Even if New Year’s resolutions are not your thing, a big part of drug addiction recovery is discovering ways in which to better oneself and there is no time like the present to cultivate positive change in your life. Here are five ways to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle that is free from alcohol or drug...
Justifying an Addict’s Actions It’s tough to believe your loved one is an addict also because you’ve convinced yourself that all of the constant excuses you make are valid. You even start to frequently justify their addiction. “It could be worse, they could be dead or hurting other people.” “They’re not addicted. I know they...
It’s September, and there will be social drinking events. You’ve just started the semester and already you’re beginning to feel that heaviness and exhaustion that is synonymous with relentlessly working toward an education. Maybe it’s been a week or a month and the pressure is beginning to really set in. Pressure from tuition and project...
On September 11th, 2001, the world was shaken by the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. If you were old enough to remember 9/11, it is one of those days that will be forever engrained in your memory. It was heavily televised – live for the most part – so whether...
If you’re struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, you may also be dealing with feelings of depression, mood swings or anxiety. When you suffer from both a psychiatric condition and a substance abuse problem, you’re said to have co-occurring disorders or a dual diagnosis disorder. It’s common for people with a mental health disorder to...
Any time disease strikes someone, that person’s family and friends are profoundly affected as well. Addiction is a disease that wreaks havoc on a person’s own life as well as the lives of their family members and friends. The addict, of course, does not mean for their loved ones to experience pain or worry, but...
Addiction isn’t the only problem that addicts may be wrestling with when they enter rehab. Many also battle the mental disorder of depression. Some people may be clinically depressed and suffer from concurrent disorders upon entering a drug treatment center. “Mental health disorders and substance abuse commonly go hand in hand. Either disorder can occur...
Your loved one is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and you are an emotional wreck. You feel a mix of guilt and shame and anger about their addiction, but at the same time, you are terrified that they will hurt themselves or someone else or even die. You notice jewelry or money is missing. The...
If someone you love is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction, you may wonder if they’ll ever be completely cured of the disease. While addiction can be effectively managed with treatment, it’s a chronic condition, and recovery is a lifelong process. Understanding the chronic nature of addiction can help you support your loved one’s ongoing...
Four Californians aged 18 to 24 have died at music festivals in the last 15 months. The latest victims were two young women attending the two-day Hard Summer Music Festival held this past weekend at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, CA. The two girls, Tracy Nguyen, 18, and Katie Dix, 19, died from...
