12-step meetings are where alcoholics or drug addicts gather around and either listen or share their stories. Some may feel intimidated to go as they are worried about getting judged or feel their problem is not serious enough to attend a meeting. It is important to know what you are getting into when you join…
PTSD and alcoholism are a common pairing. When dealing with raw feelings, nightmares, and anxiety caused by past trauma, it’s not unusual for someone to turn to alcohol as a buffer. Alcohol makes us feel better in the moment, taking the edge off of worry and stress. Also, it can help us relax enough to socialize around other people when,…
Are you getting your wisdom teeth out soon? Ouch! Wisdom tooth removal can be painful — many oral surgeons who perform wisdom teeth extraction use Vicodin to help with post-surgical pain. If you’re wondering whether Vicodin is a good fit for you, it’s important to talk to your oral surgeon about alternative methods of pain…
Addiction often starts and continues because people don’t have strong enough drug refusal skills. These critical abilities can be mastered at the best addiction treatment center Tacoma, WA has to offer, which helps to improve a person’s ability to overcome substance abuse for good. What are Drug Refusal Skills? Drug refusal skills refer to a person’s ability…
In your recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, there will be times you find it easier to abstain from use, and there will be days when you struggle. Independence Day, like many holidays, may present a challenge. To have a sober 4th of July, it’s essential that you do things differently than you’ve done in…
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a controlled substance. Although it has medical uses, GHB side effects can lead to severe substance abuse problems. For some, it’s also a drug to get high. Others misuse it as a date rape drug. Who Abuses GHB? Interestingly, some athletes misuse the drug to build muscle mass and decrease fat. Mind…
One of the biggest misconceptions about alcohol abuse is that getting sober is the toughest part of the process. It isn’t. Once rehab is complete, a lifelong journey of staying sober begins. A quality treatment program will not only provide assistance with getting sober, but it also teaches techniques on how to stay sober as…
Achieving sobriety is an essential and significant step, but it is just as important to learn how to maintain that newfound sobriety for a lifetime. Relapse is common among those who struggle with addiction, so any recovery program needs to include a focus on relapse prevention. The following relapse prevention tips can help you stay…
An unhealthy ego is at the root of many of our emotional challenges, including our addictions and mental health issues. When our ego, or sense of self, is wounded from trauma, we often struggle to understand our feelings or manage them in healthy ways. We create a poor self-image for ourselves, and our self-perception is…
Valentine’s Day is a holiday where you celebrate love with the people that you love. You may have thought that you loved drugs and alcohol but it ended up being a poisonous relationship that left you sick. It is important that you find sober ways to enjoy yourself on Valentine’s Day that do not involve…