How to Create Your Own Meditation Space in Your Home

Meditation has many advantages and the primary ones being recharging the mind and body and also improving clarity and boosting concentration. In case you are already meditating, the blog shows how you can still improve it. First of all, you need to create a private place which allows you to disconnect from stress and internal worries. Using this meditation space, you can release your stress and find serenity. You can also choose a place where you get the morning sunlight. In case you have a smaller house, you need to make room by replacing a lavish sofa with comfortable chairs and using wall cabinets in place of freestanding bookshelves. In case you have a huge spacious house, you need to meditate at a place which is free of distractions. Avoid places where you are near the traffic and ensure that you are keeping your meditation space neat and clean of all the clutter. Using fragrant candles also will help enormously.

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Which type of mood swings do drug addicts have?

Mood swings are very hard to handle especially when you don’t know the reason behind it. Mood swings could be for various reasons, but most dangerous of all is when a person is on drugs. Drugs could give mood swings that are impossible to handle. When this happens a person becomes addictive and then, can be harmful.

So the big question is: which type of mood swings a person is suffering through?

Well, below mentioned are following symptoms, which are caused due to prescription drug abuse.

1. 
   
   Weirdness seeps in: A person becomes confused about his surroundings. He doesn't know what is going on because he is subconscious all the time. The after-effects of drugs makes seem everything weird to him.
2. 
   
   Sleeplessness: Drugs could easily affect sleep pattern of a person. It makes a person lazy and a person doing no work will always have difficulty in sleeping.
3. 
   
   Messy and unhygienic appearances: When a person has a habit of intake of drugs, he always looks messy. He has no time to clean up well. He won't like to keep himself good because he doesn't care about anyone but his drugs.
4. 
   
   Depression: When a human becomes a victim of drugs, he fails to perform a basic task. This takes a person deep into depression and makes it difficult to maintain relation with others. He hurts other as well as his own self and later on feels guilty about it.
5. 
   
   Cannot memorize: A person with prescribed drug abuse could have a hard time remembering important things. He could also forget to do his daily routine stuff. This could adversely affect his physical, emotional, social and mental self.
6. 
   
   Dual or multi-addiction: As it is said one addiction leads to another, prescribed drugs abuse leads to smoking or alcohol consumption. Two addictions at a time are even more dangerous. One addiction damages body and other damages brain.

Thus, it is advised to observe a person's behavior for 7 days and then provide help. If you feel that you, yourself or someone, have become a victim of these, do not hesitate to seek help from us. We are Claudia Black young Adult centre that provides treatment for drug abuse and alcohol addiction in Arizona. Stay safe.

Content Source Which type of mood swings do drug addicts have?

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How to Cope with Mood Swings?

Mood swings are very hard to handle especially when you don’t know the reason behind it. Mood swings could be for various reasons. If a girl is having her days of month, then it is mood swing, if dumped or cheated by lover, then it’s a mood swing, but most dangerous of all is when a person is on drugs. Drugs could give mood swings that are near to impossible to handle. This happens because person becomes addictive and an addicted person can harm himself or others physically.handle especially when you don’t know the reason behind it. Mood swings could be for various reasons. If a girl is having her days of month, then it is mood swing, if dumped or cheated by lover, then it’s a mood swing, but most dangerous of all is when a person is on drugs. Drugs could give mood swings that are near to impossible to handle. This happens because person becomes addictive and an addicted person can harm himself or others physically.

So the big question is: how do we know a person has habit of intake of drugs?

Well, below mentioned are following symptoms, which are caused due to prescription drug abuse…

1. 
   
   Confused about surroundings: A person becomes confused about his surroundings. He doesn't know what is going on because he is subconscious all the time.
2. 
   
   Intoxicated appearances: When a person has habit of intake of drugs, he always looks messy. He has no time to clean up well. He won’t like to keep himself good because he doesn’t care about anyone but his drugs.
3. 
   
   The difficulty with memory: A person with prescribed drug abuse could have a hard time remembering important things. He could also forget to do his daily routine stuff. This could adversely affect his physical, emotional, social and mental self.
4. 
   
