After all, dogs are man’s best friend, right? They are the most self-sacrificing species and we have formed such a special bond with them. The benefits of animal therapy are numerous, to say the least. Animal therapy can offer significant healing, including support while working through trauma and learning to reconnect to emotions.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment used to help treat conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders (SUDs), and so much more. Previous psychologists have discovered the main principles of CBT, which are:

Throughout your recovery, you’re going to find that there will always be something new to learn about yourself and what works/doesn’t work for your healing journey. Luckily, you’ll meet a lot of people during your treatment at Avalon Malibu who will help you to identify and practice positive coping strategies. During this process, it’s important to remember that the small choices you make daily add up, and ultimately, they will either propel you forward in your recovery or pull you back from your goals. As you increase awareness around old behaviors and new ways of living, there are a few basic things to avoid during the beginning of your recovery.

Most people would confirm that blackouts can be somewhat funny and somewhat terrifying at the same time. While the brain is experiencing a sort of mechanical failure, many people still laugh at the idea of piecing together events of the previous night after becoming intoxicated.   Drinking too much and too fast can cause blackouts. These experiences are incredibly common, especially in America, where drinking to excess is of the norm. If blackouts are occurring frequently in a person’s life, this could be a sign that they’re battling with alcoholism. Unfortunately, people are often unaware of this fact, due to how normalized drinking is in US culture. The reality is that when it comes to drinking, the more intoxicated a person gets, the more difficulties they’ll have remembering the events of the night prior.   The morning after a binge or a blackout is often filled with anxiety and regret. In addition to not being able to remember what exactly happened the night before, a person may also struggle with impaired vision, impaired judgment, difficulty standing, walking and more. For those who understand the severe impact of alcoholism, recovery is about understanding not only the harmful effects these behaviors can have on our body and our loved ones but also how they can negatively impact the brain’s processing.

While many people associate addiction recovery with physical wellness, the reality is that our day-to-day lives are experienced through our perceptions and how we’re able to handle difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. When bad moments occur, we can experience several responses, including an increase in blood pressure, anxiety, difficulty focusing, shaking, and increased feelings of sadness, anger and/or irritability. If we don’t have healthy coping mechanisms, we may even do something that we later come to regret. These are experiences that everyone has, not solely those in addiction recovery. However, for those that are in recovery, it’s smart to start picking up on some healthy coping mechanisms. Doing so can improve quality of life, as well as prevent eventual relapse to substance use.

Addiction is a challenge that countless people face. However, it’s important to note that many people struggling with substance use simultaneously struggle with other mental health issues. Often, these disorders are what perpetuate the addiction, as substances can be used to self-medicate their symptoms. Unfortunately, when mental illness goes undiagnosed, the sufferer can find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of drug and alcohol abuse that they may feel hopeless of ever overcoming.

Early recovery can feel like a rollercoaster at times. From going through potential withdrawal symptoms during your detoxification to experiencing emotions again after years of feeling numb, the challenges of early recovery can be overwhelming. Despite the ups and downs, you may go through in the beginning, it’s important to remind yourself that it will get better. Recovery is possible, and stability can be achieved with proper treatment. Experiencing peace of mind, body, and spirit is a feeling like no other, especially after spending so much time in survival mode during active addiction. A change like this is not easy, but it is always worth it. If you’re ready to seek stability, here is a guide to help you better understand the process.

Life tends to throw curveballs. Navigating these obstacles can be difficult and chances are, you won’t always have all the answers. Having people in your life that you look up to as examples of how to walk through life’s challenges is crucial, especially for those in recovery. Seeing sober individuals who are genuinely happy, living lives that wildly contrast those previously lived during active addiction inspires hope and motivation. Grabbing on to a few people in your recovery community who have what you want can greatly increase your chances of maintaining long-term sobriety. By following in the footsteps of another who has experience living life in recovery, you can increase feelings of community and direction. They will remind you that you are not alone in your struggles while reiterating the fact that you are capable of overcoming them, just as they did.

Watching a loved one battle with addiction is painful, and often baffling. Seeing someone continue to drink and/or use in the face of losing everything worth living for creates confusion and frustration, especially among those who have never experienced addiction personally. If you are struggling with the fear of losing someone you love to addiction, you’re not alone. While the addict may think they are only hurting themselves, the reality is that their addiction impacts everyone who cares about them.  Pain from seeing you’re loved one in active addiction may lead you to wonder if you could have stopped it somehow, or if you can fix it now. Maybe you don’t understand how it could have gotten to this point, and you’re wondering if it will ever get better. Feelings like these are normal. Therapy coupled with support from others who have gone through similar experiences often provides the insight necessary to navigate these emotions healthily. Seeking out your support system and educating yourself on the disease of addiction is the best way to understand and help your addicted loved one.

Recent studies have shown that millions of Americans have used cocaine. Due to the high number of users, there have also been thousands of overdoses and emergency room visits. Consequently, treatment for cocaine addiction has become a major topic of discussion. Having the necessary help readily available can greatly reduce the progression of addiction. Furthermore, seeking out treatment becomes easier when recovery resources and options are clear. Therefore, increasing education around these options is imperative.  Cocaine dependency can be treated using a combination of resources. Some of these include medication, therapy, support groups and more. While addiction often follows similar patterns, the people suffering from addiction are all unique, requiring treatment programs that are tailored to their specific needs. Finding the right combination of treatment modalities for you’re individual circumstances is crucial. You can make the most of your recovery experience by taking the time to experiment with the options available to you.

Benzodiazepines are man-made drugs that help treat symptoms such as inability to sleep, racing thoughts, unusual talkativeness, panic, and agitation. These drugs increase the production of a neurotransmitter in the brain, in which a person is likely to experience greater feelings of calm and relaxation. Examples of these benzodiazepines include Xanax, Librium, Valium, and Ativan. Unfortunately, all drugs in this class are highly addictive and consistent use can lead to dependency if it’s not watched closely. Once physical dependence has been established, a detox process is necessary to stop benzodiazepine use. Specific withdrawal symptoms experienced are greatly dependent upon the detoxing individual’s age, sex, weight, drug history and more. Most people would say that detoxing from benzodiazepines isn’t the most pleasurable thing on Earth, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not possible.

Addiction impacts people of all ages. However, teenagers are at a higher risk due to their mental, physical and spiritual vulnerability. People who battle with addiction experience harsh consequences, sometimes for many years after working towards sobriety. Some of these consequences include significant anxiety, confusion, trouble sleeping, mood disturbances, violent behavior, issues with memory, learning deficiencies, and hallucinations. Avoiding these repercussions is of great interest. Many believe that the solution lies in education and proactive measures among teens and other high-risk populations. Numerous studies have taken place in an effort to better understand teens and their particular susceptibility to addiction, in hopes of improving rates of prevention. Researchers have gained significant insight into the issue as a result.