Boundaries are important for every relationship. From early childhood, we learn to set boundaries to protect ourselves and help others understand what is acceptable. All healthy romantic relationships have boundaries; whether they are spoken or unspoken, we set them for ourselves and our partner. They especially protect and help us during our loved one’s addiction
The Goal of Substance Abuse Treatment The goal of substance abuse treatment is always sobriety. Staying away from drugs and alcohol, avoiding people who are associated with drugs and alcohol, and learning to control your unhealthy triggers and thoughts is the epitome of a successful recovery. However, sobriety is challenging for many different reasons. Change
Substance use disorders, whether it is heroin, marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, or stimulants, no doubt, harvest secrecy, isolation, and deception. Individuals with a substance use disorder often live in a complex web of lies specifically designed to keep dangerous coping mechanisms in place and “protected” from those who sincerely want to help. Individuals will often hide
Ringing in the New Year is a memorable experience for many as it represents closing the chapter on the current year while looking forward to new memories, friendships, and milestones in the coming year. New Year’s Eve can be challenging and scary for individuals who are in recovery and for those trying to abstain from
Christmas is a magical time of year for many, but it can also be a difficult time of year for those who cannot spend it with loved ones or those who are struggling with an addiction or mental health disorder. This year is particularly challenging with the global pandemic, which has resulted in so much
The holidays should be a time for gathering, celebrating, expressing gratitude, and reflecting. Still, they often bring stress and worry, especially to those struggling with underlying issues such as substance abuse. The first year of sobriety, especially during the holiday season, can be a sea of ups and downs. Emotions can range from gratefulness and
Addiction to drugs or alcohol will take its toll on personal relationships. The addicted individual will often lie, cheat, and hurt others to hide their addiction or seek secondary gain. Their actions may or may not be intentional, but when someone is deep in the throes of their addiction, poor choices are often made. Boundaries
Transitioning out of acute treatment into the real world can be daunting. Regardless of whether you were seeking treatment for a mental health disorder like depression or a substance abuse disorder, staying on track to recovery in a less restrictive environment can be challenging because there are more temptations. According to studies, relapse rates vary
One of the challenges after completing treatment for mental illness or substance use disorders is learning how to fill your leisure time. As most of us are under “stay at home” orders and are self-quarantining, we may have even more free time than before. As it is not advised to travel, attend in-person support groups,
Entering recovery after completing treatment is a huge milestone and marker of success. Unfortunately, relapsing in recovery can be a reality for some individuals. Relapse should never be seen as a failure but instead as another opportunity to be successful in recovery. Imagine if you have a chronic disease, does that mean you failed? No.
The COVID-19 crisis has obviously disrupted all aspects of life in America and around the world. All of us are individually and professionally impacted in dramatic ways. At AKUA Mind & Body, we are grateful that our business is an “essential service” and blessed to have the opportunity of continuing to help our clients. The
Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD) is an annual global awareness day on March 1st. Raising awareness through education about self-harm leads to a better understanding of this disorder, empathy, and it also helps to eliminate the stigma. The goal is to educate individuals who do not engage in self-harm and reach out to those who do
Steps to take when you feel like giving up in recovery. Life in recovery can be challenging as you are adapting to new ways of living, including new friends, learning to live without alcohol or drugs, adopting new hobbies, and practicing a different perspective on life. You most likely had to mend broken relationships or
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year With the kids jingle belling And everyone telling you “be of good cheer.” It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” So many people go bonkers for the holidays. Between Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Christmas shopping, Christmas tree decoration, gift wrapping, holiday office parties, ugly Christmas sweater contests, Hanukah,
5 Inspiring Women In Recovery. Historically, men have a higher rate of addiction than women, and unfortunately, women seem to have more significant barriers to substance abuse treatment. Females are more likely than males to experience economic barriers when seeking treatment for a substance abused disorder. These barriers could be attributed to the gender pay
Preparing For Your First Holiday Season in Recovery. The holidays should be a time for gathering, celebrating, expressing gratitude, and reflecting. Still, oftentimes, they bring stress and worry, especially to those who are struggling with underlying issues such as substance abuse. The first year of sobriety, especially during the holiday season, can be a sea
Seeking professional help for a substance use disorder or mental health disorder can be daunting at first. Will you like your therapist? What if the treatment doesn’t work? How will it feel about divulging your darkest moments to a stranger? These are common thoughts that many of us go through when we are first entering