   Insomnia: Drugs could easily affect sleep pattern of a person. It generally makes a person restless and lazy that a person could have difficulty with the sleep. Also, this would make a person tired affecting his physical self with diseases like cardiac arrest, diarrhea, heart palpitation, etc
5. 
   
   Depression: When a human becomes victim of drugs, he fails to perform a basic task. His mood swings make it difficult to maintain relation with others. He hurts other as well as his own self. This makes him feel guilty when his drug dose-effect drains down. He feels bad about himself and depression hits him at its peak. Depression enables him to have more dosage of drugs and his deterioration starts.
6. 
   
   Alcohol addiction: As it is said one addiction leads to another, prescribed drugs abuse leads to smoking or alcohol consumption. Two addictions at a time are even more dangerous. Drugs abuse damages mind and mood swings, alcohol damages liver and other body parts.

Thus, it is advised to observe a person’s behavior for 7 days and then provide help. If you feel that you, yourself or someone, have become victim of these, do not hesitate to seek help from us. We are Claudia Black young Adult center that provides treatment for drug abuse and alcohol addiction in Arizona. Stay safe.

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5 Reasons why one should not have Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol has its origin from an Arabic term al-ḡawl which means bad influence or evil result for a headache. Alcohol has bad influence if its intake is in a higher amount. Any addiction is harmful to health but alcohol addiction leads to another addiction of drug or smoking or sex addiction. Too much intake of alcohol is not advisable and there are many reasons for you not to have alcohol but below mentioned are few of them.

1. According to one research, every year in the U.S., 5K people under the age of 21 dies from an alcohol-related incident such as car crashes, alcohol poisoning or other related injuries.
2. One bottle of champagne contains 90 pounds pressure per inch2, which is 3X the pressure of car tires. The cork of the champagne bottle popped, travels 60 miles per hour which cause serious damage.
3. Alcohol is a reason for impaired judgment when consumed. It could lead to unintended sexual activity, drinking, and driving, violence or other dangerous behaviors.
4. Proportionately more alcoholic women die from cirrhosis which means damage to liver than alcoholic men
5. Alcohol does not relieve depression - it makes it worse so do not think about forgetting problems with the help of alcohol.

If you feel you or any of your family members are addicted to alcohol, you could opt for Treatment for Alcohol Addiction from Claudia Black young adult center. Claudia Black treats all kinds of traumas, addictions, and disorders. Care for your loved ones.

Content Source 5 Reasons why one should not have Alcohol Addiction

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Trauma Can Lead to Eating Disorders

Heather was raped when was she was a young adult. Her feelings of fear, rage, and powerlessness that followed became overwhelming and unmanageable. Initially, the stress she felt robbed her of her appetite; but, eventually, she began restricting her eating by choice. It gave her a sense of power over her body.

In recent years, it has become more and more apparent to researchers that people like Heather who struggle with eating disorders often also experienced trauma related to abuse. When someone experiences neglect, and/or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, they are frequently left feeling helpless and out of control.

Survivors of trauma may develop an eating disorder as a method of coping with those feelings of helplessness, and the severe anxiety and conflicting emotions that often come with them. They may adapt unhealthy eating behaviors because food intake is something they can control and the focus on food rituals helps them to mask their emotional pain.

Trauma is by far not the only factor in the development of eating disorders—personality and temperament, perfectionism, cultural and peer pressures, family expectations, and genetic and neurological factors can also contribute to the disorder—however, it is a very common one. In order for an individual to achieve long-term recovery from an eating disorder, they must address not only their unhealthy eating and body image issues but also their underlying emotional trauma.

How Does Trauma Trigger Eating Disorders?

There is so much that scientists and researchers still don’t know about the way our minds and bodies are connected. What we do know, thanks to researchers and clinicians like Dr. Peter Levine (who is also a Senior Fellow at The Meadows) is that trauma is held within the body. It cannot be released through intellectual processing alone.

Dr. Levine’s insights are based on the idea that the methods in which we, as humans, subconsciously react to threats aren’t all that different from the ways in which our fellow mammals in the wild react to threats. When animals are presented with a dangerous situation, their brains and bodies automatically produce a survival response of fight, flight, or freeze. Once the threat is gone, they release all of their survival energy through their bodies—often by shivering, sweating, crying, or yawning. Once they have released all of the pent-up energy, they resume their normal activities.

