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Does Music and Festival Culture Influence Drug Use?
Dec 10, 2020
Music plays a significant role in the lives of many. For years now, musicians have played the centerpiece of the entertainment industry. However, music that involves lyrics surrounding drug and alcohol use may influence people to engage in substance use. Young people are incredibly impressionable and look up to the musicians they listen to. If the listener is already in a down mood while listening to music about marijuana, they may be more likely to try it.
Signs You Have an Addictive Personality
Dec 7, 2020
When it comes to friends and family who struggle with the addiction to drugs or alcohol, there are usually two sides to it. People either had no idea what was going, or they saw it coming. Tragedy usually strikes when signs of addiction go under the radar. Typically people who struggle with substance use have other traits that indicate that they’re susceptible to drug addiction. It's imperative that you know when a loved one has addictive personality traits.
What to Do When a Loved One is Struggling With Addiction
Dec 4, 2020
Many people may not look into the signs of addiction until something extreme happens. In a world where people think they know it all, it becomes tough to call out friends or family members when we feel like something is up. Often the person in question will get defensive and shut you out. If there’s evidence that someone you care for is struggling with addiction, you have to handle it with care. There’s no right or wrong way to approach the conversation on drug or alcohol use, but there are some basic rules you can abide by to make the interaction smoother.
How Long Does it Take to Recover From Addiction?
Nov 30, 2020
Addiction is a complicated disease that doesn’t lend itself to one, all-encompassing recovery path. Wondering how long that someone will need before they are “sober” is normal, but the answer will vary from person to person. No two cases will be the same, and there can be any number of different external factors involved, such as culture, daily stresses, or access to support systems. Recovery is also a lifelong battle, and putting a timer on healing is disingenuous to the process as a whole. Instead, somebody can better define recovery by measuring one’s goals and success, coupled with their increasing set of skills to cope with difficult stressors. Recovery isn’t a binary, nor is there a set time that someone needs before they are healed. It is a lifelong process, and recovery from addiction is better thought of as one’s ability to use their practical skills to accomplish their own goals in a sober life.
Talking About Needs With a Loved One
Nov 29, 2020
Recovery may consistently be a part of someone’s life. Leaving a transformational living facility and moving back in with family or a loved one doesn’t indicate that recovery is over. Instead, someone may still be attending outpatient recovery programs and fine-tuning their recovery toolkit. New therapeutic approaches are continuously being tried, and it is always beneficial to try new coping strategies to be prepared for the constantly changing reality of the world. Talking about these continued needs in the life-long recovery journey can help someone set themselves up for continued success. Alongside loved ones, someone can better understand addiction’s complicated nature while still providing adequate support for someone’s ongoing sobriety.
Coping with the Fallacy of Lost Time
Nov 27, 2020
Addressing one’s relationship with an addictive substance or behavior and all of its challenges takes time. Recovery isn’t something that has an end date - those who have suffered from addiction in the past may still be dealing with urges for the rest of their lives. As someone identifies a need for change in their lives, they may also begin to feel guilty about past mistakes or see their past as shameful. However, needing a change in one’s life doesn’t mean that they have wasted time. The idea of time lost in recovery is a fallacy, and each moment in someone’s life can be an opportunity for growth and context with which someone can establish their changing future. Regardless of how long someone spends in recovery, time is never wasted. Seeing one’s actions as the important events they are can help someone cope with this fallacy.
Preparing for the Long Haul in Recovery
Nov 27, 2020
Recovery from an addiction of any kind can be a long and arduous process. While someone may be showing dedication and progress in their recovery, there are dangers associated with rushing through the process. Recovery, while a very personal journey, also involves several different steps. From outpatient therapy programs, 12-step programs, and transformational living facilities, there are many obstacles that someone has to address before they are reintroduced to all of the world’s stressors. Taking the time to prepare for the journey of recovery is essential. It can be the difference needed to see recovery comprehensively rather than abandon the recovery process early.
How Does Luxury Affect Recovery?
Nov 22, 2020
Each person will respond differently to various kinds of approaches in recovery. When deciding on a program, someone may often question what types of therapeutic approaches are used or what communities are built. However, having access to a luxurious environment can also be hugely beneficial for those looking for extra comfort and focus. Luxury in recovery may have many amenities and systems in place centered around comfort, but the purpose isn’t just to look like a vacation home. Being able to address one’s recovery while feeling comfortable and supported through the process can provide needed feelings of security and community that are important to effectively address their struggles and goals. Recovery is an incredibly uncomfortable experience, and a luxurious atmosphere may be appropriate for those looking to confront their vulnerabilities while finding comfort wherever they can through the process. What Does a Luxurious Program Mean?
Moving From Sobriety to Self-Acceptance
Nov 19, 2020
The journey through recovery is a difficult one. It can be hard to identify all of the stressors that someone may experience and continuously be vigilant in recognizing risky situations and behaviors that may compromise one’s sobriety. However, sobriety isn’t the only goal in recovery. Depending on the goals someone sets for themselves, their recovery will look much different from others around them. Recovery is the gateway to accepting one’s identity and self-worth, and programs are in place to help someone cope with the daily stresses so each person can chase their long-term goals in self-actualization.
Who Should I Tell About My Recovery?
Nov 18, 2020
Talking about recovery can be stressful. The anxiety produced by stigmas surrounding words like “addiction” or “recovery” can make even bringing up the topic intimidating. However, talking about the stresses and progress that someone is making is crucial at any phase of the process. Learning who to tell about one’s recovery and how much information is appropriate for each person can be a delicate process. Talking about recovery will always be up to the individual who is going through the process themselves. They cannot only decide when and how to bring up the topic, but they can also choose for themselves who they are willing to discuss it with and what social circles may not benefit from knowing about their situation. Having several trusted individuals to discuss recovery with is essential, but that doesn’t mean that everyone has to know everything, or anything, if it may not benefit the situation.