The Role of Labeling & Stigmatization. It seems, labels such as “alcoholic,” “addict,” “junkie,” “user” are often used interchangeably for individuals struggling with substance use disorder or for those in recovery. We hear phrases such as “He is an alcoholic.” “She is a heroin addict.” in everyday conversations, in movies, and on social media. Regardless
5 Ways to Wear Your Gratitude Gloves this Holiday Season. For many, the holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family and friends, but for those in recovery, the holidays can be a bit painful and overwhelming, risking a relapse. Regardless of how pretty and peaceful our streets look, end-of-the-year stress catches up with
Let’s face it: dating culture and bar culture are a bit intertwined. Casual dating often means grabbing drinks after work, going to happy hour, or sipping mimosas at brunch. Alcohol can be a crutch in the dating world. What some see as a way to deal with a little anxiety can also decrease inhibitions and
We’ve all heard how technology can have a negative impact on your mental health, whether it’s by spending too much time on social media, or the glow of the screen disrupting your sleep patterns. But can your smartphone actually open doors to recovery when it comes to mental illness or substance abuse? For many who
September is National Recovery Month, initiated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health and substance use disorders, celebrates people in recovery, applauds the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its
Opioids are natural pain relieving medications cultivated from the poppy plant since 3400B.C. Today most of these prescription painkillers are man made and synthesized by pharmaceutical companies or through illegal makeshift laboratories and are sold on the street and are distributed all over the world creating an addictive opioid epidemic. Naturally occurring opioids such as
Substance abuse is one of the most problematic public health concerns in the United States. In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans were killed due to drug overdoses, reflecting a 13 percent increase over the previous year and a 2-fold increase over the past decade, according to the estimates by Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In
Chase Your Dreams by Making New Year Resolutions New Year Resolutions to Help Your Addiction Recovery. Around 40 percent of Americans make New Year Resolutions, seeing the new year as a new beginning. Many appreciate making new goals because the new year means new opportunities for growth, transformation, and dreams. Unfortunately, numerous individuals who set
Self-Care: A Reminder to Take Good Care of Yourself in this Crazy and Stressful Life. “How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth, so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day.” – Sam Owen In the present world, where things seem all hurried, we often become so
Are you living a healthy lifestyle? Living a healthy lifestyle isn’t always easy but taking time to incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine can do wonders for improving your overall health and well-being. Healthy dietary and lifestyle habits can do more than help our waistline — they can make us feel better emotionally
Why does one person help another? Knowing that people are basically selfish, seeking the means to get ahead in a world that seems bent on knocking everyone down, why bother? It’s difficult enough just to ‘make ends meet’, so why would anyone spend precious time trying to reach out to someone else? It’s a futile
Tips for Surviving the Holidays in Recovery. The saying that “the holidays are stressful for everyone” has become the cliché we hear year after year. But, like most clichés, it’s rooted in truth. Take your average person, even without substance or alcohol abuse issues, and put them in a room full of distant family members
I, like many I know, moved far away from home for my recovery. My addiction was so deeply imbedded in my home town that I knew in order to give myself a fighting chance I needed to ship out in order to shape up. So, I went to treatment across the country from where I
Reducing Stress and Relapse Prevention with Exercise and Sleep. Reducing stressors in your life can significantly improve your chance at lasting sobriety. So much of how we process our emotions rely on the chemical makeup occurring inside our body. By reducing the stress hormone, cortisol, we can get out of a chronic stress environment and
Reducing stressors in your life can significantly improve your chance at lasting sobriety. So much of how we process our emotions rely on the chemical makeup occurring inside our body. By reducing the stress hormone, cortisol, we can get out of a chronic stress environment and manage our feelings and reactions much more effectively. In
Linking Creativity and Recovery. It has long been believed that an altered mind state with drugs and alcohol make people more creative. Writers like Ernest Hemmingway or musicians like Janis Joplin are highly regarded artists that sadly met an untimely demise due to their addictions. The truth is, drugs and alcohol may loosen your inhibitions
I remember thinking if I could only make it through detox, I would be okay. If I could stay strong and resist my cravings—then in a week or so I would be fine. I would feel “normal” again, whatever that meant. All I needed to do was get through the withdrawals… And part of that
Acceptance Before Change. I’m Mandi and I am an alcoholic… an addict… and a manic-depressive… a co-dependent… I struggle with body dysmorphia. My recovery from alcoholism was only the tip of the iceberg when I first entered treatment. I was sick and I thought that the only thing that I needed to do to make
