What You Need to Know About CBT for Addiction Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a goal-oriented form of psychotherapy that focuses on solving immediate concerns and helping people with substance use disorders develop the skills they need to stay sober. It’s much less intensive than other forms of psychotherapy, [...]
Graduate Spotlight: Kris Credits SJI with Getting Him on the Path to Recovery
My name is Kris and I am an alcoholic. I started drinking on a daily basis 22 years ago. At the time, I used alcohol as a crutch to get over a difficult event in my life. What that event [...]
Tweaking Your Diet to Control Drug and Alcohol Cravings
Cravings Are Normal Experiencing cravings for drugs or alcohol is a normal part of the addiction recovery process. It's nothing to be ashamed of, although the experience can be uncomfortable. In most cases, cravings pass on their own within 10 [...]
Trauma and Addiction: What’s the Connection?
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 [...]
Alcohol and Opioids Are a Deadly Combo
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 [...]
Understanding Addiction as a Chronic Disease
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 [...]
Managing Depression and Anxiety Without Medication
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 [...]
Everything You Need to Know About Opioid Overdoses
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 [...]