Category Archives: Addiction Recovery

How Do You Know If You’re Making Progress in Addiction Treatment?

a couple improving a relationship after addiction treatment

Summary: You know if you’re making progress in addiction treatment when you meet the goals you set for yourself, in collaboration with your treatment team, at the beginning of your addiction treatment program. Key Points: Your goal for treatment may be abstinence from drug or alcohol use. When you maintain abstinence for a period of […]

How Can Anxiety Lead to Addiction?

man experiencing anxiety which can lead to addiction

Summary: Anxiety can lead to addiction through a behavior called self-medication, which is when a person uses alcohol or drugs to relieve the painful, unwanted emotions and patterns of thought associated with anxiety disorders. Key Points: 40 million + adults in the U.S. have anxiety. 25 million + adults in the U.S. have an alcohol […]

Should I Stay or Should I Go: Why Stay in Addiction Treatment After I Start Feeling Great?

man outside running feeling good after starting addiction treatment

Summary: In the early stages of recovery – about a month in, give or take – your mood and outlook may improve dramatically, but there’s a good reason to stay in addiction treatment after you start feeling great: this phase typically doesn’t last long, and leaving treatment may have negative long-term consequences. Key Points: There’s […]

What is Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy? Can it Help People With Drug or Alcohol Addiction?

group practicing mindfulness medication in rehab

Summary: Mindfulness based cognitive therapy is a form of psychotherapy that combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. It’s an effective, evidence-based technique that can help people with mental health disorders, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, or co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders. Key Points: Mindfulness based cognitive therapy […]

Can Using Cannabis During Adolescence Increase Risk of Developing Mental Health Disorders by Adulthood?

cannabis and test tubes to illustrate factual studies of effects on adolescents

Summary: Yes, new research shows using cannabis during adolescence can increase risk of developing mental health disorders by adulthood. Key Points: Recreational cannabis use is illegal for all adolescents in the U.S. Some states allow medical cannabis use for adolescents under strict guidelines Previous research indicates a minor association between adolescent cannabis use and sleep […]

What is Addiction Treatment Really Like?

man contemplating treatment in hawaii

Summary: Addiction treatment is really like a lifelong journey from a state of physical, emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual distress and dysfunction to a state of ongoing healing, growth, personal awareness, and overall wellbeing. Key Points: A helpful way to understand what addiction treatment is really like is to reframe it as a recovery journey. […]

How Can I Stay Sober When I Go Back to College This Fall?

young woman heading back to college

Summary: To stay sober when you go back to college this fall, you need to plan ahead and make a list of people and activities that promote sobriety and increase your chances of sustainable, long-term recovery. The operative phrase here is plan ahead: don’t wait for a crisis, but rather, create conditions that make a […]

Meet Our New Medical Director: Dr. Reza Danesh

dr danesh

We’re thrilled to welcome a new member to our stellar medical staff at Honu House: Dr. Reza Danesh, MD He’s not only a new member of our staff, but he’s also assumed the critical role of Medical Director. A physician with decades of experience in a wide range of practice, Dr. Danesh will provide oversight […]

Is Addiction a Family Disease?

parents fighting child listening to represent addiction as a family disease

Summary: Yes, when viewed through the lens of family systems theory, addiction is a family disease. When one family member has an addiction disorder, it can create a dysfunctional family system wherein each family member plays a role that contributes to the ongoing disease of addiction in that individual. Key Points: Family systems theory developed […]

How Do I Know If I’m Enabling Addiction?

helping a friend

Summary: To know if you’re enabling addiction, you can assess your relationship with the person with the addiction problem, analyze your behavior in the relationship, and decide if your behavior allows them to continue their behavior without addressing the addiction problem. Key Points: Enabling is a natural reaction when you’re in a relationship with a […]

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