How Long Does It Take for Brain Chemistry to Return to Normal?

Medical professionals and scientists continue to study the effects of addiction and substance use on the brain. One thing is certain: substance use (and especially prolonged substance use) can fundamentally change your brain chemistry. Some substances can significantly alter your brain chemistry in as little as one use, and even seemingly “harmless” substances can have…

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Making the “Jump” Off Suboxone – When the “Solution” Becomes the Problem

– Dr. Jay Piland, ABAM   A recent press release for Bunavail says it all: First and Only FDA-Approved (Buccal Formulation) of Buprenorphine and Naloxone to compete in the $1.7 Billion and Growing U.S. Opioid Dependence Market. Heroin and prescription opiate addiction are massive, under-treated and under-reported conditions in the United States. According to 2013…

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Can you ever be cured of an addiction?

Addiction can disrupt your life and the lives of those around you. Whether you’re struggling with addiction or have started your journey to recovery, addiction can cause feelings of loneliness and desperation. At some point in your recovery – or maybe several points – you may find yourself asking: “Isn’t there a cure?!” Take it…

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Eating Disorders and Unrealistic American Beauty

– Layne Cook, LMSW   Over 5 million Americans suffer from eating disorders (ED), which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Millions more display ED or disorder eating symptoms without meeting the diagnostic criteria for a full-blown disorder. EDs adversely affect both physical and psychological functioning, are more fatal than any other…

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7 Tips for Achieving Long Term Recovery

Whether you’re just exploring recovery options for addiction, you’ve just finished an inpatient or intensive outpatient recovery program, or you’ve been in recovery for years, maintaining your sobriety is a lifelong journey. There are no quick fixes or miracle cures for addiction; long term recovery requires patience with yourself and the process. Here are seven…

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Why Did I Relapse? Top Triggers of Relapse

– Dr. Jay Piland, ABAM   On your journey to recovery and sobriety, relapse can feel like a major failure, and the resulting stress and anxiety can cause feelings of hopelessness. But it’s important to know that relapse happens in many paths to recovery and, while not necessarily inevitable or unavoidable, is a common occurrence.…

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5 Sober Things To Do on Halloween

5 Sober Things To Do on Halloween Centering celebrations on family – whether it’s the family we were born into or the family we’ve chosen – means that holidays don’t have to include substance use. Sober living is a life-long commitment that doesn’t take a break on Halloween or during special occasions. Follow these tips…

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How to Find the Right Sober Living House

How to Find the Right Sober Living House For many people in recovery, a major obstacle to staying sober comes in the form of a lack of drug-free and stable housing. The risk of relapse is much higher for those who do not have access to long-term support for their recovery–especially if they have a…

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What Happens After I Leave Treatment?

What Happens After I Leave Treatment? Completing your rehab program after battling addiction is a significant accomplishment, and one you should be proud of. But as the day of reentry approaches, every rehab graduate has the same question – “What now?” It’s important to remember that recovery doen’t end when you leave rehab. Sobriety is…

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Facing Trauma

By Aaron Jordan, LPC   Trauma can be defined in many ways. We know of the obvious traumas that people undergo such as physical and sexual abuse, rape, neglect, accidents, war, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters. But what about the soul wounds that people endure from abandonment, neglect, emotional and spiritual abuse, grief and loss,…

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