Addiction Treatment and The Great Outdoors: Finding Healing in Nature Most of us know from experience that getting into the great outdoors can lift our mood and help us feel better physically and mentally. Research proves that our instincts are right and that getting outside is good for us. For people with addiction issues, both…
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The importance of gut health is hard to overstate. Most of us are familiar with the bloating, burning, nausea and general discomfort that can come from stomach issues. But what about the effects of alcohol on gut health? There’s much more to the story, though. The food we eat that keeps us functioning is broken…
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Alcohol abuse may look different in a middle-aged or senior adult than it does in a teenager. There are physical and psychological signs, and some may be mistaken for symptoms related to aging. Here are some things to look for: Drinking frequently or in large amounts is one of the most obvious signs of a…
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You may be wondering, “Is Drug Use Aging Me?” When considering what causes accelerated aging, it’s important not to overlook drug use. At its most basic, aging is simply the process of getting older. Wisdom and perspective can come with age, but so does physical decline. As the days, weeks and years pass, our bodies…
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It’s not easy to realize and accept that alcohol abuse has become part of your partner’s life. Are they a functioning alcoholic? You may see it more quickly than your partner does. You may recognize that drinking is increasing in frequency and amount. Your partner may seem irritable or nervous when they haven’t had a…
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The importance of nutrition is often overlooked in the recovery process. If you’re eating enough to maintain your weight, you may assume you’re getting everything you need, but that may not be true. “Recovery” means gaining back what you’ve lost, and in addiction, one of the things that people have often lost is nutritional balance.…
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When you think of alcohol abuse, what comes to mind? Your understanding of alcoholism might miss people who hide their harmful alcohol use. A person you know could be hiding their alcoholism in plain sight. Many people with alcoholism have jobs and parenting responsibilities. They take part in society and may include people you would…
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One of the standard therapies used for addiction recovery and mental health treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). There are many versions and forms of CBT, but they share the principle that thoughts and core beliefs affect feelings and actions and that paying attention to our thoughts can help us change unwanted feelings and behaviors. The…
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Treating all co-occurring mental health conditions simultaneously in a coordinated way makes addiction treatment most effective. When someone has both obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction, addressing both leads to lasting healing. Understanding OCD A study reported in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders found that 27% of people with OCD had a substance use disorder…
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Alcohol abuse is a pervasive issue, affecting people from all walks of life. It’s easy to think you would know for sure if you or a loved one had crossed the line and become addicted, but it isn’t always obvious. If you’re keeping up your daily responsibilities, it’s easy to make the argument that your…
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