How Long Does It Take to Break an Addiction?
If you or a loved one are interested in overcoming an addiction, you may be wondering … how long does it take to break an addiction anyway?
Coping Skills You Learn During Music Therapy
Music has been used as a tool for healing throughout history. Music therapy uses the natural mood-enhancing properties of music to help improve mental health and overall well-being. The psychological impacts of music are powerful and far-reaching, and a music therapy program has become renowned as a highly effective treatment for numerous mental health disorders […]
Where to Find LGBTQ-Focused Treatment in LA
Of the nearly four million people in Los Angeles and the greater LA metropolitan area, almost five percent identify as LGBTQ. Compared to the general population, the rates of substance use disorders and mental health disorders among the LGBTQ community are significantly higher. Open discrimination has resulted in many people choosing to avoid seeking the [...]
3 Benefits of Adventure Therapy for Addiction
Traditional psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is an integral part of the treatment for addiction and co-occurring disorders. However, a successful treatment program should be comprehensive, utilizing other approaches such as cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and experiential therapies, to name a few. An integrated approach to treatment is essential to ensure that programs are flexible enough to be [...]
Understanding Physical Dependence vs. Addiction
Physical dependence is a term that many do not fully understand. While this condition mirrors some characteristics of addiction, the state of physical dependence also differs from addiction in several key ways. If you are struggling to stop using drugs and alcohol despite negative consequences, you might be facing physical dependence. Physical dependence is not [...]
What You Should Know About Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse is one of the most dangerous drug addictions today. Opioids, which are highly addictive, are often prescribed to treat chronic pain. The client may have had a painful surgery, they may be suffering from complications from an accident, or they may be suffering from the painful side effects of an illness, like […]
How Grief and Substance Abuse Are Connected
Grief is an emotion that occurs after loss, especially the loss of a loved one. Symptoms of grief may be denial, shock, guilt, or anger. The trauma experienced from a loss of this kind can be all-consuming and debilitating, causing some individuals to turn to drugs and alcohol to cope or develop other mental health [...]
How Celebrating Stress Awareness Month Can Benefit Your Mental Health
April has been observed as Stress Awareness Month since 1992. This nationwide, collaborative effort aims to increase public awareness about the causes and effects of stress, which is considered by most in the healthcare field to be an epidemic in the United States. Stress is generally defined as any factor that causes physical, emotional, or […]
Uniting to Show Support for Those Living with HIV and AIDS
Years ago, an HIV diagnosis was life-altering. Those who tested positive might have worried about how their relationships would change, about their physical health, and about transmitting it to others. However, today, many treatments exist for HIV and AIDS that allow those who have tested positive to live long, healthy, meaningful lives. Yet even though [...]
3 Common Myths About Addiction Treatment
When you are ready to get help for your addiction, it might seem like an uphill battle. There are many common myths that center around addiction treatment. These myths about addiction treatment can make you question whether you should get help or are even worthy of support. Learn more about three of the most common […]
