By 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…
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Compassion 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…
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Everybody 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…
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Losing 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…
DetailsA 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…
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By: 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…
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Depending 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”…
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Choosing 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…
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In 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.…
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If you’re a recovering alcoholic or drug addict, giving up the substances you depended on to get you through the tough times is … tough. Even tougher is staying sober. In order to maintain your sobriety, you need a little help from your friends — and not the friends you used to drink or use…
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