Category: Addiction Recovery

How to Stay on Track in Recovery During the New Year

Recovery from addiction is challenging and takes immense effort and dedication. New Year’s is an excellent time to reflect on your life and make plans to stay on track in your recovery. Setting realistic New Year’s goals can save you from setbacks and disappointments in your addiction recovery. It is important to remember that New […]

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Top Signs You Are a High-Functioning Alcoholic

The classic picture of an alcoholic as a person who always drinks too much and whose life is falling apart only pertains to a portion of people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). A significant number of people appear outwardly fine or even successful, even though they abuse alcohol. Referred to as high-functioning alcoholics, these individuals [...]
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Does Alcohol Alter Your Brain Forever?

Alcohol use is embedded in American culture. Legal and easily accessible, alcohol use is widely promoted everywhere you look. Plenty of people can drink alcohol without developing a problem. However, it is estimated that 15 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder. The terms abuse and addiction are often used interchangeably, but they are different. […]

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Dangers of Self-Medicating with Drugs and Alcohol

Research on substance use disorders and mental health disorders depicts strong evidence for consistent links between the two. Approximately half of Americans who have substance use disorders also have mental health disorders and vice-versa. While it cannot be said that one causes the other, the two are complexly intertwined. When these disorders coincide, it is […]

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How to Support a Loved One in Recovery During the Holidays

The holidays are a time of joy, but among all the celebrations sits the reality of life. Your loved one in recovery is dealing with their new sober life, and this time of year might bring about reminders or triggers that could put them at risk for relapse. You may be unsure how to support […]

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11 Tips in Facing This Sober Holiday Season

The holidays are fast approaching, and while they can be exciting and fun, they can also cause chaos and panic. This is especially true for those who are newly sober or those in recovery. After all, you will find that your social calendar is filling up with dinner, parties, and so much more. When you [...]
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LGBTQ Trauma and Addiction

Compared to the general population, the rates of mental health disorders and substance use disorders are significantly higher among the LGBTQ community. Members of the LGBTQ community are at increased risk of experiencing trauma centered around shame, discrimination, abuse, acts of violence, and hate crimes. At Westwind Recovery®, all of our treatment programs and sober […]

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Long-Term Effects of Painkillers on the Body

The way pain is experienced is through how the body communicates with the brain. When pain is present, the central nervous system sends signals to opioid receptors in the brain, alerting the brain to discomfort. When an individual takes painkillers, two things happen: the central nervous system is depressed, making it harder for pain signals [...]
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