For most people in addiction recovery, their instinct is to keep it to themselves. They may have become quite comfortable talking about their active addiction history with a therapist, group, and certain family members, but they are usually aware that addiction, especially to drugs like cocaine, meth, or heroin, is beyond the ken of most…
Recovery from opioid addiction must start with detox. Unfortunately, opioid withdrawal is perhaps the most unpleasant of any drug. It is often described as a terrible flu that you know would stop if you just start using again. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, sweating, fever, runny nose, yawning, and bone…
Most people who develop substance use disorders have some kind of dual diagnosis. They don’t just have an addiction; they have an addiction and something else. That ‘something else’ might be an anxiety disorder, a personality disorder, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, or schizophrenia. A very common dual diagnosis is addiction and depression. For most…
Substance use issues in employees can be a tricky problem to deal with. You may have noticed some problems with an employee’s performance or changes in her behavior. Maybe she has always been punctual but lately she’s coming in late or leaving early. Maybe her work isn’t the same quality it used to be. Or…
There are many faith-based roads to recovery. Most famously, AA and other 12-step programs involve turning your life over to a higher power. These programs have helped a lot of people. This is because belief in a higher power addresses two of the biggest needs of people in addiction recovery. The first is the need…
Dabbing is a relatively new form of marijuana use that has become popular over the past few years. Dabbing uses a concentrated extract of marijuana’s active ingredient, THC. There are various names for this extract, including butane hash oil, or BHO, honey oil, wax, budder, and shatter. BHO is a thick greenish brown substance that…
Eating disorders include conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. These can have serious health consequences and they are sometimes fatal. Eating disorders can damage the heart, digestive system, dental health, bones, and cause other medical problems. Eating disorders are often associated with other mental health issues, including substance use issues. While there is…
If you’ve decided to enter treatment for addiction, you’ve made an excellent choice for your yourself and your family. Before you go, though, it’s time to make sure everything is in order. You want to be able to focus on your treatment without worrying that things are falling apart at home. It’s inevitable that you…
Generally speaking, extroverts are people who get energy from being around other people, while introverts are people who get energy from being alone. While few people are completely extroverted or introverted, generally falling somewhere in the middle, most people tip at least a little towards extraversion. This can be a major advantage in addiction recovery…
“Addiction” and “dependence” are often used interchangeably to mean someone can’t stop using a substance. Sometimes “dependence” is used when a term with a more clinical sound than “addiction” is needed, but now the preferred term is “substance use disorder.” While addiction and dependence are closely related, they are not quite the same. “Dependence” or…
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