Addiction is a disease that often surfaces with some kind of co-occurring mental disorder, and most often anxiety is one of them. The way that addiction alters the brain chemistry sets up the perfect conditions for anxiety to take root, which makes it even harder to overcome addiction. As the two feed into each other, it creates a downward spiral that usually requires professional help to overcome.
Prescription drugs are the third most commonly abused drugs in the U.S, right behind alcohol and marijuana. 1 in 5 Americans report that they have abused prescription drugs at some point, and the numbers continue to rise. The availability of these types of drugs, along with common misunderstandings about the risks involved in abusing them, continue to fuel misuse of and addiction to these drugs.
Addiction is a disease that has destructive effects on relationships. As the addict deteriorates and loses control, they cause direct harm to those who love them the most. Addiction is especially hard on a marriage. The spouse of the addict often tries to pick up slack and find a way for the family to survive. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with an addict. There are lies and deception; and then there are physical, financial, psychological, and emotional consequences which can impact the safety and security of both marriage and family. The aftermath is often two people who are broken, tired, and feeling hopeless as recovery begins. Whether your spouse is struggling with addiction or in recovery, you also deserve help and healing.
If addiction only affected the addict, the recovery process would be much simpler. This is not the case. Many of us have found important relationships put in jeopardy because of the disease. This sets up catch-22: we need support to overcome our addiction, yet we have often alienated those who would be the most supportive of us. So, when embarking on the road to recovery, we need to begin rebuilding those relationships. Taking just a few simple steps will be surprisingly productive, so give it a try!
Shame is a major hurdle on the path to recovery for many addicts and it is at the root of the majority of setbacks. Harboring beliefs that you’re not good enough, or that you can’t change will keep you from living a happy, healthy life, even after you get clean. In order to make a full recovery and become a whole person, you must learn to recognize shame, and to let go of it.
There’s a war raging right now between media, medical scientists, and the everyday man about whether or not pornoraphy is a healthy sexual outlet, or a destructive, addictive pariah. Some scientists are saying that the problem is all in our heads, but thousands upon thousands of men who are suffering from pornography induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) and other problems are saying that they can’t quit looking at it on their own and that it’s ruining their life.
Despite what a large portion of the media, and even some medical experts would have you believe, pornography addiction is a real thing and there is help available. Debunking some of the common pornography myths can give addicts hope and provide much-needed access to help.
It’s the time of year when parties seem to be springing up everywhere and if you’re in recovery, you may be wondering where you and parties stand. First of all, you need to evaluate your own recovery progress, preferably along with your addiction counselor, to decide if you’re ready to attend a party where drugs or alcohol might be present. Chances are if you're in your first year of recovery, a party isn’t a safe place for you.
If you’re more of an addiction veteran and you’re thinking you’re ready to hit the party scene, you still need to protect your recovery. You may be more vulnerable than you know and you need to be prepared to manage triggers and cravings. Setting up and sticking to a few simple party rules will ensure that you have a fun and safe time this holiday season.
You want to help a loved one who is struggling with alcoholism, but maybe you don’t know how. You can be a real asset to your loved one as they enter and work through addiction recovery, but only if you know how to be properly supportive. Sticking with some basic dos and don’ts will steer you in the right direction.
Thanks to the internet and advancements in addiction research, there’s a lot of information about the disease floating around out there. While having open access to addiction education is great in most cases, getting a hold of the wrong information can be damaging to recovery. Debunking common addiction myths is a necessary part of addiction education.