Human beings are missing the crucial, final “release” step in their fight, flight, and freeze responses. Once we experience a survival response, the energy can get “trapped” in our bodies, leading to the development of chronic disorders such as anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD. It can also lead to the development of disordered coping mechanisms, which is what often happens with addiction and eating disorders.

Not only can the trapped energy from trauma trigger the eating disorder, it can also make recovery from the eating disorder very difficult. If the energy from the trauma is not addressed and released during the course of treatment, relapse is much more likely.

Those at high risk for eating disorders because of trauma include victims of sexual abuse, particularly those who suffered at a younger age; victims or observers of domestic violence; and, those who suffer from PTSD.

Treatment for Trauma and Eating Disorders

Successful treatment for eating disorders and trauma requires a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach. Talk therapies, including group and individual counseling sessions, are important, as are coping skills training and nutritional counseling However, since trauma lives in the body as much as in the mind, it’s important to also incorporate body-based therapies including Somatic Experiencing® (SE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Yoga.

Somatic Experiencing® (SE)

Somatic experiencing is a body-awareness technique that was developed by Dr. Peter Levine. It was first introduced in his book, Waking the Tiger. With the help of a therapist, patients explore sensations in their bodies as they work to identify and regulate feelings of distress.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

In an EMDR session, a therapist uses external stimuli, like eye movements, tones or taps, to help the patient develop new insights or associations with their memories, triggers, and traumatic experiences. For example, the patient may be asked to focus on a particular memory or bodily sensation while simultaneously moving their eyes back and forth, following the therapist’s fingers as they move across the patient’s field of vision.

Yoga and Meditation

A number of mind-body therapies can aid in stress management, boost mood, and help release trauma from the body. Trauma-sensitive meditation, acupuncture, yoga, and breath work are a few examples of techniques that can be helpful in treating eating disorders and trauma as part of a larger, integrated treatment program.

If you or someone you love is struggling to maintain recovery from anorexia or bulimia, they may be experiencing underlying trauma that needs to be addressed through treatment. Remuda Ranch at The Meadows conducts a thorough assessment of all patients to help determine what, if any, trauma or co-occurring conditions might be making recovery especially difficult for them. We then develop a personalized treatment plan to help ensure progress in recovery. For more information about our programs call our intake staff at 866-390-5100 or send us an email.

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Learn to overcome Drug addiction with Claudia Black

 Claudia Black Young Adult Inpatient Drug Addiction Treatment center treats Addiction Issues, Mental Health, and Traumas. We treat various addictions like

• Alcohol
• Drug
• Gaming
• Prescribed medicine abuse

We have treated more than 45000+ patients every year. We provide Private Drug Treatment to all those who have become a victim of Drug Addiction. Our process includes:

1. Counseling
2. Treatment
3. Post-Treatment workshops for all who want to dig deeper.

During Counseling, we check the condition of the patient, and then we recommend therapy.

During treatment, we admit the patient in our health care for 45 days for therapy and provide them prescribed treatment.

During post-treatment sessions, we invite families of patients to get involved in improving family bonding.

Content Source: https://goo.gl/xamY0S

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U.S. Surgeon General Issues a Call to Action on Addiction

 U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s release of Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health at yesterday’s Facing Addiction Summit was an unprecedented moment in our country’s fight against addiction and substance misuse. It is the first time in history that a U.S. surgeon general has issued a report focused on drug and alcohol addiction. The report comes at a time when more and more Americans are struggling with the effects of addiction to opioids and heroin. One person dies every 19 minutes from an opioid or heroin overdose. And, the statistics related to other addictions are no less grim. One in seven people in the United States will face a substance misuse disorder, and only 10 percent will get the treatment they need to overcome it.

Shame and stigma are typically major factors in preventing people from reaching out for help and finding treatment. That’s why it was especially encouraging to see Surgeon General Murthy make it clear that addiction is a brain disease and not a sign of depravity:

“We have to recognize (addiction) isn't evidence of a character flaw or a moral failing,” Murthy told USA Today. “It’s a chronic disease of the brain that deserves the same compassion that any other chronic illness does, like diabetes or heart disease.”

