This weekend marks the start of the summer holiday season. Events like picnics and parties can be a dangerous place for people in addiction recovery.
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Debunking Addiction
Addiction Blog
There is a common belief in many cultures that human beings have been given free will in determining their lives. On one hand, being able to make our own decisions and choose our own fate is what has allowed our world to become what it is, for better or for worse. On the other hand, free will is like the proverbial double-edged sword. Sometimes, too much freedom may not be such a good thing.
Early on, I was very aware of addiction stigma and the stigma surrounding mental illness. That’s why, even though May is designated Mental Health Awareness Month, I focus on my mental health and reducing addiction stigma every day of the year. This has not always been the case. When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and struggling with addiction issues over 30 years ago, I didn’t have much to honor. In fact, I pretty much hated life as I knew it. Keep reading
I vividly remember when, in the throes of my addiction, all I ever wanted was relief. My disease was multiplied by co-occurring bipolar disorder. My life had become a series of unfortunate events characterized by fractured relationships and lengthy psychiatric hospital stays. Despite the repeated attempts from family and friends, I was unable to see through the veneer of denial (a defense mechanism in addiction) that distorted my vision.
Finally, when I was willing to address my issues, I asked myself, “What do I do now?” At the time, I was unclear as what to do. If I had the opportunity to magically go back in time, I would suggest the following to myself: Keep reading
In case you didn’t know already, addiction is a liar. It will do whatever it can to keep itself alive. One of the primary ways that it does so is through the use of defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are simply thought/behavior patterns that addicts use to continue on our path to destruction. They come in many forms and I am going to cover just a few of the more prominent ones: Keep reading
Addiction is cunning, baffling and powerful. Its sole mission is to make our lives a living hell. It brings along with it a number of its companions: denial, rationalization, and blame, to name but a few. Living with addiction is like living in a prison – one in which one feels there is no escape. Keep reading
Addiction recovery, or for that matter, any recovery, requires a certain amount of patience in yourself when learning new healthy coping skills. Some people who struggle with addiction, have struggled for years, and brain pathways have developed around the craving and use of substances. In order to change behaviors, there is absolutely going to be an amount of time where you feel uncomfortable, unsure of yourself, and feel out of your comfort zone. That is because the addiction was the comfort zone for so long, no matter how devastating the consequences.
Is addiction a disease? This question has been up for debate for many years. If so, how does addiction qualify as a disease? Keep reading
Addiction is death. I don’t just mean physical death. I mean emotional, mental and spiritual death as well. Addiction has the ability to destroy lives – and I should know. I have seen first-hand how addiction has destroyed relationships, leaving individuals broken and beaten down. I have this experience. Keep reading
I was born in Buffalo, NY and was adopted at 6 months. I had a pretty “normal” childhood. Once I got into my teens, I began to experiment with alcohol. Upon entering college, I progressed to other drugs. During my freshman year, I experienced a psychotic break. Despite this, I continued to abuse drugs. Somehow, I managed to graduate from college and was able to land my first real job. Keep reading
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by Kendra Sebelius
by Karl Shallowhorn, MS, CASAC
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