Treatment

Most of us know of someone with an addiction. Some of us have incredibly close relationships with these individuals, and it’s hard to see them struggle with substance abuse. Perhaps you’ve tried to confront your loved one many times, only to hear fake promises of treatment – and it hurts. As a family member, you want to do everything you can to help your loved one get to where they need to be. But if you’re not careful, you may end up depleting all of your own time, energy, and money, while having your heart broken in the process.

One of the best feelings in recovery is one of strength, gratitude, and stability. Of course, this always takes time. Whether you are seeking treatment for addiction or mental illness, it’s important to get yourself into a state of calm and clarity to start off your journey to recovery.

When we feel anxious about something, our body activates its stress response to help deal with the threat. This stress response is a natural reaction that causes the body to secrete stress hormones that travel to targeted areas and bring about physiological, psychological, and emotional changes. It is these changes that ultimately lead us to “fight or flight” mode. Even if there’s nothing immediately happening to us, the mind and body can feel like it is – and that’s when anxiety can worsen.

Can you recall a moment today, yesterday, or a time from the past where you felt pretty satisfied one minute and then suddenly, before you knew it, you started feeling very agitated? Sometimes it happens in the blink of an eye. This change in feelings can happen for many reasons – an adjustment in the chemical balance of your brain, the fact that you were tired or hungry, or maybe even a situation or memory that triggered it. When it happens, these changes are called mood swings – often defined as rapid and extreme fluctuations in mood, alternating between feelings of happiness and feelings of anger, agitation, or depression. Everyone experiences mood swings, but people with bipolar disorder may experience them a bit more frequently and more intensely than others.

In some cases, the signs of mental illness appear subtly and over time. We may not even realize we have a mental illness until it’s front and center in our lives. From the day we are born to the present day in our life, there are a number of different factors that can influence the way a mental illness develops, as well as how we manage it over the years. By understanding these factors, you’ll be a step ahead in recovery.

Millions of people across the world are diagnosed with schizophrenia, yet so many people still do not know much about this disorder. Individuals with schizophrenia often experience delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and negative symptoms such as feeling detached from oneself, general discontentment, anger, anxiety, and more. Unfortunately, movies and media often depict this disorder as dangerous – but the more we understand how it really affects those we love, the less fear we may feel about it.

“I’m too old for yoga.”

In recent years there has been a severe increase in the selling and use of opioids. So much so, that it has been deemed a crisis or epidemic because of how fast opioid addiction continues to spread and how many lives are lost daily, as a result. Tragically, many opioid addicts are young and they’re dying much quicker and faster than those who chose to dabble in other substances. Much like the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, the opioid epidemic has received significant media coverage and is becoming the poster child for the war on drugs.

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.

Statistics report that in the United States, 70% of adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Of those that have experienced trauma, 20% will develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). About 8 million people experience PTSD in a given year and one in thirteen people will develop PTSD at some point in their life. PTSD was mainly diagnosed in veterans and was a bit controversial when it was first added to the official list of medical disorders. However, PTSD can be experienced by anyone and isn’t exclusive to just veterans that have been in war. Being diagnosed with PTSD can feel intimidating and scary, but it doesn't have to be that way.

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:

Depression can be an incredibly debilitating disorder to have, and those who experience depression may feel isolated and hopeless. If you have been diagnosed with depression, you can probably relate to feeling empty and exhausted. Unfortunately, millions of people around the world struggle with depression. The recovery journey looks different for each person, but it is crucial to move forward and live a happy and healthy life. For some, medications work wonders. Others have found that a combination of therapy and holistic practices, like yoga and meditation, can make a world of difference.