Treating Addiction as a Brain Disease

At The Meadows, addressing the neurological aspects of addiction alongside the social and spiritual aspects has always been a top priority. The Meadows Senior Fellow Dr. Shelley Uram often says that our approach includes both “Bottom Up” and “Top Down” therapies. To put it in the simplest of terms, the way your brain has been primed to respond to emotional triggers through your childhood experiences has an impact on the development of addictions and other behavioral health disorders.

Automatic emotional responses (fear, anger, disgust, etc.,) are deeply embedded in your limbic brain—the “bottom” part of your brain—which operates subconsciously.

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Becoming Fearless with the Help of Al-Anon

 

By the Mother of a Past Claudia Black - Young Adult Drug Treatment PatientAs my daughter does her recovery work from drug and alcohol addiction and anxiety, I too work my recovery through Al-Anon.

I won’t go into details of how my daughter and I both came to this point because I’m guessing many of you are already familiar with the scenario— failing grades, arrests, court appearances, isolation, detachment, and on and on.

I spent many fear-filled nights of insanity sleeping with my phone next to me waiting for that call parents fear most… Was she in jail again? Was she in an accident? Did she overdose? Was she dead? I received one of those calls. My daughter was in such a bad place that she couldn’t even finish her last semester of college.

Finally, I gave in to my fear, checked my ego, and accepted the help of many friends and family. With mixed emotions of anger, pain, shame, and guilt, I put aside my resentment of being forced to face my daughter’s issues, and on a Sunday morning her intervention team showed up at her college rental house. To say things didn’t go as planned would be an understatement. The well thought out plan of getting her to agree to go to treatment failed; she would not go.

I left the intervention feeling defeated and numb. What now? As hard as it was, I tried tough love and cut her cell phone service off and thus lost total communication with her. However, she still had our family dog, Bailey, at the rental house.

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Kid Cudi, Shame, and Depression

 

Hip-hop artist and actor Kid Cudi announced yesterday that he is currently receiving treatment for depression and suicidal thoughts.

 

In a Facebook post he said, “It’s been difficult for me to find the words to what I’m about to share with you because I feel ashamed…”

Shame and guilt are, unfortunately, emotions that often accompany depression. The illness takes a big toll on a person’s energy levels, often leading them to stop doing things they feel they should do, want to do, and need to do, and can leave them feeling “lazy” or “worthless.” As they struggle to complete day-to-day tasks and goals, their self-image may also start to suffer, and they may feel ashamed of not achieving their goals or living up to the expectations they have for themselves.

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Suicide Prevention: Getting Help and Finding Hope

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Alarmingly, the CDC recently reported that the number of suicides in the United States has been on the rise since 1999 among both men and women and in all age groups, and is the 10th leading cause of death. Suicide and suicidal ideation are often misunderstood, especially by those who may have never struggled with mental illness or addiction—although some experts say that most people have at least though about suicide at one point or another. It’s important to understand the risk factors and warning signs of suicide and to intervene if you know someone who needs help.

If you are currently in a crisis and feel that you have no reason to keep living, please call 1-800-273-TALK or go to http://www.suicideprevention.org to chat with someone online now.

The Mind of a Suicidal Person

In his book, The Suicidal Mind, Edwin Shneidman describes 10 commonalities among people who attempt or commit suicide.

1. Common Purpose: A person who is having suicidal thoughts is seeking a solution to a problem that is causing them extreme emotional pain and suffering.
2. Common Goal: The ultimate goal of suicide is an end to consciousness. People who have reached this point in their suffering may believe it is the only possible solution to the problem.
3. Common stimulus: Thoughts of suicide and attempted suicide are typically the result of psychological pain that the person finds unacceptable and unbearable.

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College-Age Suicides Escalate

Untreated Depression Costs Lives

Each new day brings rays of sunshine that invite life’s pleasures – the enticing scent of freshly brewed coffee; the warmth of embracing young children as they scurry off to school; or savoring simple bowls of delightful berries in all of its sweetness.

Unfortunately, life’s splendors are no longer in reach for suicide victims. There are no more tomorrows and no options to change course. No more laughter. No more aha moments. No more tender hugs from loved ones. Nothing can reverse the loss of a life to suicide. It’s finite. Over. There are no second chances.

