Tag Archives: Addiction Recovery

What to Know if You Have a Family History of Addiction

Many factors contribute to a person’s likelihood of developing an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Scientists have debated whether substance use disorders are born of nature or nurture, or a combination of both. Presently, there is widespread acceptance of the latter, with most research pointing to addiction as the result of genetics and the environment. Consequently, a family history of addiction has proven to be one of the highest risk factors for addiction. 

From a research perspective, it would be naïve to deny the association between our family history of alcoholism or drug abuse and our own patterns. Various research groups have studied twins to examine how much of our risk for alcoholism can be attributed to our genes compared to our environment. According to Psychology Today, it’s been estimated that approximately 40 to 60 percent of the risk for developing an Alcohol Use Disorder can be accounted for by genetic factors. It may even be as high as 60 to 80 percent for other substances, such as nicotine or cocaine. 

 

Family History Of Addiction

How Does Family History Play a Role?

Ultimately, family history plays a major role in addiction risk in numerous ways. Of course, genetics is a major factor. However, substance abuse and drug addiction are complex when it comes to genetics.

A tremendous amount of research has recently been completed that has identified countless genes and variations of those genes that can be associated with addiction. For example, one specific gene may impact someone’s ability to metabolize alcohol, impacting how it impacts the nervous system. Another gene may impact how nerve cells signal one another when they are exposed to addictive substances. Because these genes can be passed down from one generation to the next, this may be one example of how family history plays a role in addiction. 

Family History – Avoiding Addiction

Many people with family members who have struggled with substance abuse never develop a problem. Although there’s no guarantee that you won’t develop an addiction, the good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent it if you have a family history of substance abuse.

Find Out More About Your Family History

You may have heard about addiction in your family. Maybe you even have first-hand experience of someone in your family who has an addiction. However, it can be helpful to find out even more about your family history. When there’s a history of alcoholism in the family, it may be more difficult for someone to drink moderately or even know where that line is for their own mind and body. That’s when participating in a support group and getting input from medical professionals can be particularly helpful. And if you’re concerned about your own biological vulnerability to addiction, abstinence is always the best proactive prevention approach.

Stay Aware of Your Consumption

You don’t necessarily need to be sober if you have a family history of addiction. However it’s important to be aware of your consumption habits if you do choose to drink. People with a family history of alcohol abuse are up to 4 times more likely to develop problems with alcohol. Additionally, if you have a parent who has a drug problem, you may be up to 8 times more likely to develop an addiction. Regardless of your choice, try to monitor your use of alcohol and drugs, and reach out for help if you feel that it’s becoming a problem.

Tell Your Doctor About Your Family History of Addiction

It’s a good idea to inform your primary care practitioner if you have a family history of addiction, as this may impact the way they treat different conditions. For example, you may prefer to avoid certain types of medications, such as prescription opioids. Collecting as much information about your family history as possible can help you and your doctor determine the care that’s best for you.

Know the Signs of Addiction

Be aware of the warning signs to support the early detection of a substance use problem. For example, if you feel like you need a drink to relax or cope with stress, that should be a huge red flag. When you find yourself lying about how much you drink or trying to hide your drinking from people, that’s yet another cause for concern. More serious signs include canceling plans or defaulting on obligations because you’d rather stay home and drink. Another serious indication of addiction is the inability to stop drinking once you start, even if you don’t drink very often. Watch out for these signs in yourself and your family. Catching a problem early will save you a lot of trouble down the road. 

Find a Support System 

Social support is a preventative factor for addiction; staying connected with others may help you avoid substance abuse problems if you have a family history of addiction. One of the best ways to connect with people is to join a 12-step group designed for friends and family of people with addictions. Such as Al-Anon or Nar-Anon. Even when external circumstances don’t allow for participation at in-person meetings, you can still connect with many groups through online platforms.

Reach Out for Help

Clearly, it is important for anyone with a family history of addiction to be very careful around drugs and alcohol. Your genes and your family do not guarantee that you will become an addict, but they make it more likely. It’s like having a handicap that other people don’t have. Maybe your friends can get drunk one day and not pick up another drink for a month, but you may need to be more careful. If you feel that your drinking or drug use is starting to become a problem, it’s a good idea to address it before it becomes a bigger issue. 

