Anthony decided from a young age that he was going to stay away from substances. With a family history of alcoholism and drug addiction, he wanted to be the “good kid.” He steered clear of experimentation all the way through high school. However, in college he began hanging out with friends who enjoyed going to …
Nicole drank until she blacked out every night, but managed to drag herself out of bed each morning and go to work. Because she continued to work and pay her bills, she spent years denying that she had a drinking problem. Denial and other defense mechanisms are particularly strong among high-functioning alcoholics (HFAs). “HFAs may …
It is often said that any one of us is just a surgery away from an opioid addiction. That is what happened to Kevin, who after eight years in recovery relapsed into painkiller addiction following two unexpected abdominal surgeries. Kevin’s first surgery was an emergency surgery. He got through it and followed the diet and …
A Post-Surgery Sobriety Plan to Prevent Drug Relapse Read More »
After struggling to get sober in 2007, Kevin never expected to have to fight for his sobriety again in 2017. But an emergency surgery and extensive medical treatment led to an opioid addiction and a second chance at recovery. Philadelphia-born, Kevin first came to California in the 1990s, fresh out of college and hoping to …
Finding Health After Surgery-Related Opioid Addiction Read More »
Sara is a shy soul who feels most comfortable blending into the crowd. A self-identified people-pleaser, she remembers from a young age wanting to say the right thing and make others think she had it all together. From elementary school all the way through high school, she pushed herself hard and got good grades and …
Eyes: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for the marijuana high, lowers blood pressure, impacting cells in the eyes. Blood vessels in the eyes expand in response to low blood pressure, a normal response to maintain proper vision. Dilated capillaries and open blood vessels increase blood flow, leading to bloodshot eyes. Redness is more visible against …
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 …