There is a great deal of confusion concerning lapses, relapses, and the role of relapsing in recovery, so what does relapse mean? Well, counter to the common understanding, relapse is not just a brief and isolated occurrence. Instead, there are three stages of addiction relapse: Emotional relapse Mental relapse Physical relapse Just like addiction recovery…
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Have you been asking yourself “Am I a problem drinker” or “Do I have alcoholism?” When you start questioning your alcohol intake, you will encounter various terms used to describe drinking patterns. These include problem drinking, heavy drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorder (the clinical descriptor for alcoholism). While these terms express different forms…
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If you are thinking about engaging with addiction treatment, you might be wondering how your sobriety timeline will unfold. Addiction is a growing concern in the United States. The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health administered by SAMHSA (NSDUH 2020) shows that both alcoholism and drug addiction dramatically increased. 28 million adults…
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Binge drinking is not only the most common and costly pattern of alcohol consumption in the United States, but it’s also entirely preventable. Although binge drinking does not always lead to alcoholism, this phenomenon is damaging in myriad ways, and many people never seek treatment for it. Data from the most recent National Survey on…
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While many people believe substance abuse relapse is a brief, single occurrence, there are actually three stages of relapse – emotional relapse, mental relapse, and physical relapse. Addiction recovery is an ongoing process rather than a time-limited event like detox or withdrawal. Unfortunately, data shows that between 40% and 60% of those in recovery will…
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Bipolar II disorder or bipolar 2 disorder is the less intense form of the mental health condition previously known as manic depression. NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Health) reports that an estimated 4% of US adults will experience bipolar at some stage. Bipolar disorder typically presents at the age of 25, according to the…
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Bipolar I disorder is the more severe form of bipolar, a mental health condition affecting over 10 million adults in the United States, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). Previously known as manic depression, bipolar disorder presents at a median age of 25, per DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance). That said,…
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Going back to work after rehab doesn’t need to be a stressful experience. If you are concerned about the potential backlash when returning to the workplace, there are various laws and acts in place to safeguard your interests and your recovery. Have you been avoiding getting the treatment you need for substance use disorder or…
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If you have been wondering “What is Cali sober”, you might be interested in a sober living environment, or perhaps you first encountered the term California sober in Demi Lovato’s docu-series Dancing with the Devil. When the singer/actress first employed the term California sober while outlining her battle with addiction, she was referring to a…
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PTSD and substance abuse are strongly linked, with up to 50% of those seeking substance abuse treatment meeting the criteria for lifetime PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly abbreviated to PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that sometimes develops after someone witnesses or experiences a traumatic event. Although PTSD is often associated with combat veterans, this condition…
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