What Happens to Your Body When You Are Addicted to Heroin HeroinBy Promises AustinMarch 31, 2017Heroin addiction has been a societal problem in the United States for decades. Heroin addiction is on the rise in rural areas across the country, and law enforcement officials as well as healthcare providers are scrambling to address what is seen as an epidemic. The social issues related to heroin addiction are often focused on…
The Pathological Liar Test Mental HealthBy Promises AustinMarch 30, 2017Everybody lies. At one time or another all people have said something that wasn’t true. People might lie to protect another person’s feelings or to get, and stay out of, trouble. Sometimes people tell small lies to avoid conflict, like saying they can’t get a sitter to go out to dinner with a friend when…
Proven Ways to Prevent Compassion Fatigue Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMarch 30, 2017Compassion fatigue and burnout are occupational hazards nurses, physicians and therapists often face over the course of a career. Outside the healthcare system, these emotional risks also can affect family members and friends who are dealing with loved ones affected by addiction. In a nutshell, compassion fatigue reflects a reduced ability to feel or show…
7 Ways Radical Acceptance Can Transform Your Life Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMarch 30, 2017By Kelsey Harper, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist and Program Director at Promises Malibu Anyone who has ever been caught in an undertow learns that there’s no sense in swimming against it because it only pulls us in deeper. However, going with the natural flow of the ocean will usually bring us back to shore safely on…
Coping With the Loss of a Fellow Addict Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMarch 29, 2017Losing a friend or peer to addiction can be shattering for people in early recovery who are still solidifying grief coping skills to deal with all of life’s slings and arrows. Loss and grief can negatively impact a person’s recovery process, posing a threat for relapse. But there is also a lot to be learned…
Bipolar Disorder in Men BipolarBy Promises AustinMarch 27, 2017By: Heather Rolland Bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition requiring treatment. Whether the best option for you is a men’s treatment center, an outpatient clinic, or a combination of psychotherapy, self-help groups, and medication management, treatment is key. There are two types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I and II. In Bipolar I, manic episodes…
Self-Medicating With Alcohol Can Make Anxiety Worse Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinMarch 27, 2017A topic was raised recently: “I have two friends who drink to relax vs. taking prescription medications. They feel it’s cheaper, easier and has no side effects.” It is common practice among people who face depression and anxiety to use alcohol to self-medicate without realizing the negative effects of alcohol and depression/anxiety. When emotions become…
Most Misleading Depictions of Treatment Centers in Film & Television Drug Addiction InfoBy Promises AustinMarch 25, 2017Depending on the decade in which you were born, thinking about the rehab experience in treatment centers through the lens of film and television could either be frightening or appealing, depending on how it is represented … or misrepresented. A treatment center experience might bring to mind terrifying thoughts of torment dispensed by “Nurse Ratchet”…
Best Continuing Care Programs After Addiction Treatment RecoveryBy Promises AustinMarch 24, 2017Choosing to enter a program in a drug treatment center is an important first step in addiction recovery. Organized treatment programs offer a structured multidisciplinary environment designed to address various components of addiction recovery, including emotional and psychological factors, and medical concerns. But when treatment is successfully completed, there is a critical next step during…
Pros and Cons of Using Holistic Treatment for Addiction Addiction TreatmentBy Promises AustinMarch 24, 2017In addition to traditional therapies, many addiction treatment facilities are now integrating holistic healing practices into their provision of services. You may be wondering: what does “holistic” mean, exactly? The term is still unfamiliar to many people, because the medical profession in the United States has generally avoided recommending holistic treatment methods — until recently.…