Consider Therapy Before There is a Problem 

Addiction is typically the result of a combination of genes and the environment. There’s nothing you can do about your genes and, unfortunately, you can’t go back in time to change your childhood environment. You can, however, change how that environment affects you presently. Individuals who grew up in a house with addiction are often victims of abuse and/or neglect. Talking to a therapist about these experiences can prove to be quite helpful, even if you aren’t fully aware of any psychological issues they may have caused. Often, people discover that they’ve been living with depression, anxiety, and/or other mental health issues as a result of seeking help for substance use. Accepting support in the form of therapy can save you a lot of pain in the future. 

Helping Your Children Understand the Risk of Family History of Addiction

A good time to talk with your child about a family history of addiction is when they enter middle school.

For younger teens, focus on explaining the risk

  • Our family history of addiction means that you are more likely to end up with a problem than other kids who don’t have this in their family.
  • We don’t know how our family history affects our genes.
  • This is why we don’t want you drinking or using other drugs.

For older teens, turn your focus to how family history could impact their use

  • Some brains are more hard-wired to have problems with substance use than others, especially in families like ours, where there is a history of addiction.
  • You may see friends using substances with seemingly no consequences, while your use could escalate to difficulty stopping or to addiction.
  • It takes time to develop addiction. So, while it may seem like you are not different from other kids, addiction has a way of tricking you into think you’re okay, and then it hits you. It’s an especially slippery slope for you because of your genetic make-up. This is why we don’t want you to drink or use other substances.

If your child is adopted, you might not know their biological background. It’s still worth having conversations about genetic risks and taking precautions against using substances.

 

Family History Of Addiction

Family History of Addiction – Harmony Ridge Recovery Center 

Addiction is a complicated disease. It has genetic components, but having a gene or a set of genes for addiction does not mean you will become an addict. It isn’t a death sentence or even a life sentence for that matter. But it is scary. Whether you just found out the truth about those skeletons in your family’s closet or you have seen the addiction in your relatives up close, having a family history of addiction can be daunting. 

At Harmony Ridge Recovery Center, we believe everyone deserves a life free from the restrictions of drug and alcohol addiction. Thousands of people, like you, have achieved recovery from drug and alcohol addiction with the help of our kind and compassionate team of medical professionals. The first step towards achieving recovery is giving us a call. Our team of admissions professionals are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Give us a call today! (855) 942-3922

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Rehab Programs Near Cambridge OH That Can Help You Get Sober

Substance use disorders are notoriously difficult to manage. Luckily, you do not need to deal with them on your own, as there are numerous rehab Cambridge OH options that can make the entire process much easier. One of the best options in Cambridge is our very own Harmony Ridge Recovery Center West Virginia. Depending on your particular situation, you can opt for medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, inpatient and outpatient rehab programs, as well as partial hospitalization programs. Throughout the course of these programs, you will have access to numerous treatment modalities that can help you become sober. In this article, we are going to detail all the options at your disposal. Continue reading →

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Rehab Options Near Marietta OH

Even if you’ve never been to rehab yourself, you probably have an idea of how it goes. Maybe you’ve seen the AA meetings in TV shows or heard about the discomfort of detox from someone who’s already been through it. But here’s the thing – rehab looks different for different people at different times and in different rehab centers in West Virginia. While it’s never easy, it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable, unpleasant, or ineffective. There are plenty of options when it comes to rehab Marietta OH; you just have to find what works for you.

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Traits of Reliable Rehab Center Near Fairmont WV

The first step toward recovery – admitting that you need help – is always the hardest one. But once you have asked for help and have people in your corner, things are supposed to get easier. Whether they actually do, however, depends on the help you’re receiving. Oftentimes, the wrong kind of assistance is worse than no assistance at all. That is why it’s important to choose the right rehab center near Fairmont WV when you decide to go into treatment. You should only put your faith in the best rehabs in WV. But how will you recognize which facilities are reliable and trustworthy? And how will you know which treatment centers to avoid? There are some signs you should look out for.

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gratitude in addiction recovery

How to Cultivate Gratitude in Addiction Recovery

What is gratitude?

The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). In some ways gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude in addiction recovery helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. The actual definition of gratitude is a positive acknowledgement of a benefit that an individual has received. Gratitude allows us to recognize the good in our lives. Focusing and appreciating the good constantly reminds us about great things all around us. And many times we realize that the sources of good are very close by.

gratitude in addiction recovery

How is gratitude in addiction recovery connected?

