Coping with Emotions When Treatment Ends

Mental Health / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

Drug and alcohol use covers up a person's feelings. People who struggle with a drug or alcohol addiction often start using to cope with emotions and feelings such as stress, anxiety, or depression. After using drugs or alcohol for a long time, the brain becomes dependent on the substance to function. When a person who [...]

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Characteristics of Addictive Behavior

Mental Health / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

A person who repeats a behavior and is unable to stop despite negative consequences shows the characteristics of addictive behavior. When a person is hungry, he or she eats until they are full. If the person continues to eat they are not hungry or does not have the self-control to limit the amount of food,

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The Importance of Lifestyle Changes for a Healthy and Successful Recovery

Addiction Recovery / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

Making lifestyle changes is crucial to the success of your recovery. When you get help for your drug or alcohol problem, you need to make a lot of adjustments in your life. Living substance-free will liberate you from the downward spiral of addiction and allow you to enjoy everything that life has to offer. Broken

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Medication Assisted Detox: The Controversy and the Facts

Addiction Recovery, Drug Addiction / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

When a person stops using drugs, he or she can experience agonizing withdrawals. The painful and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can influence the individual to use drugs again for relief. Withdrawals can last for up to three weeks and make a person physically sick. He or she feels they need their substance of choice to avoid

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Ways to Prevent an Opioid Addiction

Drug Addiction / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

Doctors prescribe painkillers to patients as a way to manage pain from an injury, surgery, or trauma. Painkillers are highly addictive opioids. The common opioids are Oxycontin, Vicodin, Dilaudid, and Demerol. These opioids are for short-term use; however, opioids are also used for long-term illnesses such as cancer. The opioid epidemic has been declared a

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Risk Factors for Addiction

Drug Addiction / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

People of any race, religion, social status, age, or gender can become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Addiction does not discriminate and some people are more prone to addiction than others are. There are risk factors involved that increase the likelihood of a person developing an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Genetics, medical history, and

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The Physical, Emotional, and Mental Changes Caused by Addiction

Addiction Recovery / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

Addiction is a disease that attacks all aspects of human psychology and physiology. The consequences of addiction are severe and can cause fatal lung and heart conditions. Addiction affects mental health and can elevate symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ADHD. Gaining insight into the complex nature of addiction is helpful

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Abuse

Mental Health / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

A person's mental health condition can contribute to drug or alcohol abuse. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental disorder that causes depression, intense anxiety, and intrusive memories or flashbacks that interfere with life. Many people develop PTSD from childhood abuse, military combat, natural disasters, or sexual assault. First responders are at risk of

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Finding Hope in Recovery

Addiction Recovery / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

If your loved one is struggling with addiction, recovery can seem unrealistic. It can be hard to understand why he or she started abusing drugs or alcohol, why they continue to do use, and why they cannot stop. A loved one's addiction affects everyone. The hopelessness and helplessness can be overwhelming. However, there is hope

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10 Reasons to Live Substance-Free

Sobriety / Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

Recovery from drug and alcohol addiction is a life-long process with many challenges and obstacles to overcome along the way. Choosing a substance-free life is one of the most transformative decisions a person can make. Sobriety helps reclaim your health, relationships, and future. At Cypress Lake Recovery, we help individuals take that first critical step

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Author name: Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

Coping with Emotions When Treatment Ends

Characteristics of Addictive Behavior

The Importance of Lifestyle Changes for a Healthy and Successful Recovery

Medication Assisted Detox: The Controversy and the Facts

Ways to Prevent an Opioid Addiction

Risk Factors for Addiction

The Physical, Emotional, and Mental Changes Caused by Addiction

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Abuse

Finding Hope in Recovery

10 Reasons to Live Substance-Free

Struggling With Drug or Alcohol Addiction?

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