Opioids are a powerful drug noted for their ability to control pain. To do this, they interfere with the way the brain’s opioid receptors function. When opioids attach to these receptors, they can virtually block off any of the pain signals being sent from any of the nerves in the body to the brain, effectively eliminating the pain a person feels. That is an incredibly important benefit in situations where a person is dealing with intense pain due to severe...
Victory Blog
Laid Off from Your Job? Now Could Be the Time for Professional Addiction Treatment
For many people, 2022 and the start of 2023 has been difficult in the job market. With a tightening recession, many have lost jobs, especially within the tech industry. Yet, while some are focused on finding a new position, others are suffering from the emotional and mental struggle that job loss often brings. Why Does Work Loss Impact Mental Health? As noted by the American Psychological Association, a person’s job contributes significantly to their mental health and overall well-being. Work...
How Self-Medicating Can Lead to Addiction
Are you self-medicating? Self-medication is a term used to refer to a person using substances to treat mental, emotional, or physical pain. Many people do this, but not everyone realizes what’s happening. For that reason, many people who self-medicate end up developing a substance use disorder. If their mental health symptoms stem from a mental health disorder, they have what is called a co-occurring disorder, or dual diagnosis, which requires professional treatment. Data from the U.S. Department of Health and...
Is Lifelong Addiction Recovery Possible?
Your close family member is dependent on drugs or alcohol. It’s taken over their life. Perhaps they started drinking in their teens. Now, 30 years later, they’re experiencing numerous health complications. Can a person with a lifelong addiction stop using substances? Can they maintain long-term recovery? Many who have a lifetime of drug or alcohol use don’t believe they can or even should stop. However, addiction, even long-term addiction, is treatable. While there is no cure for addiction, most people...
What Are Cravings, and Why Do You Have Them?
No matter how hard you try, sometimes it’s impossible to think about anything but the drug you know you need to get through the day. Cravings are intense desires to use a substance, and they won’t go away without hands-on support and a change in behavior. The intensity of cravings can leave a person struggling emotionally and physically. Why Do Cravings Happen? A craving is an urge to continue to use the substance of your choice. Cravings can happen for...
7 Signs of Substance Use Disorder in a Loved One
Realizing a loved one may be struggling with drug addiction is difficult. Often, we try to deny what’s occurring because it’s too overwhelming to process. Yet substance use disorder can happen to anyone, and when it does, it is often the support of close family members that helps people to recover. There are various causes of addiction – stress, genetic predisposition, trauma, and much more. It’s not always easy to pinpoint a particular trigger, and you may not understand what...
How to Stay Present in Addiction Recovery
Addiction recovery is a long process filled with a lot of bright spots. It can be empowering to know you can make a decision about what you will do this weekend without thinking about substances. It can be even better when you accomplish health goals or personal objectives, knowing you did it because you are sober. The road to recovery will likely have a few bumps in it, times when doubt, frustration, and fear seem to take control. In addiction...
What Are Your Options for Alcohol Addiction Treatment?
If you’re realizing it’s time to get help for your drinking, you are far from alone in your battle. An estimated 29.5 million people in the U.S. over the age of 12 have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), as data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Addiction notes. Maybe you’re not sure where to begin. There are certainly numerous options available today for getting help. If you want to ensure you have the best possible recovery, how do...
What Is Addiction Treatment Aftercare?
When your time in residential drug and alcohol addiction treatment ends, your recovery journey is just beginning. You will need continued support to ensure you can maintain sobriety even when faced with life’s stressors. Enter aftercare. Aftercare is like a toolkit of resources that you can use to remain sober and healthy. Why Does Aftercare Matter? Addiction can’t be cured. It’s a disease that will remain present in your life, though it will become less of a daily struggle over...
Common Mistakes Made in Addiction Recovery
Addiction is a damaging disease, not just to your body but to your mental health, confidence, and overall emotional well-being. It changes the way your brain processes information, your view of the world, and even your view of yourself. That is why, beyond anything, you have to consistently work to control thoughts and build a positive way forward every day. Many people struggle with one concern. “Why do I keep making the same mistakes in addiction recovery?” Know that you’re...