Those suffering from substance abuse or addiction tend to show signs of depression, and are self-centered, thinking of their own needs. With gratitude comes a less selfish attitude and more satisfaction in their needs being met and they can focus their attention on others. Gratitude in recovery is a choice, but unfortunately, not one that comes naturally to everyone in addiction treatment. The thing about the disease of addiction is that it resides in our brain. Many times throughout recovery addicts will find themselves battling their old thoughts and ways of living, and searching for gratitude can become a difficult task at times.

Once an addict begins working on cultivating gratitude in addiction recovery, they tend to develop a better mindset overall and have a much more positive perspective on life. Addiction recovery is a long and winding journey. There are moments when the recovery process will seem like a stroll in the park, at other times it will feel like a daunting expedition. This is why it is important to incorporate practices into your life that will help you along the way.

Viewing life through a lens of gratitude can benefit your life in a variety of ways. Even scientific studies have shown that gratitude in addiction recovery has many positive effects.

Here are some big ways gratitude can benefit your life in recovery and beyond.

  • Positive people tend to have less stress.
  • Gratitude boosts physical health.
  • Gratitude helps foster good relationships.

How do you cultivate gratitude in addiction recovery?

If people feel grateful, it is going to benefit them in many ways. But with that being said, it isn’t always easy to muster up a genuine attitude of gratitude. However, there are steps that you can take in order to grow gratitude in recovery.

Keep a gratitude journal!

Journaling can be a great way to keep the little things in mind. By writing down what you are grateful for on a daily basis, it creates a positive habit of looking for the good things. If you are faced with a troubling day, having something to reflect back on can help keep things in perspective.  Try to pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings. Reflect on what went right or what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to pick a number — such as three to five things — that you will identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you. Think big and small, and remember there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for!

Be grateful for sobriety!

Just getting sober is a massive accomplishment. Be thankful for your sobriety and be proud of yourself for obtaining it. Your life is on the up and up and there is no turning back! If we are grateful for being sober, it is more likely we will stay that way. We will focus more on being thankful for those that helped us and less on the negatives. It has to do with motivation.

By being grateful we will continue to work toward our goals in recovery, attending meetings and being engaged with those that still struggle. It is when we take our sobriety for granted that we start getting into trouble. Each day is a gift and each day sober is a new chance to appreciate those things and people in our lives that bless us.

Write a thank-you note, even if it’s to yourself!

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

-Oprah Winfrey

Gratitude in drug addiction recovery begins with you. You can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, write one to yourself.

Keep positive people in your circle of influence!

“Surround yourself with people who make you happy. People who make you laugh, who help you when you’re in need. People who genuinely care. They are the ones worth keeping in your life. Everyone else is just passing through.”

-Karl Marx

People tend to be influenced by the people they spend time with. Surrounding yourself with positive people can help you maintain a positive outlook and view things in a similar light. Being around positive role models can also help you grow. Gratitude comes more naturally when you can see the bright side of situations. FInding gratitude in drug addiction recovery allows thankfulness to guide your recovery journey. If someone is a positive influence on your life, it will make all the difference when you’re exploring yourself and growing into the person you aspire to be.

Don’t compare your life to others!

“A flower does not think about competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”

-Zen Shin

Another way to look at gratitude is from an opposite perspective, that people are unhappy because they want the things they do not have while failing to recognize all that they do have. Those that aren’t grateful for their own lives find themselves comparing their lives to those of others. When you find yourself with envy because you are comparing your circumstances to another’s, try to find something to be grateful for. In most cases, people deal with things you cannot see, so you should focus on your own struggles and triumphs.

Think about others first!

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

-C.S. Lewis

Self absorption can be a huge problem for people in recovery. When people are addicted to alcohol or drugs, they will spend most of the time only thinking about their own needs. When these individuals become sober, they may continue to be preoccupied with themselves. Self-absorption makes life difficult but when people feel grateful they have less reason to be so selfish. They feel satisfied that their own needs are being met so they can now focus at least some of their attention on the needs of other people.

Are you ready to find gratitude in addiction recovery?

