Posts Tagged ‘Addictions’

Having a Balanced Brain is the Secret to Addiction Recovery

-By A. Scott Roberts
M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling, Addiction Specialist

The brain contains around 100 billion neurons that communicate to each other by means of neurotransmitters, which are tiny molecules.

There are groups of neurons that have specialized functions that are organized into the multiple structures in the brain. In order for the brain to function at an optimal level, the neurons must maintain homeostasis – or an internal balance – among their constituent neurons and other brain structures.¹

Read the rest of this entry »

Photo credit: Pixabay

Finding the Light: Recovering Addicts Share the Ways They Overcame Depression and Addiction

Addiction can create a vicious cycle when it comes to depression. Dependency on a substance tends to amplify depression on its own — and it can also worsen any underlying issues that contribute to a depression sufferer’s mental health struggles. I spoke with a few recovering addicts who told me that although their habits were meant to be coping mechanisms, their occasional use eventually spiraled into addiction — and it wasn’t until they quit using that they found true mental harmony.

From Hollywood to happy: Ryan’s journey

Ryan’s substance abuse actually began during a happier time in his life — but ultimately it was what caused things to fall apart. After losing multiple work clients, quite a bit of money, and his fiancée, he packed his bags for Los Angeles in hope of a fresh start. Unfortunately, his big move led to him making a lot of the same detrimental decisions he’d made in the past.