Promise #4: We will know peace. I entered Lakeview Health trying to negotiate a shorter stay than what was recommended. It wasn’t because I didn’t think I needed it – I was scared my family would learn what a horrible person I was. I felt I had to get home and control the narrative. My narrative, though, wasn’t even mine to tell. It belonged entirely to my “ism” – I just didn’t know that yet! When it was time for me to be discharged, I kept asking to stay longer. I was scared to death to leave because I finally understood that I was an alcoholic who could no longer drink, even socially. I knew ..read more

Case managers can help protect your job You’re living a double life. You go to work and have a family and friends. But the other side is darker. You drink or do drugs to get through your day. You even sneak in a buzz or high in the middle of your work day to get you past the grind. You’re not alone, though. Many professionals struggle with alcoholism and addiction. Surveys show that 60 percent of American adults know someone who has been under the influence of alcohol or drugs at work. Even drug abuse among healthcare professionals is becoming commonplace. Chances are, someone knows that you d ..read more

Types of Addictions Learn More About Addiction Addictions are often crippling. It is easy for an addiction to grow and eventually take over someone’s entire life. As a friend or family member, it can be difficult to watch someone who is struggling with an addiction. Many people who do not struggle with addiction cannot understand how truly consuming an addiction can be. Addictions often lead to alienation of others and can end marriages and other relationships. When you are facing an addiction, it is important to seek professional help in overcoming the addiction. Family members and close frie ..read more

The reasons why people use drugs vary greatly for every individual. More often than not, a person is trying to fix an issue within their life and they see drugs as the solution. A young person may be trying to fit in with their peers and views using or alcohol drugs as a means of feeling “a part of.” In contrast, many individuals use drugs as a way to self-medicate. From chronic pain to mental health disorders, many people use drugs to alleviate symptoms of an ailment. Here is a top ten list of why people use drugs: 1 Experimenting It is not uncommon for addiction to stem from a person being c ..read more

The cycle of addiction is created by changes produced in brain chemistry from substance abuse. It is perpetuated by physiological, psychological and emotional dependency. This cycle of addiction continues unrestrained, until some type of intervention occurs (self-intervention, legal, family, etc.). What Is the Cycle of Addiction? Cycle of Addiction Drug and alcohol addiction research has clearly demonstrated that the addicted brain is chemically and physiologically different from a normal brain. The idea of addiction being a neurological disorder is critical to understanding its development ..read more

You recognize that you cannot use drugs and alcohol like others and that you may need treatment and ongoing support to prevent relapse. Is it possible to prevent drug addiction altogether? Anything is possible, but if you are predisposed genetically to addiction your chances are greater for developing an addiction. This means that if drug or alcohol addiction runs in your family, then you too may be at risk. Society may try to prevent drug addiction through education. However, if you are already struggling with substance abuse then you may need treatment to prevent continued use and consequenc ..read more

The best way to successfully overcome an addiction is to go through rehabilitation. However, as you might expect the process is far from easy when you have been dependent on drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time. What’s worse, life after rehab can be extremely difficult. As you are leaving your support system behind when you exit the rehab facility. The first few days are critical (when a relapse is most likely), but if you can make it through the first week or two you stand a good chance to make it on the road to recovery. Understanding the challenges that you face once you leave th ..read more

To many people, with or without substance-abuse struggles, “healthy living” is the lesser of two evils. No one wants the inconvenience and danger of heart trouble; no one aspires to obesity that makes crossing the room exhausting; but when it comes to preventative wellness, we often visualize a life sentence of bland meals and monotonous exercise. Hence the quip, “Will this really help you live longer—or will it just feel longer?” Admittedly, if the only choice is between an early death and a long but miserable life, it’s not unreasonable to choose the former. Thirty years of satisfaction are ..read more

Sometimes I feel like sobriety’s Andy Rooney – the ironic, curmudgeon of the blogging set, pointing out the pitfalls and snafus that no one else will tell the world about quitting drinking. I have been known to sniff at the sophomoric crowing of those who extoll the benefits of living clean and sober. As if, like that other killjoy Groucho Marx, I do not want to join any club substandard enough to have me as a member. Then two weeks ago, something really horrible happened. Someone I loved died unexpectedly and everyone else tiptoed around me, as if they thought it might be too much for me to t ..read more

To protect ourselves from the coronavirus, many of us are being told to isolate indoors when possible. This poses a unique challenge for those who suffer with addiction. Isolation is sneaky and it breeds addiction. What’s important to note about social distancing is that you can rephrase it so physical distancing to make it more friendly of a term and help calm anxieties. Social distancing is what people with substance use disorder do too much of as it is – they remove themselves from society due to feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, or low-esteem. So, how do you stay strong in your recovery w ..read more