Gratitude in recovery isn’t just about thanking your loved ones for supporting you as you enter an addiction treatment program. It’s also not pretending that everything is fine. Everything isn’t fine all the time, and that’s normal. Recovery comes with challenges, setbacks, relapses, and growth. Gratitude is the practice of identifying and acknowledging positive aspects [...]
One tri-state area psychologist and author on dating topics, Paulette Sherman, explains that serial daters are people dependent on early-dating romance. The chase, the novelty, and the freshness of a brand new dating partner excites them in ways likened to substance abuse. Just like someone might feel thrilled and excited by doing cocaine or taking [...]
It’s no secret: married couples often experience disagreements, infidelity, financial strain, and, sometimes, tragedy. They can fail to be on the same page or feel like they’re falling out of love. Many factors can influence a divorce. However, research shows that alcoholism can be one of the driving factors behind a marital split. Many of [...]
If you’re in recovery or residential treatment for substance use disorder in Pennsylvania and thinking about stepping back into the dating world, we support you! It’s a huge step and we want all of our Port Matilda community members to be aware of the research around relationships in recovery before they take the plunge. It’s [...]
Three main areas in life can play a role in whether or not someone develops a substance use disorder (SUD), abuses drugs, or becomes exposed to alcohol and other intoxicants. These areas include genetics, living and working environment, and development and experiences throughout life. How Biology and Childhood Development Play a Role in Addiction Scientists [...]
Not too long ago an insightful story by author David Sheff about his son’s battle against addiction was published in the New York Times. Sheff relays searching for his child at night, checking all the neighborhoods he knew he might frequent. Most of the time he never got a glimpse of his young adult son—who [...]
It’s the nicotine in cigarettes that makes them exceptionally difficult to quit. When someone consumes a cigarette, vapes tobacco, or uses chewing tobacco, they’re introducing nicotine into their bloodstream. Just seconds after inhaling, the brain detects the nicotine and releases dopamine. Dopamine is the brain’s way of saying WE’RE H A P P Y, KEEP [...]
In 2023, the Boulder County community of Colorado recorded two unique opioid-related deaths. Upon further investigation, officials found that the victims had consumed a newly modified, powerful synthetic opioid called nitazene. Because the type of nitazene currently on the market is so new, it was a breakthrough that healthcare workers detected the drug at all. [...]
St. Joseph Institute for Addiction in Port Matilda, PA, treats substance use disorder (SUD) at the same time that we treat the entire individual and assess their general mental health. We know that treating addiction as an isolated issue misses the bigger picture, as many of our clients report struggling with generalized anxiety disorders, depression, [...]
Many of us may feel that we would immediately recognize addiction in our spouse, our child, our best friend, and especially ourselves. However, at least 48 million Americans are living with substance use disorder (SUD) right now, and not all of them are seeking treatment. Countless more deal with behavioral addictions that are either dismissed, [...]