Unfortunately, suicides on college campuses have been accelerating at an alarming rate. Paul Soutter, a sophomore at the College of William & Mary, recently took his own life. A once high-achieving young man, his death has brought increased attention to this epidemic of sorts. His death will forever leave a mark on his family, friends, teachers, and everyone else who knew this young individual who was once so full of life. This was the fourth student death at the college this year.

Full Article Here: Claudia Black Center Blog

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Looking for ‘The One?’ First, Look Into Your Trauma

There seems to be an assumption these days that people in their 20s are all caught up in “hookup” culture. Supposedly, young adults are not at all interested in committed relationships and use dating apps like Tinder only to have a series of casual, no-strings-attached, sexual encounters.

 

But, according to Sean Rad, the CEO of Tinder himself, roughly 80 percent of those who use the Tinder app say that they are looking for a long-term relationship. These days, many of us even know couples who met through Tinder or one of the many other dating apps and websites that are currently available.

No matter how you found your partner, maintaining a healthy relationship in the long-term requires a high level of emotional maturity. Both people in the relationship need to have the ability to express their thoughts and feelings appropriately, accept life’s many ups and downs, and take full responsibility for their decisions and actions.

Unfortunately, Emotional Trauma from a person’s past can interfere with their ability to grow on an emotional level and function well in an intimate relationship. Those with unresolved trauma tend to experience super-charged emotions, escalate seemingly trivial issues, and make effective communication seem impossible. They may also struggle with Depression, addiction, and a whole host of additional mental health issues.

So, when you first meet someone and are caught up in the giddy, exciting, and dream-like state of new love, how can you know if you might be headed for a disaster?

There are signs you can look for in your partner and in yourself that may indicate that some emotional growth—and possibly therapy or treatment—are needed in order to build a strong and satisfying long-term commitment.

What to Look for In a Relationship

In a truly committed relationship, the effects of unaddressed emotional trauma are not one person’s problem to solve. What affects one partner affects the other and has an overall impact on the relationship. Unresolved emotional trauma can commonly turn up in a relationship in these ways:

• Very strong emotional reactions to common relationship issues.
• All disagreements, no matter how minor, tend to be fueled by intense emotion.
• Tendency to withdrawal, or behave in a distant, unresponsive manner.
• Avoidance of conflict and inability to discuss issues.
• Assumptions that the partner is acting against them when they are not.
• Constant doubt about the partner’s love and commitment.
• Difficulty accepting love, in spite of constant reassurance.

Pia Mellody’s Model (a.k.a. The Meadows’ Model) of Developmental Immaturity provides a framework for recognizing and understanding the impact of childhood trauma on a person’s ability to connect with others. The model looks at whether the person experiences appropriate levels of self-esteem, sets healthy boundaries with others, owns their own reality, understands their needs and wants, and expresses themselves appropriately.

Take a look at the chart below and ask yourself:

• Which areas does my partner do well in?
• Which areas does my partner struggle in?
• Which areas do I do well in?
• Which areas do I struggle in?

Once it becomes clear that your relationship is being negatively impacted by emotional trauma—yours, your partner’s, or both—reach out for help. Progress can be made through a combination of individual therapy sessions and couple’s therapy sessions. An inpatient or outpatient treatment program may even be necessary for one or both of you depending on the severity of your issues and behaviors.

Can Your Relationship Be Saved?

Many people don’t even realize they’ve had traumatic experiences or recognize painful events from their pasts as “trauma.” Trauma-informed therapy and trauma-informed treatment programs can help individuals and couples begin to identify their hidden pain and see how it still affects them and their relationships. Trauma-focused therapy also helps couples to better understand one another by sharing their individual personal histories and teaching them how to process and express their thoughts and emotions in healthier and more productive ways.

But, trauma work isn’t just for couples. If you’re currently single, now is the perfect time to focus on yourself and develop the communication skills and self-knowledge that will help you start any relationship—whether it’s with a spouse or partner, friend, family member, or employer—on the right foot. You can build a better future for yourself and those you love.

Call us for more information on how you can get started. 800-244-4949. Or send us an email.

