It's difficult to say with certainty what causes some individuals to develop a drug or alcohol addiction. Substance use disorders are chronic biologically based illnesses with complex environmental triggers. However, exposure to trauma—especially during the childhood years—is strongly linked to an increased risk of developing an addiction. Defining Trauma Trauma can affect many aspects of [...]
Legal doesn't mean safe. Since alcohol is legal for adults over the age of 21 and opioid painkillers are legal with a prescription, people often mistakenly assume that mixing the two is no big deal. This couldn't be further from the truth. How Addiction Develops Typically, people who are abusing both alcohol and opioids developed [...]
Unfortunately, graduating from residential treatment doesn't mean your substance use disorder has been cured. Addiction is considered a chronic disease, which means the condition must be continually managed to reduce the risk of relapse. The Chronic Nature of Addiction Chronic diseases are much more common than you might expect. According to the Centers for Disease [...]
When it comes to managing depression and anxiety, there's no right answer. For some people, medication is a vital part of keeping their condition under control. For others, lifestyle changes let them work towards naturally improving their mental health. This article outlines several ways to manage depression and anxiety without the use of prescription drugs, [...]
The opioid epidemic is a public health emergency, but many people don't think about the potential consequences of opioid abuse until it's too late. If a loved one is taking opioids, even if they've been prescribed by a doctor, it's vital that you educate yourself about the signs of a potential overdose. What Causes an [...]
True recovery involves more than mere abstinence. Someone who has quit drinking, but has yet to embrace the characteristics associated with a wellness-focused sober lifestyle, is sometimes referred to by others in recovery as a dry drunk. The term dry drunk is an oxymoron, meaning that a person is behaving in ways that are associated [...]
What's the best way to handle a friend or family member's substance abuse? Your first impulse may be to try to "save" your loved one, but there's a fine line between helping and enabling. Understanding how to avoid enabling will make it easier to encourage your loved one to get the treatment they need. Acknowledge [...]
Throughout the United States, May is observed as Mental Health Awareness Month to bring attention to the role mental health care plays in a person's overall sense of wellbeing. Started in 1949 by Mental Health America (MHA), the observance encourages a better understanding of mental health disorders and promotes access to screening and treatment options. [...]
Your Recovery Journey After you've completed residential treatment at St. Joseph Institute for Addiction, you have the skills necessary to build a sober life for yourself. However, it's natural to find yourself feeling conflicted in regards to sharing your recovery journey with others. It may be helpful to think of your recovery in the same [...]
Recovery is a time of new beginnings. For many parents, this means improving their relationship with their children. No matter what challenges your family has faced in the past, there's always hope for a brighter tomorrow and a healthier family dynamic. Self-Care Is Not Selfish Despite the hype over helicopter parents and tiger moms, it's [...]
