Victory Blog

Numerous factors contribute to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is often referred to as alcohol addiction. Understanding your background and what risk factors could impact your future is essential. Genetics, environment, and mental health factors can all contribute to your likelihood of developing an alcohol addiction.  However, even if you are predisposed to addiction, it doesn’t have to occur. You have control over your actions, and prevention is an option. In all cases, treatment for alcohol addiction...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) changes lives. It occurs when someone faces traumatic experiences that continue to impact them, often in very intense ways, for years to come. While PTSD is a very personal battle, it also impacts family and loved ones of those who suffer from it.  Veterans, who are at high risk for struggling with PTSD, often need professional treatment, especially if they are using drugs and alcohol to combat the trauma-inspired thoughts and feelings. If you have a...

Do you struggle with the need to use substances on a routine basis? It may feel like a critical part of your day to stop for a drink after work or to relax with a few beers after dinner. For some people, it’s hard to get through the day without using something, even at work. If that’s the case for you, you may have addiction and dependence. There are various forms of addiction, and though each has its own symptoms...

People struggling with addiction of any type are going through an intense and often difficult process that impacts their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Once you make the decision to get help for addiction, all of that damage needs to heal. No longer using the substance is a wise first step, but there’s often a lot more work to be done. That’s where the use of alternative therapies can offer support to your recovery. What Is an Alternative Therapy for...

As a young adult, your life is likely changing at a rapid pace. You’re trying to find your way, whether you’ve completed college, are in college, or perhaps are working in a career. You have your own friends, maybe your own place, and lots of ideas for the future. To unwind or have fun or ease anxiety, you may use alcohol and experiment with drugs.  It’s important to realize that addiction can develop even in those who believe they can...

“You’re bipolar.” It’s a statement people make when they are judging a person’s behavior or moods. But bipolar is much more than periodic contradictory behavior. In reality, bipolar disorder is a very real mental health disorder that impacts millions of people. It is a serious condition, one that impacts every facet of a person’s life and can carry the risk of co-occurring disorders, including drug and alcohol addiction. Between 30 and 50% of people with bipolar disorder will develop a...

When you have an addiction, you know that you need consistent support for it, abstaining from use and caring for your overall mental health. When you also struggle with anxiety, whether diagnosed as a disorder or not, that adds to the complication and makes it much harder for you to get through the day.  Often, people think of anxiety as something they should be able to deal with on their own. That may be the case in some situations. But...

Mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder get a lot of coverage in movies and popular Netflix dramas. They are often, in fact, what drives the drama. The way treatment is portrayed is often extreme: involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital and/or living a life heavily sedated by strong drugs.  The reality is that for most people with a mental health disorder, treatment can happen at home, without significant side effects. You certainly...

Mental health is just as important as physical health, but it’s less talked about and far less supported. You may have no problem telling a family member you don’t feel good, but you may not be willing to share that anxiety is limiting your ability to achieve your goals or that depression is creeping into your daily life. Mental health disorders are common. The National Alliance on Mental Health shares that 1 in 5 people experience mental illness each year,...

It’s hard work to stop using substances your body and brain have become dependent on. That hard work is something to be proud of – recovery requires perseverance and making some big life changes. Yet, as proud of yourself as you may be, you may also be haunted by a constant worry: relapse. What might trigger you to start using substances again? How can you stay strong? Understanding why addiction relapse occurs may help you to avoid it. When you...