Reference Source: Claudia Black Young Adult Center

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11 Signs Your Young Adult May Need Help

By Ashley Chesky, MA, LAC and Patricia Plum, MSW, LMSW

Do you sometimes feel that you no longer recognize the child that you raised? When you look at your young adult, do you find yourself asking,"Who is this person?" Do you feel "crazy," "lost," or “at your wits end?” Have you lost all hope?

Maybe this is where hope begins.

Dramatic personality changes often occur due to trauma, drug addiction treatment, mental health issues, or some combination. Oftentimes, as families, we struggle to identify what is "normal" and what are red flags.

Here are some warning signs, questions you should ask yourself, and questions you may already be asking yourself that might help you to decide whether or not to get help. The more red flags you identify the greater the urgency…

1. Emotional Extremes

Ask yourself, "Am I walking on egg shells?"

Has your young adult begun showing extreme emotions in any of the following areas?

• Extreme Anger

Raging or fighting. Reactivity when they are told “no.”

• Extreme Anxiety

Especially during everyday activities that once brought about no fear.

• Extreme Euphoria

Laughing for no apparent reason, or at inappropriate times.

• Extreme Lack of Emotion

Or, a vacillation between emotional extremes.

2. Physical Change

Are you saying to yourself, "They look different?"

• Sudden weight loss or weight gain

Have you noticed a lack of appetite, them showing little no interest in food or restricting themselves from eating? Have they begun to overeat or eat in response to emotion and not from actual hunger?

• Changes in personal hygiene

Has the young adult lost interest in their personal appearance, stopped bathing, stopped brushing his or her teeth, or failed to seek medical assistance when needed? Do they no longer clean their clothes or keep a clean living space? Or, to the opposite extreme, have they become obsessive about cleanliness or about looking and being perfect?

3. Withdrawing or isolation:

Are you asking yourself, "What are they up to?"

• Have they begun to disregard family time, no longer showing up to dinners, holidays, or special events?

• Have you begun to notice excessive time in their room, with "friends", on their phone, or other technology?

• Do they not answer when you call or "never see" the text message?

4. Dishonesty

Ask yourself, "Can I trust them?"

• Do you get the sense that you are being manipulated, lied to, or deceived?

• Do you feel they contact you only to get something?

• Do they answer every question with a question, biding their time?

• Do they appear to have an excuse for everything?

• Are they using phrases like, "I am fine," "It's ok," when it is obvious they are not?

5. Poor work or school performance

Are you saying to yourself, "Has there been any progression?"

• Is the young adult constantly blaming coworkers, teachers or others for their own short comings?

• Has the individual been unable to hold a job for more than six months?

• Has the young adult dropped classes or been placed on academic probation?

• Have they been suspended or expelled for dysfunctional behavior?

6. Legal problems

Have you had to ask, "Do we need to get a lawyer?"

• Has the young adult found him or herself in the jail system due to DUI, fighting, theft, minor in possession, drugs, or paraphernalia?

• Have allegations of sexual or physical assault been discussed?

7. Self Harm

Have you ever thought to yourself, "How did that happen?"

• Does the person in question have unexplained cuts, scratches, bruises, or abrasions?

• Are they wearing clothing that appears inappropriate to the season, perhaps to cover markings?

• Do they explain away cuts bruises or burns that appear in inappropriate places or in distinct patterns?

8. Suicidal or Homicidal Threats or Behaviors Have you asked yourself, "Are they serious?"

• Does the young adult make threats of harm to themselves or others?

• Do they talk about having a fantasy of harming to others?

• Have you found violent materials in their room, or on their computer, phone, etc?

• Do they have a fascination with weapons or death?

• Have they harmed animals?

• Do they struggle with self harm?

9. Paraphernalia

Have you ever asked, "What is this?"

• Have you recently found sexual paraphernalia such as pornography, condoms, or fetish objects?

• Do they have applications on their phone for "hooking up"?

• Do they have drug paraphernalia such as pipes, needles, or pill bottles?

• Are you discovering items out of place or in excess, such as tin foil, spoons, or baggies?

• Have you noticed household items gone missing or being purchased in excess such aerosol cans or over-the-counter medications?

