Despite heroin use impacting people of all socioeconomic strata, from Middle America to Hollywood, the stereotypical image of a heroin addict persists. Many people still think of heroin users as painfully thin individuals with track marks up and down their arms. Although opioid abuse comes with a host of serious short-and long-term side effects, some …
Of all the drugs that alter a person’s looks, methamphetamine (meth) causes the most overt visible signs of abuse. Meth abuse wreaks havoc on the entire body, destroying tissues and blood vessels and inhibiting the body’s ability to repair itself. The effects of meth include a decrease in appetite, resulting in muscle degradation, unhealthy loss …
Many high functioning alcoholic’s stories end tragically. Thankfully, Nicole chose to make a different story out of her life. Like many young people, Nicole liked to go out and party with her friends. But there was something different about the way Nicole partied–she didn’t just drink to have fun. She drank to get wasted. Soon, …
A High Functioning Alcoholic’s Story of Treatment Read More »
Being kind to ourselves doesn’t come naturally to some of us. It can be an unfamiliar practice for those who have grown accustomed to mistreatment as a result of trauma early in life. And while self-compassion is essential for a life of sobriety, people with addiction more often feel deserving of punishment. What is self-compassion? …
Struggling to Stay Sober? Try Some Self-Compassion Read More »
By Christian Castaneda, LCSW, Program Director at Promises Malibu Addiction recovery cannot be achieved through one method alone. Research has shown that a multidisciplinary approach is essential for both healing from the ravages of addiction and maintaining sobriety. The best drug rehabs address addiction on all levels and offer support for mind, body and spirit. …
9 Multidisciplinary Addiction Treatment Techniques Read More »
When Alan was small, his alcoholic father verbally and physically abused him. He never knew when the belt would come down. He lived in fear of those nights when his dad would come home upset about work. That’s always when he got hurt the most. To cope with the unbearable physical and emotional pain, he …
Max grew up in Chicago and played hockey from a young age. At age 14, he moved to Maine to play prep school hockey, landing a scholarship to play Division III hockey at Plymouth State in New Hampshire. At just 18 years old, Max was the youngest student on the team by three years. With …
A Hockey Player Discovers New Passions After Prescription Drug Addiction Read More »
By Christian Castaneda, LCSW, Program Director at Promises Malibu Addiction recovery is a vulnerable and healing time when people must learn new ways of creating healthy relationships with themselves and others. Singles must remove themselves from unhealthy sexual encounters and refrain from starting new romantic or sexual relationships for one year. But what if you …
Do Married Couples Have to Be Celibate in Addiction Recovery? Read More »
By Christian Castaneda, LCSW, Program Director at Promises Malibu When you’re in addiction recovery, the whole world can become a trigger for drug relapse. If you’re addicted to alcohol and you walk past a bar where you see old friends, it may stimulate your memory of old times. If you are addicted to pornography, you …
By Christian Castaneda, LCSW, Program Director at Promises Malibu Addiction recovery is about letting go of the substances and behaviors that got you into trouble and learning new ways of coping with life. It requires being in touch with true feelings and old trauma. You also have to find new ways to deal with sex …
Managing Celibacy in Addiction Recovery: Why Can’t I Have Sex for One Year? Read More »