Drug and alcohol addiction has many negative effects on the mind and body. The use of drugs affects breathing, and heart rate, the ability to control emotions and feel happiness. In addition, problem-solving, planning, and decision-making abilities are inhibited. It is also difficult for people who use drugs to process information provided by their senses. [...]
We form many different types of relationships throughout our life. These relationships have different dynamics and no two relationships are alike. In this article we are going to address the relationships associated with a former addict who is in the process of recovery. The right kinds of relationship with the right kind of people will [...]
So you finally decided to seek recovery after many years of using and abusing. You committed to a rehab to help you succeed in your quest for sobriety. It has been months, you are feeling better, but now you are facing many thoughts and feelings that stem from regrets. During your years of abusing drugs [...]
My story of addiction/alcoholism began for me in my mother's womb. My father was a Navy man and we were stationed on the Island of Crete in Greece. When my mom was around 5-6 months pregnant with me my father who was an alcoholic struck her or pushed her down while he was drunk. One [...]
Self-sabotage is any behavior, thought, emotion, or action that holds us back from getting what we consciously want. Self-sabotage is the conflict that exists between conscious desires and unconscious wants that manifest in self-limiting patterns of behavior. Self-sabotage not only prevents us from reaching our goals but also plays the part of a safety mechanism [...]
Does mental illness occur before or after drug addiction? Studies show that people who suffer from mental illness are more likely to become addicted to a substance, often called "self medicating". Conversely, people who have suffered from addiction for years may later get diagnosed with a mental illness, this is called "dual diagnosis". Some individuals [...]
No one factor can predict if a person will become addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. A combination of factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. Some common factors are : Genetics, Environmental, and Developmental. -Genetics: The genes that people [...]
Your loved one is in the grips of addiction. You feel helpless because they aren't showing up for work, they're not paying their bills, and their rent hasn't been paid in two months. You fear they will lose everything if you don't intervene. Maybe you started paying some of their bills. You think if you [...]
Our previous blog "From Prescription to Addiction" discussed the Opioid Crisis with doctors prescribing pain medications, primarily Oxycontin and Vicodin, to their patients to manage pain following surgery or other pain causing event. Many of these doctors and their patients may be unaware of the highly addictive nature of these medications. Inadvertently these patients may [...]