10. Social Change

Have you looked at your young adult and asked, "What are you doing?"

• Have they changed their group of friends? Perhaps begun a romantic relationship and left their friends behind?

• Do they no longer find pleasure in the things they once enjoyed?

• Are they acting chronically younger than their actual age?

• Have they failed to "grow up"?

11. Financial Instability

Are you asking, "Where did all the money go?"

• Do they have creditors calling?

• Are they always asking for more money? Do they offer vague explanations on why?

• Have they taken money without asking?

• Is there entitlement to spending money?

• Do they appear to always need more?

Help Is Available

We encourage you as parents and loved ones to trust you instinct. Even if you are uncertain about red flags, but you know something is wrong, seek help.

It can never be too soon, but it can be too late.

You can speak with an Intake coordinator at The Claudia Black Center on the phone or online anytime. Call 855.333.6075 or Chat Live online.

- See more at: 11 Signs Your Young Adult May Need Help

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Claudia Black to Present at Young Adult Conference

The Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows is proud to serve as a co-host of Ben Franklin Institute’s Young Adult: Failure to Launch Conference, which takes place October 29 – 31 in Tempe, Arizona.

The conference offers advanced clinical training for therapists and counselors. Nineteen continuing education credits (CE’s) are available to those who attend.

The conference will feature the top faculty, authors, and thought leaders in the field of mental health and the issues that affect today’s young adults. Topics will include understanding young adults that get stuck; engaging with difficult clients; treating addiction and trauma in the young adult; intervention strategies for addressing marijuana use; trauma and eating disorders; young adults, sex and the Internet; Positive Psychology and the young adult; and many more.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, Claudia Black, PhD, will give a keynote address on “Addiction and Trauma: Complexity of Treating the Young Adult.” During the 1970s, Dr. Black gave “voice” to both young and adult children from addictive homes. This cutting edge work was critical in creating the foundation for the co-dependency field and a greater understanding of the impact of family trauma. She is a Senior Fellow and Clinical Architect for the Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows.

Also on Thursday, Oct. 29, Leanne Lemire, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Director of The Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows, will give a presentation on “Honoring the Survivor Within.” Lemire’s specialty focus is with trauma resolution, addictive disorder, and complex psychiatric disorders among young adults. Her training includes Pia Mellody’s Post Induction Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing®, Ropes Challenge Course, Gestalt Therapy, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

Ben Franklin Institute, the producer of The Summit for Clinical Excellence Conference, is the premier provider of continuing education for behavioral health, mental health, and addiction professionals. They bring together the best and brightest trainers from many disciplines to offer broader perspectives and to help therapists and counselors to better address the issues that their clients are facing day-to-day.

Behavioral health professionals can register online for the conference at www.bfisummit.com.

-See more at:- Claudia Black to Present at Young Adult Conference

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August 31 is International verdose Awareness Day

Drug overdose is now the leading cause of deaths from injury in the United States.

According to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention deaths caused by drug overdose are on the rise. Deaths of women who overdosed on benzodiazepines have risen a staggering 640 percent over the last 12 years, while deaths for both men and women from prescription drug overdose have risen 340 percent.

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31st each year. It aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.

You can pay tribute to friends and loved ones who have been affected by a fatal overdose on the IOAD’s Tribute page. And, you can help prevent overdose deaths by sharing the warning signs with friends and family.

Overdose Warning Signs

Signs of a drug overdose can vary from person to person. But, here are a few common symptoms:

• Problems with vital signs (temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate,blood pressure)

• Sleepiness, confusion, and coma

• Skin that is cool and sweaty, or hot and dry.

• Chest pain and/or shortness of breath. Breathing may get rapid, slow, deep, or shallow.

• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea .Vomiting blood, or blood in bowel movements, can be life-threatening.

Get Help Before It'S Too Late

If you suspect someone is experiencing a drug overdose, call 911 immediately. If you can, gather any prescription bottles and/or chemical containers that you suspect the person may have taken and bring them to the emergency room doctor.

