Depression is common among addicts. Compared with the general population, people addicted to drugs are roughly twice as likely to have mood and anxiety disorders, and vice versa, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). As a result, addiction specialists are treating both depression and addiction together with what is known as a […]
We know our culture contributes to addiction. Drug and alcohol addiction is glamorized on TV and in movies, it is encouraged by peers of all ages, and it is even portrayed as a necessity to survive in today’s fast-paced society. Addiction is a difficult disease that controls people’s lives, and the more people that know […]
Families caught in the wreckage of addiction feel embarrassed, abandoned, ashamed and guilty. They often tend to isolate themselves because they fear what others may think. They want to hide the truth from themselves and others. Addiction is a family problem, and it affects everyone involved. Frustrated families fall into a self-imposed trap, mistakenly thinking […]
One of the most difficult concepts for families of addicts or alcoholics to understand is the idea of “detachment with love.” The concept stems from the philosophy of AlAnon, the 12-step program for loved ones of alcoholics, which advises family members to stop enabling their loved ones and encourages them to put their attention on […]
Even though alcoholics and drug addicts may think of themselves as the life of the party, the truth is that tendency to isolate is more often the norm. As the disease of addiction progresses, so does the shame and guilt. People who are abusing drugs and alcohol often begin to isolate themselves from family and […]
In some cases, early sobriety creates the sensation of a pink cloud of well-being, but a dark cloud called a “dry drunk” might lurk just beneath the surface. When alcoholics and drug addicts put down the bottle and stop ingesting harmful substances, they begin to feel better. Their physical health starts to make a comeback, […]
Particular circumstances may differ in the life of an addict, but the desire to escape reality by using alcohol or drugs is consistent across the board. Addiction knows no bounds in terms of age, gender, economic status, geographical area, religion or ethnicity. Addicts can be found in the most elite country clubs as well as […]
It’s always good to have gratitude list ideas handy when the going gets tough. Especially during early recovery, when life can be a grand roller coaster ride of emotions, a gratitude list can even things out and provide a reminder about what’s important. There have been a number of empirical studies on gratitude, and according […]
Dating an alcoholic in recovery can be challenging. Someone who is recovering from addiction will likely have needs that most others don’t have. This does not mean that dating in recovery should be off limits to you if you are looking for a partner. It just means you need to be aware of the issue […]
We have recently been bombarded with information and media covering the heroin epidemic across the nation. While this may seem like some kind of false panic the media is notorious for, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that heroin deaths doubled from 2010 to 2012 and that U.S. heroin-related overdose deaths increased 39 […]