By incorporating the above tips to bring gratitude into your daily life, you are setting yourself up for a long and healthy life in recovery. Addiction recovery is about more than simply avoiding substances. With a grateful mindset, you have the opportunity to lead a happy and fulfilling life free from addiction. However, if you are having trouble finding things to be grateful for and are slipping towards relapse, be sure to reach out to someone you trust as soon as possible. Generating gratitude is a process similar to recovery – it can be threatened by negativity, resentment, and self-pity. It’s easy to regress back into old patterns when things don’t go your way.  Do not be afraid to ask for help. In the meantime, make sure that you take a moment to ‘stop and smell the roses.’ Are you or your loved one struggling with gratitude in recovery? We’re here to talk.

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Does Insurance Cover IOP in Parkersburg WV?

Drug addiction and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are among the most pressing issues of our times. Prescription drug overprescription, the ongoing opioid epidemic, and rising SUD rates across different demographics and occupations paint a bleak picture. Worse still, SUDs are truly complex to address, often requiring lengthy, specialized, and ultimately costly rehab services. An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) alone, best suited for moderate cases, might extend beyond 3 months, becoming prohibitive for many. So, you may rightfully wonder if health insurance covers IOP in Parkersburg WV – or other rehab programs, for that matter. Continue reading →

Benefits of Group Therapy for Addiction

Enlisting the help of a substance addiction treatment program is a significant step toward recovery, one that entails considerable strength. The thought of coming face to face with your demons and transforming your lifestyle in extraordinary ways may bring about various emotions, including hope, anxiety, and possibly fear. One of the most anxiety-provoking perspectives of substance addiction treatment for most is the therapy process. It’s natural to feel some resistance to the possibility of exposing your soul to a foreigner during counseling or individual therapy. Even more intimidating is the idea of addiction group therapy for addiction, which is an essential part of most substance addiction treatment programs. While both group and individual therapy forms are intended to help patients gain insight, learn coping skills, and how to work through challenging problems, addiction group therapy has several benefits that complement individual therapy.

Benefits of Group Therapy for Addiction

What is Group Therapy for Addiction?

Group therapy for addiction is therapy that involves two or more individuals at the same time – in addition to the therapist – rather than one person in recovery working one-on-one with a therapist. Participants in a therapy group take turns talking about their struggles, feelings, experiences, and goals. Therapy groups may be tailored to a specific recovery topic, such as how to recognize and avoid triggers, or they may be general, such as how to handle difficult family, peer, work, or other interpersonal relationships.

Benefits of Group Therapy for Addiction

Recovering from drug addiction can make you feel isolated and alienated. In group therapy, you’ll connect with people who have gone through experiences similar to yours and are in addiction recovery. You may feel safer sharing your thoughts and feelings with peers who understand. If you’re considering group therapy for addiction, consider these other major benefits.

Broad Range of Feedback

It seems like we should know ourselves better than anyone else but that’s almost never true. Our self-images are always distorted and we mostly understand ourselves through interacting with other people. In that respect, group therapy is a rare opportunity to understand yourself better. In some ways, it’s even better than individual therapy. In individual therapy, you have to rely on the feedback of your therapist, which you may disagree with. After all, therapists have their own biases and blind spots too. You may resist your therapist’s suggestions for what seem like rational reasons. However, in group therapy, you can get a greater variety of feedback. If several group members agree that you’re behaving irrationally in some way, you may be more likely to take that feedback seriously.

Allows Your Therapist to See How You Interact with Others

One major drawback of individual therapy is that most of the time, you are the therapist’s only source of information about your life. Most people don’t go into a session with the aim of deliberately deceiving their therapists but we all see the world through our own filters. We describe other people’s actions as we see them and not necessarily as they are. However, in group therapy, we are interacting with others in real time. Your parent or spouse may not be part of the group but the way you interact with group members can give the therapist insight into how you interact with other people in your life.

Helps You Improve Your Communication Skills

Most of us assume we are good communicators but few of us actually are. Most of the time, we don’t listen well and we have no idea whether someone else has actually listened to us or understood what we said. Poor communication skills have consequences for every area of our lives, including our careers, personal lives, and random interactions. Interpersonal conflict is the biggest source of stress for most people. Group therapy improves your communication skills because you are all engaged in the project of listening and understanding. If you haven’t understood someone correctly, someone else will likely jump in. Not only will you sharpen your listening and empathy skills, but you will also see how others misinterpret what you say and you will gradually learn to communicate more clearly. This is not an opportunity we normally get in our daily interactions.