Overdose tragedies are preventable. Many addicts have experienced at least one non-fatal overdose in the course of their addiction; sometimes it is the event that leads them into recovery. But, if you or a loved one has been experiencing problems with drugs or alcohol, we urge you not to wait for a catastrophic, and possibly fatal, overdose to occur. The Claudia Black Center has Intake counselors available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Give us a call and let us help you find a recovery program that’s right for you.

-See more at:- August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day

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Wings of Hope

We understand how tough making the decision to seek treatment can be for those struggling with trauma, addiction or mental health issues. We want to help recovery take wings, so we’re offering to cover airfare for individuals admitting to inpatient treatment at any of The Meadows programs: The Meadows, the Claudia Black Center for Young Adults, and Gentle Path at The Meadows.

• Admission must occur between July 20, 2015 and August 31, 2015.
• Offer is available for a one-way airline ticket to treatment. Cost not to exceed $1,200.
• Flight arrangement will be made through our corporate travel agent and coordinated by our Intake department.
• There is no monetary value to this offer.
  
  

Please contact our Intake department today at 855-333-6075 for more information.

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Connection is the Key to Recovery

In a recent TED Talk, journalist and author Johann Hari suggests that “Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong.” He argues that most people in our society see addiction as a simple chemical dependency, when it is actually the result of a failure to connect ─ with family, with friends, with the community, with God, or with a larger sense of purpose.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs?feature=player_embedded]

His ideas are proving to be somewhat controversial in the recovery and addiction communities, not so much because of his basic premise, but because of his assertion that these ideas are “new.” (The studies he sites have been well known to psychologists and addiction professionals for years.) He does also seem to oversimplify, in some ways, what is often a very complicated and nuanced problem. And, he calls for the legalization of all recreational drugs as a possible solution, an idea which always sparks a strong debate.

In spite of some of the questionable aspects of his speech, at The Meadows, we do agree with his core principle: that disconnection─ with peers, with communities, with one’s sense of self and/or with a higher power ─ can play a major role in triggering addiction and other behavioral issues.

Interdependence

One of the most important goals we have for our patients at The Meadows is that they learn how to become interdependent. The Meadows Model, developed by Pia Mellody, names dependency as one the four core issues that must be addressed before a person can make a full recovery from addiction or mood disorders. Doing so requires one to reconnect with the child he or she once was. Being too dependent comes from not having needs and wants met as a child. Being anti-dependent comes from being shamed for having needs and wants as child.

Becoming interdependent means learning how to balance your own needs and wants with those of others. If you are interdependent, you are able to ask for help when you need it, help others when they make a reasonable request, and say “no” when necessary to prevent yourself from stretching yourself too thin and becoming resentful.

Without interdependence, there is no recovery. As an addict, the ability to rely on others for help and emotional support, and to give that help and support to others, is critical to staying sober. Without the tools to make and maintain these connections, recovery is impossible to sustain.

A Higher Power

Step 11 in the 12 Step Model for Recovery requires the addict to find a connection with a higher power:

“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out.”

In most cases, addicts have either always struggled to connect with God, their Higher Power, or their sense of purpose; or, in some way, they got disconnected along the way. Recovery is about getting connected or reconnected.

Jim Corrington, Director of The Meadows Outpatient Services, likes to use the analogy of an orange extension cord to explain:

An orange extension cord is useless and without purpose when it’s hanging on the wall. You have to plug it in to a source of power to give it potential. It does not reach its full potential until you plug something else into IT. So, too, an individual must stay plugged in to their source of power, AND, stay connected to others around them to reach sobriety, and with it, their full potential.

How to Reconnect

Addictions manifest in those areas where people are disconnected but seeking to connect. “Faulty wiring” caused by childhood trauma can make it difficult for them to connect with others or with their sense of purpose, so they end up trying to fill the gap with substances or unhealthy behaviors.

At The Meadows, we take a holistic approach to healing that helps patients to reconnect through their minds, bodies and spirits. Therapy sessions and workshops allow them to find out how they became disconnected, to work on ways to build better relationships with others, and to learn how to nurture themselves. Our new brain center helps them to address any dysregulation they may be experiencing in the brain and nervous system. And, physical activities like Yoga, Tai Chi, equine therapy and ropes courses, allow them to gain even deeper insights into themselves.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction or a disorder and are seeking ways to reconnect, we can help. Contact us for more information.

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