Everyone has different needs when it comes to treating a severe substance use disorder (SUD), a “treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences,” according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. “People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and…

There are many contributing factors to addiction, including genetics, environmental factors, and mental health. However, trauma can be one of the most significant factors in the development of addiction as the person uses drugs and alcohol to cope. Unresolved trauma can lead to numerous negative feelings of shame, guilt, depression, fear, anger, anxiety, and more.…

Many individuals believe that addiction occurs in a vacuum. It is easy to think that a person starts using drugs or alcohol over time and becomes more dependent on it until it ruins their life. While this is part of the truth, it does not leave room for the complexities of addiction. Addiction is more…

Deciding to take back the reins of your life and start your journey to sobriety is a huge step. As you settle into this new chapter of life, though, you may find yourself face to face with some unprecedented obstacles. As more come your way, you may feel intimidated, and the urge to return to…

Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, is a stimulant drug with significant addictive qualities. Most individuals that use this drug become addicted, wreaking havoc on their lives and the lives of those closest to them. To recover from meth addiction, the first step is detoxification (detox). Meth detox has an average timeline of 14-20 days,…

Recovery is a journey full of twists and turns that will require you to adapt to different situations. At times, it can be life or death, as adverse situations can lead to potential relapse. Anger as an emotion can be challenging to conquer in recovery, but you must learn to properly cope with it if…

Addiction recovery is a long journey that will require consistent energy, motivation, and encouragement. There is no end to recovery, nor does a cure exist. Therefore, it is imperative to continually work towards your recovery every day of your life. Many may find this exhausting, but taking care of your health and pushing for a…

Recovery is a challenging process with many twists and turns. Often, people think the journey is linear, but this is not true. When things seem to be going downhill, it is easy to believe you are doing something wrong in the healing process. However, it is essential to realize that there are numerous ways of…

Addiction is a chronic disease. This means that there is no cure for it, but it can be managed with proper treatment. However, relapse is a possibility for anyone struggling with addiction, and many individuals have gone through treatment multiple times because of it. Therefore, those that have gone to rehab various times may be…

When it comes to healing from addiction, there are numerous treatment modalities used to help clients address the underlying issues of their disorder. One such approach to treatment is experiential therapy, which allows more creative outlets for clients to heal. Because experiential therapy is not necessarily clinical, some individuals have trouble understanding how it works…