A Sense of Belonging

Individuals suffering from alcohol or substance use disorders usually become isolated from friends, family, and the world in general. Their substance use strains their relationships and could even cause irreversible damage. Addiction group therapy allows these people to experience a feeling of connection and belonging that was missing from their lives. The recognition that they’re not alone in this struggle helps to ease their feelings of isolation, which will allow for healing and positive transformation to occur.

Unique Aspects of Group Therapy

The group therapy process allows members to benefit from their communications with other group members, along with the interaction and input of the therapist. During individual therapy, members might question if the therapist has ever walked in their shoes and can understand what they are truly going through.

In addiction group therapy, patients will have at least one thing in common with their peers amongst the group: substance or alcohol use disorder. Another unique element of addiction group therapy is that the group itself represents a small duplicate of each other’s lives in the world outside of treatment. In other words, each individual’s strengths and weaknesses are exhibited over time in the group setting.

For example, if a group member gets defensive in response to constructive input, that struggle will resurface during the addiction group therapy process. This provides an excellent opportunity for group members to work on challenges in a secure setting. And as always, they are working with the help and support of their peers.

What to Expect During Group Therapy for Addiction

Group therapy sessions may be open or closed. Open meaning brand-new members can join at any time, or closed means the group members remain the same from start to finish.

Open groups can be continuous, with no specific beginning or end date, while closed groups are generally composed for a predestined number of weeks or months. Outpatient therapy groups are regularly closed groups, while inpatient and residential group sessions are usually open groups.

Therapy groups can be led by a singular therapist or co-led by two therapists. The therapists must be licensed and have experience doing addiction group therapy. The role of the therapist will be to set and augment group therapy guidelines and rules, lead the group discussions, and ensure the atmosphere is healthy and productive for all members.

The group therapist will ask questions, encourage cooperation, give feedback when needed, and observe how members interact within the group. The principal goal is to help all members benefit in a way that leads them closer to achieving their individual therapy goals.

Get Help Today

If you or a loved one suffers from substance abuse, now is the time to get them back to a healthy lifestyle. Our treatment specialists here at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center have the tools and experience to help end addiction for good.

Whether it’s your first time in treatment or you just need some questions answered, contact us today for a free consultation.

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10 Ways To Learn To Love Yourself and Reclaim Your Life After Addiction

Addiction is well known to impact your relationships negatively. In the pursuit of substances, you may distance yourself from friends and family or even cut them off entirely. So when you start drug and alcohol rehab in West Virginia, you’ll want to work on repairing those relationships. This is an incredibly important step in your recovery. But when taking it, you should remember to also focus on one of the most important relationships in your life – the relationship you have with yourself. Substance use can greatly impact your own self-image, making it difficult for you to accept who you’ve become. A negative self-image can, in turn, interfere with your recovery. It’s important to learn to love yourself and reclaim your life after addiction if you want a future that is not just sober but also bright. Continue reading →

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15 Ways to Take Care Of Your Mental Health During Recovery in West Virginia

Addiction therapy is one of the key aspects of treatment at drug and alcohol rehab centers WV. The goal of that therapy is to address the mental aspects of addiction as well as your mental health overall. But that doesn’t mean you can just neglect self-care. If anything, rehab is the perfect time to learn how to deal with your own thoughts and feelings. Finding ways to take care of your mental health during recovery in West Virginia will not only make rehab easier for you but also help you maintain your sobriety in everyday life afterwards. So what are some things you can do to make yourself feel better?

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Gender-Specific Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Addiction in WV – All You Need To Know

Whether you like it or not, it’s a fact that gender helps shape the world we live in. Men and women face different upbringings, expectations, and challenges. In the same vein, men and women experience addiction and addiction recovery differently. Because of this, many seek gender-specific treatment for alcohol and drug addiction in WV to ensure that they are getting the help best suited to them. You can get gender-specific treatment regardless of whether you are a man or a woman – you just need to find rehab centers in WV that offer this type of rehab. But what is gender-specific treatment exactly and why is it beneficial? Here’s everything you need to know:

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