A key ingredient to recovery from addiction to alcohol or drugs is a healthy lifestyle. Treatment and rehab professionals agree mere abstinence is not enough for recovery. Some other components of health and wellness must be abided by if a person wants to stay focused on long-term goals. Smoking is one way people with addiction…
When a person struggles with alcohol dependency, they can also experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings when they try to stop drinking. This craving for alcohol is one reason a large majority of people quit drinking but fail to be successful the first time. Cravings are strong and compel people to keep drinking in spite of…
Relapse is common with over 90% of people in recovery from heroin addiction relapsing at some point. People who struggle with other addictions are also at risk of relapse in early recovery, especially, but also at any other point, as well. It may feel easy to miss the warning signs of relapse if you are…
Heroin is highly addictive. An approach that is most effective is being inpatient at a rehab facility that helps focus treatment on recovery for the individual. Another approach is called an ‘intensive outpatient program,’ or IOP. This treatment approach involves daily or weekly meetings with a sponsor and sobriety support group. IOP is often the…
Nobody likes to think about living their life alone. Perhaps that is because we are social creatures by nature and love community with each other. Some people who are introverts value time alone but also seek out others to share their life with. There can be other reasons why people become isolated and afraid of…
The hormones in the body work together in a coordinated system that keeps the body healthy and functioning. Hormones act as messengers for the chemicals working to control and coordinate all functions of the body’s tissues and organs. When it is working properly, the amount of hormones released and tissues respond to the messages. Alcohol…
Every year people the world over choose resolutions for the new year. These are habits people try to do every day, or habits they may try to avoid as long as possible. Many resolutions are forgotten within a month or two. A major reason for this is that it is difficult to develop or deny…
Anabolic steroids are still out there and they are devastating lives. These synthetic derivatives of testosterone can promote growth of skeletal muscle and increase lean body mass. They are produced for legal prescriptions but most people are using them illegally and may become addicted. Learn more about anabolic steroids and how they are impacting people’s…
Bowel health is a stigmatized health concern for many people. Bowel problems can cause embarrassment but also may signal serious health issues. With addiction, bowel issues may impact a person’s chances of recovery. Concurrent conditions, including those a person may not be aware of, are also important to know about. Self-medicating can make things worse,…
Emotion regulation therapy (ERT) is a type of therapy that has been successful in testing in adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and those with co-occurring GAD and major depressive disorder (MDD). ERT combines components of cognitive, acceptance, and mindfulness-based practices. Research shows reduced GAD and MDD symptoms by the end of treatment. What is…